SLOVENIA TOURISM ADMINISTRATIVE AND TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION

Tourism policy remains within the purview of the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology and remains as part of the overall economic policy of Slovenia. Administrative and legislative issues concerning tourism are delivered to the Tourism and Internationalization Directorate.

The Directorate is divided into two divisions:

• Tourism Division (national policy on tourism and structural policies with impact on tourism co-ordination, foreign and EU relations in tourism)
• Internationalisation Division (Foreign investments Promotion and Domestic industry and SMEs internationalization, Trade Policy).

Tourism Division is responsible for preparation and implementation of tourism policies, strategies and guidelines on national level, regulations in the field of tourism and catering.

The promotion of Slovenia as a tourist destination and the corresponding marketing activities are the responsibility of the SPIRIT Slovenia Public Agency, Tourism Division that acts as the National Tourist Board (from 1st January 2013 the National Tourist Board is a part of the SPIRIT Slovenia Public Agency).

The Slovenian Tourist Board (STB) was set up in 1995 by the Government as a partly-commercial, partly state-funded organisation. In 2010 the STB got a new status as full-state-funded institution responsible for development, promotion and marketing of the destination Slovenia.

The STB provides certain services on a fee basis for the tourism industry as well. In general it is responsible for managing, promotion and advertising of the Slovenian Tourism and the brand "I feel Slovenia". Its annual working programme supports creativity, innovation and the design of new tourist products and services, promotes internationalisation and quality diversification of tourism supply, cares about public relations and advertising campaigns in important consumer markets, carries out R&D in the field of tourism marketing, etc. It carries out some very important projects for stimulation of creativity and innovations in tourism, such are the Sower Award Competition,The Weaver Award competition and Bank of Tourism Potentials. It is the national umbrella tourist organization, whose purpose is to plan and carry out the promotion of the country as a tourist destination.

Strategic planning of Slovenian tourism policy is a reflection of partnership between public and private sector and NGOs in the field of tourism. Within legislation and policy providing procedures ministry responsible for tourism cooperates and consults primarily with the Chamber of Tourism and Hospitality as well as with the Chamber of Craft (representing among others the interests of the tourism small entrepreneurs and craftsmen).

The Ministry of the Economic Development and Technology is also responsible for consumer protection and rights (also for the field of tourism)along with the involvement of the Association of Consumers of Slovenia that acts as nongovernmental organization.

Very important tourism industry organisations at national level are:

•  the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia – Chamber of Hospitality and Tourism representing among others by compulsory membership the interests of all leisure and tourism entrepreneurs as well as
• the Chamber of Craft and Small Business of Slovenia representing among others the interests of the tourism small entrepreneurs and craftsmen and the Trade Union for Tourism and Catering workers.

The most important civil society organisation in the field of tourism is the Tourist Association of Slovenia (TAS). It is the oldest non-governmental, civil tourism association of friends of tourism in Slovenia and incorporates more than 655 local tourist societies (clubs with several thousands of civil friends of tourism) throughout the country.

There are some tourism cluster associations at national level representing the interests of their members (voluntary membership), these are:

•  the Association of Slovene Travel Agencies
• Slovenian Spas Association
• The Slovenian Convention Bureau
• Association of Tourist Farms

 The national office for collecting and analysing data: The Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia is in charge of collecting, analysing and disseminating data in tourism as well.

To encourage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), including those in tourism, to invest at any phase during their lifecycle, to support SMEs through subsidies, favourable loans and guarantees for loans taken, Slovenia founded the Slovene Enterprise Fund (SEF).

Through the Public Agency SPIRIT Slovenia the Government enhances Slovenia’s general economic competitiveness via technical and financial assistance to national and foreign entrepreneurs, businesses and investors.