Paper short abstract:

This paper examines the mutually constitutive relationship between routes and mobility practices as well as the ways that this relationship has informed both the development of Bohinj as a tourist destination located within the protected area of Triglav National Park.

Paper long abstract:

This paper examines the mutually constitutive relationship between routes and mobility practices and the ways in which this relationship has informed the development of Bohinj as a tourist destination over time. What was once a relatively remote region became - with the aid of various routes of transportation - a tourist destination for an ever-broader range of visitors in the early 20th century. However, changes in tourism practices facilitated by existing infrastructure as well as culturally constructed expectations of accessibility linked to automobile transport have spurred debates concerning where the limits of tourism development lie, especially given Bohinj's location in Slovenia's only national park - Triglav National Park.

The author analyzes the ways in which residents and tourism service providers depict the shifting practices of tourism mobility as well as develop strategies in order to address the challenges that sustainable development implies for tourism in a protected area. This includes examining existing and emergent programs that encourage alternative forms of mobility in Bohinj (including walking, cycling and public transport) and studying the introduction of new mobility technologies into the landscape to facilitate these alternative mobilities. Finally, the author tracks to what extent these different modes of transportation are being redefined against the backdrop of sustainability.