Just few weeks ago the biggest tourism fair in Berlin, Germany closed its doors. ITB, World’s Leading Travel Trade Show was very important from sustainability view since this time a special day was dedicated to sustainable tourism. Tourism destinations that are active at dealing with climate change and contribute with awareness got acknowledged at the award ceremony. And yes, I am proud to say that among “Best of the Best” the award for best European sustainable destination went to Slovenia Green Destinations (Maribor is among 23 destinations that make this association)
 |  |
It is already forgotten that Maribor was one of the most important industrial towns in former Yugoslavia. After year 1990 change of politics changed the economy perspective to the worse. But this is past. Nowadays people see less opportunities in big factories and more in personal involvement. Life is coming back mostly with sports, art and cuisine, all important also for tourism. Some "recent" facts:
- Barbara Cochran (USA) won slalom at World Cup Golden Fox competition (on Pohorje hill just outside town) in 1970, Tamara McKinney also won slalom there in 1985, Lindsey Vonn was a winner of giant slalom in 2013, Mikaela Shiffrin won slalom in 2015, 2017 and 2018 (this lear, the competition was held under Golden Fox name in another Slovenian ski resort Kranjska gora).
- This year few European championship in other sports will be held in Maribor, too. After all, Maribor was chosen as European city of sports in year 2018.
- Maribor held title of "European Capital of Culture" in 2012. We expected more from it, nevertheless art exhibitions outside state galleries and open air musical concerts gained ground and will likely stay.
- Last years attracted many foreigners. There are people from 160 different countries currently living in Maribor. Some of them started food businesses. Italian, english, vietnamese, chinese, serbian, greek, arabic restaurants brought much needed competitiveness.
- And few enthusiastic (mostly NGO) organisations try hard with designing new tourism products, open food markets and food truck festivals. The latter don't have tradition here, but people are slowly getting used to it.
Nowadays Maribor breaths with wide lungs. A town with university and youngsters is situated among the ski slopes of Pohorje mountain, wine growing hills and rural fields. Here "from farm to table" really means that - ordinary farmers' market is working every day, ecological one twice a week, organic one every Friday. Educational and most tourism stakeholders claim to behave sustainable.
Far away from being overcrowded Maribor enjoys lazy mediterranean mentality. It takes just two hours by car to the Adriatic coast. People like to meet outside (taking coffe break outside even in winter). Yes, during business hours streets are full, but since the city center is closed for cars a tourist can enjoy time visiting museums, windowshopping or photography. And get pampered with food and drink.
Probably the most known touristic product in Maribor is the Old Vine, the oldest vine in the world. It is growing in front of the Old Vine House (Hiša stare trte) and proofed to be at least 400 years old. It still brings about 20 litres of wine every year, that is put in small bottles and presented to state visitors. One can not buy the wine, but harvesting festival ("trgatev Stare trte") in early fall is open to public.
 |  |
 |  |
No, harvesting is not the only festival here. There are musical festivals, visual arts, poetry, children, beer festivals. People from Maribor are very outgoing, one doesn't need much to take a stroll even when this means just coffee with friends. In open air, of course...
Photo: ©Rasto Kirn
RSS Feed
