Sustainability for tourism providers
Join the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism
(opens in a new tab)The Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism (GSST), under the Slovenia Green brand, is a national programme of the Slovenian Tourist Board (STO), established in 2014 with the aim of placing sustainability at the heart of Slovenian tourism. It operates in line with international standards (the Green Destinations Standard) and offers destinations and providers practical tools for assessing and improving their sustainable business practices and gaining international recognition for them.
Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism (GSST) (opens in a new tab)
At the Cerklje Tourism Board, we support providers in joining the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism. We help you understand and review the criteria, prepare and verify the supporting evidence, and guide you through the process of obtaining the appropriate sustainability label. Email us at info@visitcerklje.com or call us on 051 387 373.
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| Primary label | Accommodation | Food and drink providers | Tourist attractions | TA/TO | Congress centres | Mountain resorts | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Authentic Luxury | ✓ | ||||||
| B Corp | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Bio hotels | ✓ | ||||||
| Blue flag | ✓ | ||||||
| Ecocamping | ✓ | ||||||
| EU Ecolabel | ✓ | ||||||
| Good Travel Seal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Green Globe | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||
| Green key | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||
| HI Q&S | ✓ | ||||||
| Travelife ABTA | ✓ | ||||||
| Travelife ECEAT | ✓ |
Benefits of the Green Scheme for providers (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Become a Green Office
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health transport water waste energy
The Cerklje Tourism Board takes part in the Green and Healthy Office, Friendly to Slovenia project.
Project GOALS
- to use fun stickers and tips to help create a working environment that is healthy, pleasant and motivating
- to keep Slovenia clean and green
We invite you to join the Slovenian Tourist Board’s Green and Healthy Office, Friendly to Slovenia project yourself and so help create a healthy, pleasant and motivating working environment that is mindful of nature, and to equip your office, premises or even an entire apartment with fun stickers.
Green and Healthy Offices (opens in a new tab)
Join us! Register to use the handbook, the stickers and the habits tracker.
Sustainability recommendations for tourism providers
We all help shape the sustainable development of the Cerklje destination – tourism providers, visitors and the local community. Every sustainability measure – from saving energy and water, reducing waste and working with local suppliers to encouraging sustainable mobility – helps to reduce environmental impact, lower the carbon footprint, optimise operating costs and create a higher-quality, more competitive tourism offer.
A survey of visitors to the Cerklje destination (autumn 2025) showed that, of all the destination’s sustainability aspects, visitors gave the lowest rating to the availability of information on saving water and energy (4.1/5). We have therefore prepared sustainability recommendations for tourism providers, with which we aim to encourage the introduction of sustainable practices into business operations and to raise guests’ awareness of the responsible use of water, energy and other natural resources.
We invite you to monitor your environmental impact, introduce sustainability improvements and actively encourage your guests to behave sustainably as well. By setting an example, operating responsibly and working together, we can jointly create a climate-responsible, high-quality and competitive destination in Cerklje na Gorenjskem.
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With small steps, we reduce our environmental impact, lower our carbon footprint, optimise operating costs and together create a higher-quality, more competitive tourism offer. 1. Save energy: energy-saving LED lighting, energy-efficient appliances, preventing heat loss through good sealing, thermostatic valves and sensors, monitoring energy consumption. Switching to renewable energy sources cuts costs and protects the environment. 2. Use water responsibly: fix leaks, use water-saving fittings, inform guests about water quality, serve guests tap water and encourage them to use water sparingly. Tap water is safe and of high quality – let’s look after it responsibly. 3. Reduce waste and food waste: separate waste, remove single-use plastics, use returnable packaging, reuse or repurpose products, prevent food waste and offer guests a choice of portion sizes. 4. Choose local – eat sustainably: local, seasonal and organic food, local suppliers and producers, a greater share of plant-based dishes, and encouraging guests to try local dishes. Welcome to the Cerklje Market! 5. Encourage sustainable mobility: encourage guests to use public transport, promote walking and cycling, provide information on bike rental and reduce the use of private cars. 6. Reduce light pollution and noise: switch off unnecessary lighting, use downward-facing light fittings, respect night-time quiet hours, and reduce disruptive noise and outdoor music. 7. Measure and improve: monitor energy and water consumption and waste volumes, measure your carbon footprint, publish the data and introduce sustainability improvements. 8. Further sustainability measures: sustainability certificates (Green Key, EU Ecolabel, Slovenia Green …), environmentally friendly cleaning products, recycled paper, sustainable materials instead of plastic, and raising awareness among staff and guests. 9. Social responsibility: equal opportunities in employment and training regardless of gender and age, a safe and healthy working environment, and decent, fair pay.
GUIDANCE ON: · managing wastewater and measures to reduce it · calculating your carbon footprint (Umanotera)
Calculate your carbon footprint (Umanotera) (opens in a new tab)
We invite you to send us your electricity and water consumption data and your carbon footprint calculation by email to info@visitcerklje.si
Handling waste correctly
What we bring up to the mountain pasture, we take back down! More tips on preventing littering and handling waste are available.
What goes in the packaging bins (opens in a new tab)
What goes in the paper and cardboard bins (opens in a new tab)
What goes in the glass bins (opens in a new tab)
What goes in the organic (BIO) waste bins (opens in a new tab)
What goes in the mixed waste bins (opens in a new tab)
Let’s use less plastic
We invite you to remove single-use plastics from your business and choose more environmentally friendly alternatives.
We recommend
- using reusable bottles,
- using reusable shopping bags,
- avoiding single-use plastic cups, cutlery and other disposable packaging,
- drinking high-quality tap water,
- buying local and seasonal products with less packaging,
- using products that can be reused or recycled.
- actively offering guests tap water served in jugs
- signing up to the LESS PLASTIC, MORE SUSTAINABILITY pledge
- > SUSTAINABLE FOOD
- JP Voka Snaga tips for zero food waste
- > SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY
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Choosing local, seasonal and minimally processed food shortens transport distances, supports local producers and helps reduce our impact on the climate. Choose local: visit the Cerklje Market on the 11th of every month, buy from milk and egg vending machines, choose seasonal produce and buy from local farms. Local produce: Kmečki hram in Cerklje (Trg Davorina Jenka 6), Kmetijska zadruga Cerklje (Cerklje Agricultural Cooperative) (Slovenska cesta 2). Taste the local cuisine: dishes made with local ingredients, traditional dishes and recipes of the area, local inns and tourist farms. Let’s waste less food: buy only as much food as you need, use leftovers in your next meal or take them away with you, store food properly and keep an eye on use-by dates.
(opens in a new tab)- Arriva – timetables
- Slovenian Railways – passenger services
- Gorenjska.bike – app
- Krvavec – summer operations
- Krvavec – winter operations
- Hop-on Hop-off
- Electric vehicle charging points (PlugShare)
- Cycle routes
- Hiking trails
- Themed trails
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Transport is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. By choosing to walk, cycle or use public transport, we can significantly reduce our impact on the climate. By public transport: Arriva bus services and regular routes to Kranj and Ljubljana; the nearest railway station is in Kranj. Up Krvavec by cable car: leave your car in the valley and check the summer and winter timetables. Hop-on Hop-off around the Kamnik–Savinja Alps: during the summer season, booking required. Around Cerklje by bike: the Gorenjska.bike system (stations in front of the TIC and in front of the Velesovo football centre); bike rental in season (9.00–17.00) at the lower and upper cable car stations and at the Hotel Krvavec reception, info@rtc-krvavec.si or 04 252 59 49; bike repair stations: Cerklje Health Centre, Velesovo football centre, by the pump track in Dvorje, and in Češnjevek; TIC Cerklje: basic spare parts for bikes. Cycling and hiking routes: 8 marked cycle routes, plus hiking trails and themed trails. Electric vehicle charging points: more than 5 locations. The QR codes for the cycling, hiking and themed trails lead to the old website (visitcerklje.si/sl/kam-v-cerkljah/…); the links above lead to the corresponding new pages.
Less plastic, more sustainability (opens in a new tab)
Social responsibility in tourism
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In the Cerklje na Gorenjskem destination, we believe that people are the heart of tourism. Our vision of sustainable development is not only about caring for nature; it is built on strong social values and on respect and dignity for everyone who helps shape our tourism story. Socially responsible practice by tourism providers covers: equal opportunities (equal conditions for everyone in employment, training and promotion), a safe working environment (every employee feels safe, accepted and valued) and decent pay (a pay policy that goes beyond the statutory minimum). DOEER training module – Equality in Tourism: 1. register for the module, 2. study the content carefully and put it into practice, 3. report on your activity to info@visitcerklje.si. Fair and equal employment: we respect equality in recruitment and in working processes, ensure fair pay and the regular payment of contributions, invest in staff training and create green jobs – join the Slovenian Tourist Board’s Green Office free of charge.
Tip: Looking for help at your tourism business? Tag @Visitcerklje on Facebook and Instagram and we will be happy to share your post with our followers.
Sustainable Development Strategy of the Municipality of Cerklje (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Municipal Integrated Transport Strategy (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
The impact of climate change in Cerklje
Mountain ecosystems are among the areas that are particularly vulnerable to climate change. This also applies to the Krvavec area, where the effects of global warming are already visible in shorter winters, less natural snow and changing precipitation patterns.
According to the study Climate Change and Sustainable Development of Slovenian Tourism (ARRS CRP V7-2128, 2024), Slovenia is warming faster than the global average. Over the last decade, the average air temperature in Slovenia was around 2.1 °C higher than in the period 1850–1900.
The effects of climate change are seen mainly in
- higher winter temperatures,
- shorter snow seasons,
- less natural snow,
- less favourable conditions for snowmaking,
- more frequent episodes of intense rainfall.
- What do the projections show for Krvavec?
(opens in a new tab)Copernicus projections for the Krvavec area show that, under the intermediate climate scenario, by the end of the century the number of days with at least 30 cm of natural snow could fall by around 30%, and the number of hours suitable for snowmaking by around 100 hours.
This means greater challenges for winter tourism, for the management of the ski resort and for adapting the tourism offer to changing climatic conditions.
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The chart shows the number of days with at least 30 cm of natural snow at two altitudes in eight ski resorts (Cerkno, Kanin, Kranjska Gora, Krvavec, Pohorje, Rogla, Stari Vrh, Vogel) for the periods 1986–2005, 2021–2040, 2041–2060 and 2081–2100. At all resorts, the number of such days decreases in future periods; on Krvavec, at 1,500 m and 1,700 m, it falls to less than half by the end of the century.
Why does this matter?
Climate change affects not only ski resorts but also the local community, the economy and visitors. Preserving the natural environment, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and using natural resources responsibly are becoming key factors in a tourism destination’s long-term competitiveness.
By choosing sustainable forms of transport, using less energy and water, supporting local providers and behaving responsibly in nature, we can all help mitigate climate change.
(Source: Climate Change and Slovenian Tourism, February 2024, ARRS CRP PROJECT V7-2128)
Climate change and Slovenian tourism (opens in a new tab)
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Staying safe and productive in a hot working environment. To protect yourself in the heat, follow the suggested measures: Planning: follow the weather forecast and prepare an action plan ahead of heatwaves. Breaks: short breaks (e.g. 2–5 minutes every hour) reduce the health risk without lowering productivity. Drinking: make sure drinking water is easily accessible. Work schedule: plan outdoor and physically demanding work for the cooler parts of the day. Clothing: outdoors, wear a hat and loose, light clothing made from breathable materials. When you work in the heat, you are more exposed to illness or accidents, your cognitive abilities are reduced and your productivity drops by more than 15%. The risk is greater if you work outdoors or near hot machinery, do physically demanding work, or have limited access to water.
Assessment of climate change in Slovenia to the end of the 21st century (opens in a new tab)