In Bohinj, the traditional 19th International Alpine Flower Festival is beginning. It will offer numerous botanical tours, culinary experiences, and events dedicated to wild plants and the floral richness of Bohinj until June 8.
This year's festival program, prepared by Tourism Bohinj, consists of 78 different events. Among them are guided botanical excursions, workshops, lectures, concerts and other musical events, culinary experiences, activities for children, sports activities, and guided activities.
"The festival brings a range of events for all generations, for those interested in botany, creativity, art, and culture inspired by nature. It also brings culinary delights and a full palette of events involving the local community," said Klemen Langus, director of Tourism Bohinj.
The festival's opening will be today's third professional conference on the topic of sustainable development of protected natural areas. The content of this conference will focus on exchanging information on opportunities and challenges in strengthening local supply chains within development plans for geographically defined areas, the economic potential of autochthonous and traditional plant varieties and animal breeds, and the challenges that climate change brings to development.
As they say in Tourism Bohinj, the exceptional plant richness of the wider Bohinj area has long aroused the interest of botanical experts and the admiration of nature lovers and its beauties. To give due recognition to Bohinj's floral richness and encourage the exploration of alpine flowers, scientific insights, and creativity, they have been preparing a program of events dedicated to floral themes for two decades.
Langus recalled that more than two decades ago, when the first idea for the festival emerged, the tourism sector was quite reserved, as there was prevailing doubt about how to make money with little flowers. Environmental organizations were also very reserved, saying that they would invite people to Bohinj who would trample the flowers. However, the residents immediately showed great support for the festival.
"That was also the key element that led us to organize the festival at all, and I think we have proven over all this time that it is indeed important for the tourism economy as well. With the festival, we strengthen Bohinj's image as a destination that is very sustainability-oriented in all areas. At the same time, conservation experts have realized that tourism is not a bogeyman, but that through it we can also influence the understanding of the importance of the environment and our relationship to it," emphasized Langus.
He added that the Alpine Flower Festival is a tribute to nature and the people who live in this environment. "It is the image of Bohinj that I personally would like to see as year-round, that is, blooming and with the right attitude towards nature and biodiversity, with the desire to manage it properly and attract to this environment those who are interested in this space, find inspiration in it, and follow the rules that we have set and that nature itself has essentially set."
Source:
https://www.rtvslo.si/zabava-in-slog/napovedujemo/festival-posvecen-cvetlicnemu-bogastvu-bohinja/746623