Transcript PowerPoint Presentation INTERREG IVC

BENCHMARKING OF SLOVENIAN REGIONAL
SUPPORT STRUCTURES ASSISTING SMEs IN
NATURAL AREAS
LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER PIVKA
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INNER-KARST
REGION,
SLOVENIA
–
GENERAL
REGIONAL INDICATORS AND
REGIONAL
DATA
The Inner-Karst Region is a statistical region in
the south-west part of Slovenia. Its most
important natural heritage is represented by the
Postojna Cave and the intermittent Lake
Cerknica. The Inner-Karst Region is the least
densely populated among Slovenian regions,
having a 5 times lower population density than
the Central Slovenia region. The region has a
total area of 1.456 km² and a population of
52,083 inhabitants.
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Inner-Karst Region is developing the concept of eco-region. In this respect,
the region is trying to take advantage of the natural, cultural, social,
economical and environmental benefits that it holds. The heart of the ecoregion is presented by the areas of Nature 2000 that occupy about 54 % of
the entire regional area and represent, together with other preserved natural
treasures, the main potential of the region. Additionally, these areas present
the developmental opportunity of the region, directed towards the
implementation of sustainable tourism.
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»We will become a recognized, economically stable and
developmentally ecologically directed region that will
encourage self-development by usage of natural and
cultural resources and by stimulating the development of
human resources. We will become known for the healthy
way of living and as a well-known tourist destination.«
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NATURAL AREAS IN INNER KARST REGION
1. Notranjska regonal park was established in 2002
in order to preserve protect and explore the natural
and cultural heritage of this area. The park contrains
invaluable biodiversity due to the cyclical
disappearance and re-emergence of Lake Cerknica,
the largest intermittent lake in Europe. In addition to
the wetlands and numerous karst caves it contains
are of international conservational importance.
2. Natura 2000 occupy about 54 % of the entire
Inner-karst area. There are Sites of Communitiy
Interest (SCI) as well as the Special Protected
Areas (SPA) according to the Bird Directive.
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SMEs IN NATURAL AREAS –
REPORT FROM THE SURVEY
• 10 interviews based on the questionaire.
• The majority of respondents represented tourist
services, followed by recreational services , forestry
and/or wood processing and extensive or organic
agriculture.
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COMPARISON WITH THE SUPPORTING
STRUCTURES IN SPAIN (THE PROVINCE OF
ANDALUSIA, THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF
MALAGA)
The Province of Andalusia, the County Council of Malaga was
selected due to their orientation towards tourist activities and
their vast rural area at the same time.
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LESSON LEARNED
Quality of life is perceived as the most important element of
advantage of living in a rural environment in remote areas. This
has been established in both cases, by Spanish Andalucía and by
the IKR inhabitants. Quality of life in a rural environment also
guarantees quality surroundings, a prerequisite condition for the
region to be promoted as a place for an escape from the stress of
the everyday life, for holidays in the middle of nature, where one
can seek rest and calmness. Preserved, unpolluted natural
environment guarantees basic conditions for production natural
ingredients in turn available for local production of branded
products.
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The social advantages acknowledged in rural environment,
pertaining to the way of living, closeness of local inhabitants, can
offer support to business as well. By utilizing the networks that
spontaneously arise in rural environment it is possible to acquire a
larger circle of business partners, clients and consumers.
Entrepreneurs coming from outside of region are often regarded as
foreigners and need to put more effort into establishing trusting
relationship between them and the local environment.
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It was pointed out by many interviewees the help provided by different
levels of support is not adequate and does not meet the needs of
the entrepreneurs; outsourcing a consulting company is needed in
too many cases. As a result, in the case of small companies and
even medium ones, the bureaucratic issues accompanying cofinancing applications are a lot of times consciously dismissed due
to too high amount of time used to actually get the financial support.
In Andalucia and IKR, the need for exchanging experiences and
getting to know good practices on conducting business in
natural/rural environment was acknowledged. Moreover, this is
considered as one of the key factors for success in such
environments.
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TTOUourism sector TOO Tourism sector
Tourism sector was already recognised as the most feasible sector for future
business development in the region since a vast natural heritage offers
exceptional possibilities. Even though the sector is recognised as the one with
the higher developmental potential, still it has not experienced an evident
breakthrough. A huge lack of a common strategy which would include small
single offerers, tourist farms, small producers of homemade goods and similar
was found. Namely a set of different but complete offers for a different number
of days, which would attract different visitors and satisfy their needs while in
the region, is of essential importance for a serious breakthrough in the field of
tourism.
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