Author: Nina Kobal, Development agency for Upper Gorenjska
Against the backdrop of the beautiful forests of the Rogla Mountain resort, a workshop was held to delve into the complex structure of climate change and its impact on various areas of human activity. Participants from different fields came together to identify and analyse the main drivers of change in the social, economic, technological, environmental, political, and legal spheres, all linked to the pressing issue of climate change.
The workshop was successful, thanks to the strong representation of key stakeholders, including the Mayor of the Municipality of Zreče, the directors and managers of the Rogla ski resort, the director of the Local Tourist Organisation Rogla – Zreče, the Slovenian Tourist Board, and other important figures.
In the first part of the workshop, each participant was given the opportunity to express their views on the wider ski area and the key drivers of change. The main factors of change mentioned by the participants included problems caused by mass tourism, the aging population, lack of integration with locals, labour shortages, low added value of products, unregulated traffic management, insufficient information support, and issues related to day visitors. Conflicts of interest, such as those between nature and energy and weak legislation, were highlighted as governance and policy challenges.
In the second part of the workshop, participants themselves ranked the drivers of change in terms of importance, impact, and predictability. Consequently, the issues of day visitors contributing to unsustainable tourism and inadequate transport management were identified as key factors.
In summary, the workshop served as a platform for discussion and strategic planning, highlighting the need for collaborative efforts to address the challenges posed by climate change.
