1 BENCHMARKING OF SLOVENIAN REGIONAL SUPPORT STRUCTURES ASSISTING SMEs IN NATURAL AREAS LOCAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER PIVKA

2 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 km² and a population of 52,083 inhabitants.

3 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 eco- region 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.

4 »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.«

5 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.

6 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.

7 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. COMPARISON WITH THE SUPPORTING STRUCTURES IN SPAIN (THE PROVINCE OF ANDALUSIA, THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF MALAGA)

8 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. LESSON LEARNED

9 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.

10 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 co- financing 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.

11 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.