Mala Nedelja, Pomurska, Slovenia

Mala Nedelja is situated in a picturesque landscape at the foot of the Slovenske Gorice mountain range. The surrounding area is rich in forests, agricultural lands, vineyards, meadows, and pastures. The village boasts a rich cultural heritage that is being preserved for future generations, including historical buildings, churches, museums, and traditional crafts. The village also offers a diverse range of tourist attractions, including cycling and hiking trails, facilities for tasting local specialties, and much more.

Accordingly, the development of Mala Nedelja has focused on expanding tourist infrastructure and offerings to increase local employment, strengthen the economy, prevent outmigration, and improve the quality of life for residents. These residents benefit from services, recreational facilities, local supply options, and an extensive culinary offering just as much as the guests do. Noteworthy is the excellent cooperation with the municipality, other districts, and neighboring municipalities for the region‘s tourism development, as well as the strong collaboration between administration, citizens, the economy, as well as tourism-related and other industries. A prime example of this cooperation is the “Bioterme Mala Nedelja“ spa and hotel, along with its attractive glamping site, which has become a flagship of local tourism in recent years. Local winemakers, farmers, craftsmen, and artists are closely partnered with this project on various levels.

There is also a strong emphasis on social cohesion. In addition to an active association culture and unifying traditional festivals, the community considers the identification of residents with their village and knowledge of its history to be key factors. Lectures, symposia, and workshops – often in cooperation with universities – aim to deepen this understanding. Great importance is also placed on climate and environmental protection, as well as the preservation of the defining cultural landscape through careful management.

Mala Nedelja is a good example of how tourism, when integrated into a comprehensive concept that centers on the cooperation between the economy, agriculture, and the community, can significantly contribute to creating a vibrant and sustainable living environment.

The community and the Winemakers‘ Association of Mala Nedelja achieved multiple goals with the construction of the “House of Winemakers“. It was built almost entirely without external support on the site of the dilapidated former fire station, thus avoiding new soil sealing. The financing was also done through private funds from the members of the Winemakers‘ Association and donations.

The House of Winemakers is located just 2.5 km from the village‘s main tourist facility, the Bioterme spa and its attached hotel, making it easily accessible for guests as part of a walk. The high demand from spa visitors for opportunities to taste local wines and purchase souvenirs was one of the main motivations for realizing the project. The winemakers recognized that it made sense not for each of them to try to attract guests to their often less attractive individual establishments, but to jointly promote and operate the new location, adding value for everyone. Today, tourists can find not only local wines to suit every taste, but also other products from local agriculture, handicrafts, and art. At the same time, the highly frequented House of Winemakers has also become a place of sociability for residents of all generations, where locals and guests can interact, and where the associations of Mala Nedelja host cultural and other events.

To save costs, increase efficiency, provide more comfort, and simultaneously contribute to climate protection, the municipality of Ljutomer, in collaboration with the residents of the Mala Nedelja district and the local economy, has implemented the energetic renovation of public buildings, particularly those owned by the municipality. These renovations are  based on a comprehensive concept and over the last few years, the sports hall, two elementary schools, the kindergarten, and the local music school were updated.

In a second project phase, the old building structures were dried out, facades were renovated and redesigned, and new roofs were installed to ensure long-term operation of these essential leisure and educational facilities and to improve the atmosphere in the respective buildings.

Another infrastructure measure, considered particularly important by the local community, was the restoration of a road and footpath approximately 900 meters long, with energy-saving lighting, directly connecting the Bioterme Mala Nedelja spa with the historic village center. This significantly improved the interaction between the spa guests and local gastronomy, service businesses, and the wider economy, while also promoting social interaction between locals and tourists.

Evaluated: 2024