The Julian Alps Association at the 2022 Alpe Adria Fair

This year, 14 projects were submitted to the Jakob Prize call for entries with the theme "Innovative Cycling Experiences". In their selection, the international jury (Prof. dr. Janez Bogataj, President - Slovenia, Marko Lenarčič - Slovenia, Lojze Wieser - Austria, and Jožko Sirk - Italy) prioritised innovation, and also assessed the natural, cultural and social environment that cyclists can experience on their routes.

The projects in the outdoor sector of active, green tourism offer cycling as an opportunity for tourism development in the Alps-Adriatic region. On the one hand, they are designed responsibly and in symbiosis with the natural environment, and on the other hand, they contain or complement other destination offers. For the participants, they are definitely an experience of new, innovative content.

The jury has therefore shortlisted five projects for the 2022 Jakob Prize:

• Juliana Bike - Circular long-distance touring cycling route │Julian Alps Community (Turizem Bohinj) and the Slovenian Mountaineering Association
• ArheKoloVrhnika and KoloVagaBevke: family cycling adventures in Vrhnika │Škrateljc, Institute for Culture, Education and Sport
• Who makes your breakfast? Cycle to the source! │ Charming Slovenia, Herbal Glamping resort Ljubno
• Koroš ecohotel and mountain bike park on farms │ Koroš ecohotel (Kreatur d.o.o.)
• Cycling for the physically handicapped │ ARS VIVA, Institute for Cultural Integration and Socialisation of Social Groups

The Jakob 2022 Award and the title of Ambassador of Cycling Experiences were awarded to ARS VIVA, the Institute for Cultural Integration and Socialisation of Social Groups, for the project "Cycling for the Physically Handicapped". The Jakob 2022 Award and the recognitions for final selection were presented at the Alpe Adrina 2022 fair at the Ljubljana Exhibition Centre.

At this year's Alpe Adria fair, which took place at the Ljubljana Exhibition Centre from 23 - 26 March 2022, the Triglav National Park and the Julian Alps Association are presenting themselves with a common central theme: the Julian Alps UNESCO MAB Biosphere Area.

At a press conference during the fair, we presented the best of what the area has to offer for the upcoming summer season:

• The Triglav National Park Quality Label,
• The Juliana Bike mountain bike trail - a new touring cycling experience in the Julian Alps,
• The Juliana Trial (a long-distance hiking trail around the Julian Alps) and the most popular park trails of the Triglav National Park,
• Sustainable mobility as a way to experience the Julian Alps Biosphere Area
• Cooperation with young people
• And other activities of the Julian Alps Association in 2022.

Speakers at the conference:

• Dr. Tit Potočnik, Director of the Triglav National Park Public Institute,
• Klemen Langus, Director of Tourism Bohinj and Coordinator of the Julian Alps Community,
• Davorin Koren, Head of the Development Department of the Triglav National Park Public Institution,
• Atila Armentano, Head of the Commission for Touring Cycling at Slovenian Mountain Association and 
• Grega Šilc, tour-cycling guide and holder of the TNP Quality Label.