Forest Selfness (SI)

Good Practice Innovation Sheet - Forest Selfness

Items

Description

1. WHO

Key people and organisations (initiator, leader, partners)

Local Tourist Organization Laufar Cerkno in association with ICRA d.o.o., Development Agency of Idrija and Cerkno.

Initiators and team members are Borut Pirih, Jasmina Slakonja and Polona Kavčič. Team members possess knowledge from different fields, such as economy, marketing, wellness, ethnology and cultural anthropology. They all have in common many years of working in tourism.

Partners included in this project are local tourism providers, such as Hotel Cerkno, Tourist farms “Pri Flandru” and “Želinc”, which will enrich their offer with programme Forest Selfness. Important partners are also local crafts people and farm “Na Ravan” that will be included in the programme with their cheese products.

Key Figures (Municipality Cerkno)

Surface

Inhabitants

Tourism arrivals

Tourism nights

131, 3 km²

5.055

10.514

33.490

2. WHY

Reason for taking the good practice action

Destination Cerkno is mostly known for winter tourism, due to its modern ski centre. However, a need and an opportunity have been recognized to extend the season to all year long. Since 70 % of the area is covered in forests, it has excellent predispositions to follow the Slovenian Tourism Development Strategy 2012-2016 to develop and promote green tourism and green tourism products. Also, forests are our wealth and their value has increased due to climate change. Why not take advantage of this natural richness?

An innovative programme which combines the new upcoming trend in wellness - selfness - with healthy natural environment, natural elements, materials and local products, was devised. It is called Forest Selfness.

Issues and challenge

- to extend tourism season
- to develop an innovative, unique green tourism product
- to use the natural assets given (forests)

3. HOW

Methods /steps / tools used (to develop the good practice)

1. obtaining permission from forest owners

2. devising a high quality tourist programme with involvement of well-known  experts (healthy lifestyle, alternative medicine...)

3. developing a brand Forest Selfness

4. website and promotional brochure

5. other promotional activities (articles, PR), mainly to raise awareness about healing effects of the product

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6. development of new, complementary programmes

7. seeking solutions to poor weather (indoor programme)

8. selling local products under brand name (such as special type of cheese in wooden box; hand-made felt products - yoga mat, body peeling glove, wellness slippers; herbal teas for relaxation and detoxification; wooden cutlery and jewellery)

9. organizing workshops about healthy lifestyle in harmony with nature

4. RESULT

Specific/measurable results, benefits

 Forest Selfness is the first selfness programme in Slovenia that will take place in a healthy natural environment.

The programme is based on an organized hike through the woods where a small group of participants develops a genuine relationship with nature, led by experts. Healing therapy takes place on four stops at different areas of nature, and includes:

- tree hugging (transmission of positive energy)

- rest in hammock with sound therapy (healing and relaxing sounds of nature)

- foot bath in hay gravel (relaxing and healing effect)

- barefoot walking on pine needles (natural reflexology foot massage)

- meditation and yoga

- red clay face/body wrap (detoxication)

- introduction of whey therapy

- tasting local, organic food

The programme will start at our partner tourist provider with a healthy and wholesome breakfast.

Recognitions (e.g. awards)

Snovalec 2014 – award for most innovative tourism related ideas in Slovenia

5. REFLECTION

Lessons learned

We have received immense support and positive feedback from tourist providers, partners and local community. This has motivated us to continue developing the product and the brand.

Challenges met

- logistics
- no impact on the weather
- competition (imitators)
- gaining trust of consumers (doubt about the healing effects of the forest)

Critical success factors

 none yet

6. MORE 

web-references, documents

http://www.gozdni-selfness.si
http://www.facebook.com/gozdniselfness?ref=hl