Bled Receives the Golden Hospitality Award

At the 2025 Slovenian Tourism Days, held at Brdo pri Kranju, Bled received the Golden Hospitality Award – one of the most prestigious recognitions within the nationwide competition My Country – Sign of Hospitality. The award confirms that Bled, with its tidiness, friendliness and care for visitors, ranks among the most welcoming destinations in Slovenia.

“Receiving the Golden Sign of Hospitality is an exceptional recognition for our town. This award is not only proof that Bled is well-kept and visitor-friendly, but above all, a testament that tourism here is built together – by the local community, tourism providers, volunteers and residents.
The award demonstrates how essential cooperation and dedication are for creating memorable visitor experiences, preserving tradition and caring for the sustainable development of our town.
For the Municipality of Bled, this award carries great significance – it confirms that our tourism development is well-guided and that our efforts resonate far beyond our borders. It is an encouragement to continue building Bled as a place where visitors feel genuinely welcome, and locals proud of their home.”
– Anton Mežan, Mayor, Municipality of Bled

“This exceptional recognition, awarded by the Slovenian Tourist Board, is a testament to the hard work, dedication and genuine hospitality of our entire community. This award belongs to all of us – to every resident, every service provider, and everyone who welcomes guests from around the world with a smile and warmth. In Bled, we believe in tourism, we live with it, and we see it as something that will remain just as important for our region in the future as it has been until now. We must remember that tourism is the only industry with the mandate to represent Slovenia abroad as it truly is – authentic and real. And Bled fulfils this role exceptionally well.

Success does not depend on the number of strategic guidelines, but on how actively they are implemented. Every marketing activity, every cultural event, every sports gathering, and every well-kept house or garden contributes to the mosaic of what makes our offer unique. We will therefore continue to encourage and support all these efforts that enrich our town and make it so distinctive.

On this occasion, I sincerely thank the Tourist Association Bled for their invaluable work so far, the Municipality of Bled for recognising the importance of tourism for our community, and all residents who, through their hospitality and dedication, help us become even better.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to the Slovenian Tourist Board for this honour and to everyone who contributed to this outstanding achievement. Together, we will continue to strengthen Bled’s reputation as a destination of excellence and hospitality.”
– Blaž Veber, Director, Turizem Bled

Recognition was also awarded to the Tourist Association Bled, which has for decades contributed to the town’s development and visibility, and to Jana Špec, honoured for her long-standing dedication to volunteering and promoting tourism within the local community.

“We are proud to receive this recognition, especially as the third-oldest tourism society in Slovenia, soon celebrating our 150th anniversary. We proudly continue the work of our predecessors. The award gives us motivation for the future and reminds us of our responsibility to keep developing the society’s activities.”
– Tourist Association Bled

The awards once again demonstrate that successful tourism is built on hard work, commitment and genuine love for one’s home.
 

The “My Country” Project
The project My Country – Sign of Hospitality has been running for over three decades. Initially focused on environmental tidiness, it now also assesses friendliness and the overall quality of the tourism offer. It encourages tourism providers, mayors and local residents to make hospitality and care for their surroundings a shared and ongoing commitment.

At this year’s Slovenian Tourism Days, marking the 120th anniversary of the Slovenian Tourist Board, awards were presented not only to the most welcoming and well-maintained destinations but also to volunteers, associations and young creators whose work contributes to the growth of Slovenian tourism.