From September 23 to 26, 2024, the third Transnational Meeting of U.R. Impact: Prioritizing Social Impact in Urban Regeneration (funded by the European URBACT IV program) took place, with the Municipality of Cinisello Balsamo as the lead partner. The 10 project partners gathered in Bovec, Slovenia.

The main topic of discussion was sustainable tourism, which the city is heavily focusing on, thanks to its summer attractions related to water sports. But why is this important? In many places, over-tourism is rapidly leading to unsustainable approaches that have a negative impact on the surrounding ecosystem. For this reason, a radical change is necessary, one that affects many – if not all – sectors of society.

To address this need, Slovenia has taken action on multiple fronts, and Bovec served as the setting for this discussion. One example is "Dolina Soče", one of the 14 collective brands of the country, which certifies local products and activities that meet certain criteria, such as being traditional, regional, local, and authentic, but also sustainable, inclusive, and eco-friendly. Another important point of discussion was the strategy of the capital, Ljubljana, which has invested in tourism infrastructure to expand tourist flows beyond the city center.

During their stay, participants discovered best practices and challenges from the Triglav National Park, the only national park in Slovenia, which covers most of the area, including the Julian Alps. Another interesting aspect, to better understand the local economy, was the interaction with family-run farms and restaurants, which face the challenge of a tourist season largely divided between a densely populated summer and a difficult winter.

The meeting was also a great opportunity to discuss the Testing Actions, part of the U.R. Impact project, to assess results and develop new strategies with colleagues and Lead Expert Liat Rogel, who guided the group through the various workshops.

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