October 15, 2018
Emerging Europe, a London-based think tank that aims to increase awareness of the opportunities that exist within the region by linking the both academics, policymakers and investors, has awarded Ljubljana the Tourism Campaign of the Year 2018. The prize, which the Slovene capital won against competition from many other destinations within the 23-country area, was given for the city’s 2017 Plečnik Year campaign, marking the 60th anniversary of the death of architect responsible for much of Ljubljana’s layout and iconic structures.
The website quotes Petra Stušek, managing director of Visit Ljubljana, who notes that the campaign was a success not only in terms of numbers, but in the way in which it put a Slovenian cultural product at the centre of things. She adds that 2022 will see the 150th anniversary of Plečnik’s birth, and that even more events related to the architect are planned for this.
However, Stušek stresses that Ljubljana has much more to offer than Plečnik: “The soul of the city is the Ljubljanica River, crossed by picturesque bridges. People still take time to sit in the outdoor cafés. The picturesque scene is complemented by the ancient castle high on the hill above the city. [And] …in recent years, Ljubljana has experienced a true culinary boom,” she says. “Visit the Open Kitchen (Odprta kuhna) to feel its lively pulse. Renowned master chefs, restaurants and local dishes from the Taste Ljubljana and Taste Central Slovenia projects are becoming increasingly recognised worldwide.”
You can learn more about the award and read the rest of the interview here.
The prize comes just a few weeks after Ljubljana was declared the winner of the sustainable tourism award as part of the first European Capital of Smart Tourism competition, beating 38 cities from 19 member states of the EU.
