June 3, 2025 – Marking Sava River Day (1 June), the 1st Stakeholder Forum and the 1st Forum on Women-Headed Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in tourism were held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, as part of the development of the Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development in the Sava River Basin. The forums gathered stakeholders and women entrepreneurs from five Sava River Basin countries – Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Montenegro.
The events were organised by the International Sava River Basin Commission (ISRBC), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia (MNVP), THR Strategic Tourism Advisors from Barcelona, with whom we are jointly developing the Master Plan, and Oikon.
The project team consisting of THR and Oikon experts presented the Vision 2040 for tourism development and led thematic discussions on key regional challenges – including environmental pressures, socio-economic disparities, navigation, and infrastructure constraints – inviting participants to reflect on the current situation and collaboratively define priorities. The forum concluded with a summary of the main outcomes and next steps, setting the foundation for the upcoming phases of the Master Plan.
The afternoon Forum on Women-Headed SMEs brought together women tourism professionals and entrepreneurs. Through interactive discussions, the forum addressed specific challenges faced by women in tourism and proposed the creation of an Association of Women Entrepreneurs in Tourism in the Sava River Basin.
Key takeaways from both forums included the importance of cross-border cooperation, the role of women in tourism development, and the need for active community involvement. The second and final Stakeholder Forum, where the draft Action Plan will be presented for feedback, is planned for December 2025.
The project is financed by the World Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
