Gastronomy Heritage as a Source of Development for Gastronomy Tourism and as a Means of Increasing Slovenia’s Tourism Visibility

Since gaining its independence in 1991, the Republic of Slovenia has seen greatly increased interest in cultural heritage and the identity of cities and especially villages. Almost every village sees its future in the development of tourism based on local heritage and identity, in a variety of ethnographic, ethnological, folklore, and cultural events and festivals. Local gastronomy specialties are becoming an integral part of tourism. But Slovenia’s history is seasoned with a romantic, nostalgic and uncritical attitude to our cultural heritage. It is presented as an idyllic memory of the beautiful and unforgettable lives of our predecessors. A significant improvement in quality took place in the period after Slovenia joined the EU (2004), as international tourists started to view Slovenia as a forgotten, hidden jewel of Europe, or rather as cultural Europe in miniature. Our rich and diversified heritage in gastronomy and wine-making, in modern form, are becoming an increasingly important medium of international tourism visibility. The proliferation of innovative culinary and wine festivals represents the fastest growing trend in heritage tourism. Slovenia is the meeting point of the Alps, the Mediterranean and the Pannonian Plain. This is clearly mirrored in the country’s gastronomy and in the Gastronomic Strategy of Slovenia (2006) listing 24 gastronomic regions of Slovenia with 140 representative dishes. Such a gastronomic platform influences the content of food and wine events and festivals, and contributes to the international gastronomy and tourism visibility of the country.