Tourism Development Options in Marginal and Less-Favored Regions: A Case Study of Slovakia´s Gemer Region

Despite its rich cultural and natural heritage, including UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as the Wooden Churches of the Slovak part of the Carpathian Mountain Area, Slovakia's Gemer region lags behind other regions in tourism revenue. This study identifies key barriers to tourism development, including insufficient coordination among stakeholders, neglect of monuments, and underestimation of Roma culture and art production. It also highlights potential for growth through religious tourism (Gothic Road), geotourism and mining tourism (Iron Road), and agrotourism or creative rural tourism, with cross-border cooperation opportunities in Hungary. However, state policy instruments have exacerbated regional disparities rather than mitigating them.

Hutárová, D., Kozelová, I., & Špulerová, J. (2021). Tourism Development Options in Marginal and Less-Favored Regions: A Case Study of Slovakia´s Gemer Region. Land, 10(3), 229. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10030229