Five Slovenian destinations make it to best of Europe list

Ljubljana – Destination expert Terry Stevens has ranked five Slovenian destinations on his list of the top 50 European destinations released in his book Wish You Were Here – Europe. The only other European country to boast such a high number of places to see is Spain.

Stevens, who has visited Slovenia nearly 50 times and is the 2020 ambassador of Slovenia’s tourism, notes the country’s unique experiences and sustainable tourism.

The five selected destinations include Bled and Bohinj lakes, the valley of the emerald river Soča, the country’s capital Ljubljana, the wine region of Goriška Brda and the spa towns of Podčetrtek and Rogaška Slatina.

The first three were also included in Stevens’s 2020 release, Wish You Were Here, which included 50 destinations worldwide. The book, which was sold out in six months, served as an inspiration for this year’s European version.

The latest book is not a typical travel guide, as Stevens presents the destinations’ vibe and their path to success, Peter Greenberg of CBS News said.

“I’ve fallen in love with your country,” Stevens said at today’s presentation of the book in Ljubljana, highlighting, among others, architect Jože Plečnik’s work, Church of the Holy Spirit in Javorca, the Maribor Old Vine, breweries and the country’s athletes as the gems that shine the brightest.

“I think Slovenia Unique Experiences are world-class experiences,” the destination specialist said, noting the role the Slovenian Tourist Organisation (STO) had played in these promotion efforts.

All the destinations included in the book have also passed muster according to the standards by the company Stevens & Associates, which specialises in recognising best practices in destination development.

To get points, destinations had to boast a sense of community, cooperation, a clear vision, innovation, strong leadership and investment in tourism.

“This is certainly a great opportunity to showcase Slovenia, Slovenian tourism and our focus on sustainability,” said STO director Maja Pak, commenting on the number of Slovenian destinations in both Wish You Were Here books. “As Terry Stevens is a very renowned international expert, I believe that the promotion through his books will be a great success,” she added.

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