ANTOR (Association of National Tourist Offices & Representatives) members research new and innovative ways of capturing the British Tourists’ attention, inspiring them to visit their destinations.

In order to get Slovenia on the Responsible Tourism wish list for the green tourist its tourist board has created The Year of the Bee 2018 and Bee or Api Tourism: where tourism and saving the planet intertwine.

Slovenia is a proud beekeeping nation and the only EU Member State to have protected their native bee species. It is one of the country’s oldest traditions and today it is home to over 10,000 bee-keepers, 12,500 apiaries and nearly 170,000 hive colonies, together producing 2400kg of honey each year from the Carniolan honeybee which is regarded as the second most widespread breeding bee in the world.

With 20 May 2018 marking the first ever UN World Bee Day, this is an opportunity to showcase the destinations’s many api attractions.

Api tourism is focused on a sustainable approach to tourism, promoting green destinations, travel, rural tourism and apiculture. The Slovenian Beekeepers Association has worked with the tourism industry to develop tours that combine their rich beekeeping tradition with eco-friendly values.

Top api adventures to experience during a stay in Slovenia include: Radovljica –  home to the Museum of Apiculture; the Bohinj International Wildflower Festival (25 May – 10 June 2018); Honey tasting trails or an api-therapy tour; the Slovenian Beekeeping Centre dating back to 1873; ‘api camps’ – to learn bee keeping skills; or an api artwork workshop in Selo, just a short trip from Bled.

Visitors can stay on an api-friendly estate for example: The Trnulja Estate is a 100% organic farm with sustainably built bio-apartments and organic cooking workshops using local produce, in Ljubljana, the Hotel Park has rooftop beehives while the Mozirje’s Api Chalets are even shaped like beehives.

For more information see: #SavetheBees / #ifeelsLOVEnia

http://www.slovenia.si/visit/trails/beekeeping-in-slovenia/