European funds for recovery and resilience – Together towards the goal: Sustainable development of tourism

According to data from the Ministry of the Economy, Labour and Sport, Slovenia's tourism sector recorded 15.8 million overnight stays in 2019. Between 2015 and 2019, the country recorded above-average growth in tourist arrivals. The highest number of tourist arrivals was recorded in 2019, before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought this growth to a halt. Tourism became one of the hardest-hit sectors of the economy, with repercussions for many other sectors. Approximately 11.25 million overnight stays were recorded in Slovenia in 2021, still almost 29% fewer than in 2019. The tourism sector subsequently adapted to the changed circumstances and recovered rapidly. In 2025, Slovenia recorded more than 17.8 million overnight stays and almost 7 million tourist arrivals.

Slovenia also mitigated and addressed the negative impacts of the pandemic on tourism through measures under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP). 

Using EU funds allocated to Member States for recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, the ministry responsible for tourism, in cooperation with the Slovenian Tourist Board (STB), businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector and local communities within Slovenia's leading tourist destinations, implemented a reform and supported investments aimed at strengthening the sustainable development of tourism.

Strengthening the sustainable development of tourism – reform

As part of the reform, the Decree on Development Incentives for Tourism was adopted, laying down detailed conditions and criteria for the allocation of financial incentives. The Decree promotes the environmental sustainability of tourism investments. The eligibility criteria include, for example, an energy performance certificate of at least class B for renovated buildings, the requirement to obtain at least one international eco-label, and a requirement that, for new buildings, primary energy demand be at least 20% lower than the prescribed requirement for nearly zero-energy buildings.

The reform also includes the implementation of a project to upgrade the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism, for which the European Union contributed EUR 928,000 from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF). Through the project, the STB established the National Tourism Information Hub (NiST), which brings together dispersed data, enables a stable flow of information and complex analyses, and supports informed decision-making and the coordinated development of the sector as a whole. The system enables the monitoring of the environmental, social and economic impacts of tourism and data-driven decision-making for the effective sustainable development, management and marketing of Slovenian tourism.

The milestone related to the entry into force of the Decree was included in the first payment request. The milestone related to NiST was included in the sixth payment request, which has already been paid.

Sustainable development of Slovenia's tourist accommodation offers to raise the added value of tourism – investment

The aim of the investment was to support sustainable tourism through modern accommodation infrastructure by renovating and constructing higher value-added accommodation facilities.

As part of the investment, 35 business projects involving the reconstruction or construction of new tourist accommodation facilities were implemented. The State disbursed EUR 35.5 million in grants from the RRF to the final recipients.

The milestone related to the investment was included in the second payment request, while the target was included in the final payment request under the RRF, which Slovenia submmited to Brussels on 30 September 2026.

Sustainable development of public and shared tourism infrastructure and natural attractions in tourist destinations – investment

The aim of the investment was to support sustainable tourism by improving the sustainability and management of tourist destinations. The investment covered the reconstruction or construction of new tourist accommodation and the development of public tourism infrastructure, together with the development of new tourism products.

A total of 47 final recipients were approved for the implementation of the investment and have received EUR 10.63 million in grants from the RRF to date.

Completed municipal projects:

• ZAVRH – Tourism Transformation in the Municipality of Lenart;
• Dobrovnik–Bukovniško jezero footpath;
• Multipurpose space in Bohinjska Bistrica;
• Črnomelj waterfront promenade – phase 1;
• Construction of the Aktivarium Motor Skills Park in the Municipality of Radlje ob Dravi;
• Establishment of Radetzky Park in the Municipality of Tržič;
• Kosovel's heritage between Sežana and Tomaj;
• Development of a Green Entry Centre in the Municipality of Nova Gorica;
• World of Water Experience in the Municipality of Radenci;
• Sustainable and accessible tourism at Lake Velenje;
• Roman Castra Experience in the Municipality of Ajdovščina;
• Urban park in the Municipality of Črna na Koroškem;
• Wild points for unique experiences in the Municipality of Idrija;
• Tourist trail: From hops to beer in the Municipality of Žalec;
• Renovation of the furnishings of the Old Vine House in the City Municipality of Maribor;
• Trška Gora entry point in the City Municipality of Novo mesto;
• Development of Lake Rudniško jezero in the Municipality of Kočevje;
• Spa Park in the Municipality of Laško;
• Development of natural heritage in the Municipality of Oplotnica;
• Construction of the Fortuna facility in the Municipality of Hajdina;
• Development of a circular hiking trail in the Municipality of Vitanje;
• Development of the Cerje Memorial of Peace in the Municipality of Miren-Kostanjevica;
• Development of the footpath by Kostel Castle;
• Development of an entry point to the Speleological Park in the Municipality of Vransko;
• Construction and upgrading of the trail – Old Castle Celje;
• Castle trail in the Podčetrtek destination;
• ReKult – Upgrading the river cultural heritage – Beltinci;
• Development of the surroundings of Tončkov dom na Lisci in the Municipality of Sevnica;
• Rehabilitation of the shoreline of Lake Bled;
• Ljubljana Castle – Entrance Bridge and Defensive Moat;
• Development of the tourist infrastructure of Kozjanski Park in the Municipality of Kozje;
• Family experiences in Kropa in the Municipality of Radovljica;
• Sanitary and ancillary facilities at Divača Cave;
• Development of entry points at the lake in Most na Soči;
• Creation of an access route from Grad Vrbovec to the Franciscan monastery with a library;
• Revitalisation of the Soteska Castle Complex in the Municipality of Dolenjske Toplice;
• Transformation of tourist infrastructure in the City Municipality of Ptuj;
• Construction of Arena Janina in the Municipality of Rogaška Slatina;
• Reconstruction of the building at Verdijeva 1 in the Municipality of Izola;
• Landscaping of the park at the Semič Cultural Centre (Culture Trail);
• Revitalisation of the Courtyard of Bukovje Manor in the Municipality of Dravograd;
• Uršlja Gora nature experience park in the Municipality of Ravne na Koroškem;
• Upper square Šentjur;
• Refurbishing the Centre Moletova hiša;
• Model Park Gorenja Vas – Mali velikan;
• Pavilion of paper art in the Municipality of Radeče;
• Renovation of Ravbar Tower – phase III in the Municipality of Postojna.

The target related to the investment was included in the sixth payment request