On Wednesday, May 8th, 2024, Villa Bianca in Velenje hosted the 2nd Tourist Forum of the Šaleška Valley organized by the Šaleška Valley Tourist Board and the Development Agency SAŠA. 🏞️
We delved into the potential of industrial cultural heritage for tourism development, how to preserve the tangible and intangible heritage of coal mining in the Šaleška Valley, and how the integration of culture and tourism can pave new paths forward in the just transition process. 🏭🌟
Selected guests from local and national backgrounds shared their insights on the coal mining legacy and its potential for tourism development. We highlighted the importance of developing cultural tourism in the coal region on the cusp of economic restructuring.
The Tourist Forum featured presentations on cultural heritage, coal mining, and opportunities in the Šaleška Valley. Tanja Verboten, the Director of the Velenje Museum, showcased the tangible and intangible heritage of coal mining in the Šaleška Valley. We also welcomed Danijela Brišnik, the head of the Celje Branch of the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, who highlighted the importance of protecting industrial heritage sites using the example of the Old Power Plant and Sorting House in Velenje. The Director of the Mercury Heritage Management Center in Idrija presented the experiences in preserving mining cultural heritage in Idrija as a good practice example.
Following a mental shift, a panel discussion on mining as an opportunity for cultural tourism in the region ensued. 🗣️
We discussed how tourism offerings can enhance cultural heritage and ensure its survival after the coal era and economic restructuring. Panelists included Alenka Kikec, Director of the Šaleška Valley Tourist Board, Tadeja Jegrišnik, Head of the Slovenian Coal Mining Museum, Marko Pritržnik, Head of the Department for Social Activities of the Municipality of Velenje, Janko Urbanc, Director of the Velenje Youth Center, Barbara Pokorny, Director of the Velenje Festival, and Breda Krajnc, Architect and Senior Conservator at the Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage. 🎤✨
