Innovation Potential of Slovenian Tourism: What We Found and What We Propose

The University of Primorska, Faculty of Tourism Studies – Turistica, invites you to the final presentation of the targeted research project VIPSLOT (Evaluation and Interpretation of the Innovation Potential of Slovenian Tourism, ARIS V5-24016). The project was funded by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) and the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport.

Over two years, the project gathered the experiences of tourism providers, destinations and support institutions through:

• an online survey;
• interviews;
• workshops;
• two focus groups, held at the Alpe-Adria fair and on a field study tour of the Vipava Valley and Goriška.

At the event, we will present where Slovenian tourism currently stands in terms of innovation, what most hinders providers from introducing new products and services, and how innovation potential could be monitored on a regular basis. We will also present strategic directions and concrete recommendations for a support environment that would make it easier for tourism providers to develop and introduce innovations.

The presentation will be followed by coffee and an opportunity to talk with the research team and other participants. The event will close with a presentation of the Centre for Digital Excellence and Innovative Sustainable Technologies (DOIT Centre) at UP FTŠ Turistica, whose work and development build on insights gained in the VIPSLOT project and through the activities of Turistica’s sTOUdio. The DOIT Centre is an open environment where students, researchers and the tourism industry develop, test and showcase solutions to tourism challenges. Participants will be able to try virtual reality headsets, see 3D space capture using Gaussian Splatting technology, and discuss developments in artificial intelligence and their impact on tourism businesses.

The event is intended for tourism providers, representatives of destination management organisations, policymakers, support institutions and anyone interested in the future of Slovenian tourism. We especially welcome everyone who took part in the project, as we will also show how your responses and suggestions shaped the final findings.

More information:

VIPSLOT project – https://www.vipslot.turistica.si/

Programme

• 10:00–11:00: Presentation of the VIPSLOT project results (Dr Dejan Križaj, Tadej Rogelja, Jaka Godejša)
• 11:00–11:30: Coffee and conversation with participants
• 11:30–12:00: Presentation of the DOIT Centre and new technologies