…Or learning how to take your time to discover the world that surrounds you. 

By Evi Bettens, Intern

As you already know, building a more sustainable future is one of our priorities. With the summer holidays approaching, we thought it was important to raise awareness of a growing trend: Slow Tourism. 

Slow Tourism emerged in the early 2000’s and has been gaining momentum in recent years. Faced with the damage caused by mass tourism, Slow Tourism seems to be the answer to the challenges of tomorrow’s tourism.

If you are familiar with the term ‘Slow’, it is probably because it reminds you of ‘Slow Food’. Just as Slow Food is opposed to fast food, Slow Tourism is a way of travelling at a slower rhythm and off the beaten track, in order to discover activities that are less well-known in the tourism industry. 

This new form of tourism is a true state of mind and is based on 3 concepts:

Putting people back at the centre of everything – Going to discover local populations will be a real immersion in their way of life. It is an excellent way to enrich yourself by talking to them, sharing experiences and getting a real perspective on cultural differences. 

Buying local – What could be better than discovering a country through its gastronomy? Meet the local producers and taste delicious seasonal products. In addition, Croatia has many wines and cheeses that will thrill your taste buds!

Favouring ecological travel – Indeed, reducing travel and favouring non-polluting transport is the basis of Slow Tourism. There are many ways to travel while respecting the environment: tourism by bike, train, foot or horse. In addition to having a unique experience, you will be doing something for our planet. 

As you can see, slow tourism has many benefits, both for the planet and for people. After two tough years of various confinements and loneliness for many of us, it’s time to start living again. However, we cannot keep our old habits. Let’s not wait until it’s too late and change our behaviour now to ensure that we can continue to enjoy our beautiful planet for many years to come.