EUSAIR - Final Report

Due to the pandemic, we were only allowed to open
last June. We were sure it would be a disastrous season.
So far, the spa had been visited mainly by foreign guests –
as many as 85% compared to 15% domestic guests.
We were pleasantly surprised when the structure of
guests changed in an instant to 85% domestic and
15% foreign guests. Due to limitations, we were completely
sold out. People have started to appreciate tourism
that coexists with nature, they love being outside.
I’m not afraid for the future, since we notice that people
buy Gift Cards over the winter as well.
You manage a 700-year tradition and three
brands, Piran Salt Pans, Sečovlje Saltpans
Landscape Park and Lepa Vida. Which was
most marked by the current Covid-19 pandemic
and why?
The Covid-19 pandemic affected all points of our
business except the spa. Visits to the park practically
stopped. Salt consumption has also decreased, only
spas as a tourist attraction have remained immune
to the pandemic.
LIFE project, we have protected the salt pans from
further collapse. We have built quite a few front
embankments and locks to regulate the water.
Three years ago, with the Norwegian Cars Out project,
we closed the entire park to traffic, thus contributing to
a lower carbon footprint and introducing electrification.
Before that, all employees and tenants of the salt fields
came to the salt pans by car. Today, everyone, including
tourists, leave their cars in front of the park. This project
also changed the mindset of the people. Within the
Saltworks projects, we arranged bird habitats.
We all have the same climate challenges in the Adriatic-
Ionian Region, such as preservation of wetlands or areas
connected to the sea, since the sea rises equally everywhere.
Some salt pans in the Adriatic, in Italy too, which
produce salt by hand, are deteriorating. Revitalization
of the production of unrefined salt that does not
go through an industrial process would be welcome.
It is of much higher quality. It is less salty and contains
more calcium.
The biggest shock was our shops in the old town, which
are very popular among tourists. We were able to sell
cosmetics and salt but, due to the smaller number of
tourists, our sales dropped by as much as 60%.
Our flagship, salt production and sales, had a minus
during the pandemic. The second blow was the decline
in park attendance. Most tourists who visit the Slovene
coast, as well as visitors to Postojna Cave, come to us.
We are recognized in the world as one of the most
protected wetlands. Schools were also closed. Kindergartens,
hotels, which are one of our biggest consumers
of salt, were closed.
You have experience with many European-funded
projects (Climaparks, Habit-Change, Saltpark etc.)
Which of them is the best example of good practice
that could be of interest to partners from
other countries of the Adriatic-Ionian region?
I would like to highlight three European projects of
which we are especially proud. The largest project was
the multi-year European LIFE project, which aimed to
protect wetland habitats. When I joined the company
in 2012, it was not possible to access the administrative
building, located in the very centre of the salt pans,
by road. The road was practically flooded and we could
not take away the salt. Through activities within the
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