Slovenia’s Tourism Stakeholders Begin Circular Transition

Pomurje stakeholders launch circular tourism collaboration

The first VERNE Community of Practice meeting took place at the AGRA Fair in Gornja Radgona, marking a significant milestone for circular tourism in Europe’s Pomurje region.

Organized by the Innovation Technology Cluster (ITC), the session brought together local farmers, hospitality operators, and public authorities to discuss circular food systems as a pathway toward sustainable regional development. Participants explored how ITC’s ZeroNET pilot can address real challenges: reducing food waste through surplus redistribution, optimizing resource use via zero-emission logistics, and keeping economic value within the region.

The conversation was frank about obstacles ahead: high investment costs, limited awareness of circular practices, and the need for cultural mindset shifts among tourism operators. This Slovenian gathering is the first of five Communities of Practice launching across VERNE pilot destinations. Each brings together diverse local stakeholders to co-create solutions tailored to their regional contexts.

The Pomurje CoP now moves forward with testing marketplace platforms for surplus food and optimizing green logistics routes, transforming circular economy principles into tourism practice.

ITC website: https://itc-cluster.com