Sustainability Report 2024
Izola – The Kingdom of Fish
Once a fishing town, Izola evolved from an island throughout its history. Today, it still preserves its distinctive peninsula shape, with the parish church of St. Maurus standing proudly at its highest point.
Izola welcomes visitors all year round — with its deep-rooted fishing tradition, nostalgic charm, and a variety of beaches. It captivates with its romantic streets, the old town harbour where visitors can still admire traditional fishing boats, and the lively Manzioli Square — a favourite meeting point for locals and guests alike. Life in Izola is inseparably intertwined with tourism, to which the local residents contribute greatly.
Staying true to sustainability
In 2024, the destination successfully passed the reassessment and once again received the Slovenia Green Destination – Gold albel. According to the new, stricter criteria of the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism (ZSST), Izola achieved a perfect score of 10 points in the field of culture and tradition and an impressive 9.8 in destination management, led by the Izola Tourist Board (TZI).
Within the Green Scheme framework, the Green Team collaborated on two key documents: the Study on the Impacts of Climate Change on Tourism in the Municipality of Izola and the Crisis Management Plan for Tourism in the Municipality of Izola.
The destination’s Crisis Team consists of: Taja Šavron, Head of the Tourist Information Centre Izola (employed until 9/2024), Olga Kaliada, Senior Advisor for Economic Activities at the Municipality of Izola and Green Coordinator, Tjaša Likar, Communication Manager at the Izola Tourist Board. On 29 May 2024, Taja Šavron and the Green Coordinator took part in the Green Day of Slovenian Tourism in Radovljica, organised by the Slovenian Tourist Board (STO). The event highlighted trends in sustainable tourism and presented examples of good practices — among them, Izola’s own initiatives were recognised, further encouraging our commitment to the sustainable development of the destination.
Izola remains committed to the sustainable guidelines set out in the Tourism Development Strategy 2021–2025: developing year-round tourism with a focus on gastronomy, cultural heritage, and authentic experiences.
Izola’s Sustainable Certificate Holders
In 2024, four providers in Izola held sustainability certificates.
The Restaurant of Hotel Marina boasts a Michelin Recommendation and the Green Cuisine label. Its philosophy is based on fresh “from sea to plate” dishes, seasonal menus, and a harmonious blend of tradition and modernity. The Garni Hotel Dolcemente is part of the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism (ZSST) and holds both the Green Key and Green Accommodation labels. With its 10 rooms, it embraces a boutique approach, focusing on a personal connection with guests. Hotel Delfin has been awarded the Green Key and Green Accommodation labels for implementing solutions that reduce its carbon footprint, optimise resource consumption, and minimise waste while introducing eco-friendly products. Located within the Strunjan Landscape Park, the Hotel Cliff in the Belvedere Resort also carries the Green Key and Green Accommodation labels. It was the first provider in Izola to receive official recognition for sustainable operation back in 2021.
Local and Fresh (KM0)
The seasonal “Ruba sz moje njive” market took place from May to September, every Wednesday and Saturday between 8:00 and 13:00 along the 1st of May Promenade. With this initiative, the Izola Tourist Board (TZI) enables local producers to sell their products directly, while encouraging the use of local and seasonal ingredients. Participating producers included Kmetija Istriana, Kmetija Barbo, and Kmetija Vojvoda.
A novelty in 2024 were the covered wooden stalls, which replaced the traditional market stands and improved product storage and protection from weather conditions. The market is popular among both locals and visitors, and the latter are encouraged to visit through all Visit Izola communication channels.
Pier of Tastes
The Pier of Tastes connects providers from Izola and the Slovenian Istria region outside the high season, highlighting the typical flavours of our area. The Izola Tourist Board focuses the event’s offer on local and seasonal dishes, bringing together as much variety as possible in one place. In 2024, TZI scheduled five editions of the event, held on 30 March, 4 May, 8 June, and 21 September, while the one planned for 19 October was cancelled due to bad weather. As part of the Fishermen’s Feast, the Pier of Tastes also took place on 23 and 24 August. Each event brought together around 20 local providers along with a guest stall from other Slovenian regions.
The event follows sustainable principles (eco-friendly packaging, waste separation, and awareness-raising among providers and visitors) and was supported by a comprehensive online promotion campaign. The purpose of the event remains the same — to present the culinary diversity of Slovenian Istria in one place, within a boutique setting where locals and visitors come together to enjoy authentic tastes.
Culinary Days
Gastronomy is one of Izola’s key tourism products and a cornerstone of the Izola Tourist Board (TZI) year-round promotion. During the shoulder seasons, TZI collaborates with selected local restaurateurs to organise culinary days. These events highlight the importance of using seasonal and local ingredients, following the KM0 philosophy — for example, featuring sardines, asparagus, and calamari — while also encouraging innovation and enhancing the destination’s culinary offer.
A novelty in 2024 were the Venetian Culinary Days, showcasing dishes and ingredients from the period of the Venetian Republic. The event was part of the ReVerT project, aimed at restoring the former municipal building on Verdijeva Street, which is set to become a future cultural, artistic, and social hub.
TZI supported the Culinary Days by producing new promotional materials focused on presenting Izola’s culinary providers. This not only resulted in new promotional content but also brought to life the unique flavours and stories behind Izola’s local restaurateurs.
Picturesque Countryside and Unspoiled Nature
The Izola countryside combines a rich natural and cultural heritage. Just fifteen minutes from the town centre lies Korte, home to the prehistoric hillfort Kašler — the largest settlement of its kind in Slovenian Istria. Visitors can explore it independently or join a guided tour organised by the Tourism and Culture Association Šparžin. The countryside is also dotted with former water sources, most of which are located on private land and can be visited during guided tours that the association organises twice a year. The rural area offers authentic cuisine (such as at Gostilna Korte and Kmetija Medljan) and a rich selection of wines and olive oils.
In line with Izola’s Tourism Development Strategy, the Izola Tourist Board (TZI) strategically directed visitor flows towards the countryside in 2024. The spring and autumn campaigns promoted visits outside the summer season, equally highlighting the offers of the historic town centre and the green hinterland. The countryside campaigns focused on outdoor activities, cycling, experiences at Kašler and Korte, and local gastronomy. The aim was to reduce seasonality, increase visitor dispersion, and extend stays — with all communication carried out through the Visit Izola digital channels.
A significant natural gem is the Strunjan Landscape Park, recognised as an INHERITURA area (INHERIT project). As part of the project, the Belvedere–Bele skale hiking trail was restored using the traditional dry-stone walling technique, helping to preserve heritage and reduce erosion.
Sustainable Mobility
In 2024, the Municipality of Izola continued implementing measures to promote sustainable mobility, aiming to reduce traffic congestion in the town centre, improve air quality, and enhance the safety and quality of life for both residents and visitors.
An important part of the offer remains the electric minibus “Kurjerca”, which connects the town centre, parking areas, and other key locations across Izola. The service is primarily intended for elderly residents and people with limited mobility, while also contributing to the reduction of private car use for short distances. From the Easter holidays until the autumn break, a gas-powered tourist train operated in Izola, allowing visitors to explore the town effortlessly and reach most of Izola’s beaches.
For elderly residents and those without their own transportation, the Prostofer project continues to operate successfully in Izola. It provides free rides within the municipality and to neighbouring towns, significantly improving social inclusion and promoting sustainable mobility among vulnerable groups.
In 2024, the Municipality of Izola also took part in the European Mobility Week, encouraging walking, cycling, and the use of sustainable transport options. As part of the initiative, the municipality organised a traffic safety workshop for seniors.
During the summer months, Zlatoperka, a passenger boat, connected the coastal towns of Slovenian Istria, offering an affordable and carefree way to visit them.
The Izola Tourist Board (TZI) also consistently promotes sustainable mobility through its communication channels — encouraging event visitors to use peripheral parking areas, while electric scooters are available for rent at the Izola Tourist Information Centre (TIC).
Positive Waste Management Trend
In 2024, Komunala Izola collected over 8,000 tonnes of waste, of which 61% were sorted fractions, continuing the positive trend of improved waste separation. The company maintained and expanded ecological collection points, regularly organised collection campaigns for bulky, hazardous, and green waste, and provided additional containers for special waste, such as textiles, used oils, and electronic equipment. Despite the good results, improper waste separation among users still occurs frequently, especially with packaging and mixed waste.
A key part of Izola’s sustainable approach is also responsible waste management at events. The Izola Tourist Board (TZI) and the Centre for Culture, Sports and Events (CKŠP) consistently encourage visitors and participants to separate waste correctly, use sustainable materials, and strictly enforce the rule that single-use plastic is prohibited at all events.
Accessibility
The Municipality of Izola is recognised as a disabled-friendly municipality. In cooperation with the Association of Students with Disabilities of Slovenia, it continues to remove architectural barriers, while together with the Inter-Municipal Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted of Koper, it has introduced tactile markings at roundabouts. A unique feature of the tourist offer is a fully accessible beach, designed for all visitors regardless of physical ability.
In 2024, the municipality also began preparing the Municipal Comprehensive Traffic Strategy (OCPS), a key strategic document aimed at improving mobility, air quality, and safety, as well as enhancing accessibility in both urban and rural areas. The goal of the OCPS is to reduce traffic congestion and noise, strengthen public transport, walking, and cycling, and facilitate access to national and EU funding for sustainable mobility measures.
Collaboration with Educational Institutions
The Izola Tourist Board (TZI) systematically collaborates with educational institutions, recognising that the future of sustainable tourism lies in the hands of young people. In the first half of 2024, the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) hosted a student from the Izola Secondary School for a one-month internship. In March, a group of students from the Faculty of Tourism Studies – Turistica visited Izola to learn about the Green Scheme of Slovenian Tourism (ZSST), the Tourism Development Strategy of the Municipality of Izola, and examples of sustainable communication, such as the Little Green Secrets campaign and the Visit & Respect Izola brochure. The students were also challenged to design a concept for a new green tourism product. TZI also takes part in the Izola Secondary School Information Days, presenting opportunities for practical experience to students and parents, and encouraging them to consider a career in tourism.
Round Table on Sustainable Tourism
On 16 December 2024, TZI participated as a speaker in the Round Table on Sustainable Tourism in the Slovenian Coastal Region, organised as part of the Erasmus+ programme. Students from the Izola Secondary School listened to presentations by various stakeholders. The discussion highlighted existing practices, challenges, and opportunities for further development, and gathered ideas for an even more sustainable future of Slovenian tourism.
Izola Heritage and Delamaris
On 27 September 2024, the Izola Secondary School hosted the event Izola Heritage and Delamaris – Stories from the Past for the Future, organised in cooperation with the Izola Secondary School, the Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum of Piran, and TZI.
The keynote guest, Jože Jamšek, former Technical Director of Delamaris, shared his insights about working in the factory. Tjaša Likar (TZI) highlighted the integration of heritage into tourism, while Dr. Nadja Terčon (Maritime Museum) discussed the importance of preservation.
The event connected tourism, education, and museum expertise, strengthening the heritage of Delamaris as part of Izola’s identity. It represented an important aspect of Izola’s sustainable efforts — transforming Delamaris heritage into a living learning experience, enhancing heritage preservation and local identity, raising awareness among youth about responsible development, and fostering collaboration among local stakeholders.
Training, Gastronomy, and Connections with Venice
The Izola Tourist Board (TZI) pays special attention to the development and improvement of the quality of the destination’s tourism offer. Throughout the year, it organises various training sessions and professional events. A significant part of these activities is linked to the ReVerT project, within which the Podestà Palace is being restored — the future cultural, artistic, and social hub of Izola. TZI participates in the project as an external partner, responsible for communication activities, preparation of public calls, and the development of a new tourism product – the Podestà Menu, based on typical ingredients from the Venetian Republic era.
As part of the menu’s preparation, the first workshop, titled “Cuisine and Wine the Venetian Way”, was held on 27 February 2024 and led by renowned Venetian gastronomy expert Raffaele Bonivento. Participants learned about the fundamentals of gastronomy from the Venetian period, the importance of pairing food and wine, and gained inspiration for dishes that could become part of a new tourism product in Izola.
In autumn, a second, hands-on workshop followed, featuring guests from Venice — Raffaele Bonivento, Chef Christian Scarpa, and pasta maker Federico Menetto — who presented the preparation of traditional Venetian dishes to selected restaurateurs from Izola. The aim of the event was to encourage the inclusion of Venetian recipes and techniques in the local culinary offer and to set the stage for the Venetian Culinary Days, which took place between 29 November and 15 December 2024 in selected restaurants across Izola.
The collaboration with Venetian partners continued with a study tour to Chioggia, organised by TZI on 26 and 27 November 2024. Participants — representatives from the tourism, gastronomy, and agricultural sectors — explored examples of good practices in sustainable tourism, from the traditional fish market and Mitilla – Cozza di Pellestrina oyster farming to the Monte Brècale winery. Visits to local producers, museums, and restaurants offered inspiration for developing new sustainably oriented experiences in Izola.The study tour further strengthened the ties between Izola and Chioggia, reinforcing the shared vision of joint development in gastronomy, culture, and sustainable tourism.
Preserving Cultural Heritage
Izolana – The House of the Sea is the central point for preserving both tangible and intangible heritage. Visitors can explore Izola’s maritime history, a collection of ship models, and the first preserved map of the Istrian Peninsula, as well as learn about the former Parenzana railway line and the importance of fishing and the fish-processing industry.
For families, Izolana offers particularly engaging experiences, such as a 3D model of Izola with an audiovisual projection showing the town’s historical development, and the interactive Simathlon cycling simulator, which allows virtual rides along the Parenzana trail or through the historic town centre. Izolana also serves as the starting and finishing point of the adventure game The Forgotten Secret of Izola.
Information and Awareness
Informing and raising awareness among the public are key elements of TZI Izola’s efforts toward sustainable development. In its public communication, TZI follows modern trends, carrying out most of its activities through digital channels such as its website, social media, and email newsletters. Local residents are regularly informed about the importance of sustainable tourism through the municipal newsletter Bobnič/La Crida, while visitors receive information via digital platforms and at the Izola Tourist Information Centre (TIC), where printed materials are also available.
TZI regularly provides printed informational materials to local providers but increasingly encourages them to use and share digital content, thereby helping to reduce paper consumption. Several times a year, TZI sends out emails containing links and QR codes that providers can display in their accommodations or venues. These links include all the essential information a guest might need for a pleasant stay in Izola — from attractions and experiences to sustainability tips. Through these efforts, TZI promotes modern, environmentally friendly communication with visitors while reducing the use of printed materials.
