History
Traces of the past
In the archives of old minutes we found a lot of interesting information about the development of tourism in Bohinj and the activities of the association. Among them is a document dated 28 February 1947, when the Bohinj Tourist Board was entered in the list of tourist associations in the form in which it still operates today. The association was part of the Tourist Board of Slovenia, Bohinj branch.
The beginnings of tourism in Bohinj
The roots of organised tourism in Bohinj date back to the end of the 19th century. In 1872, the Triglav Friend Association was founded in Srednja vas, with the aim of promoting Triglav tourism – mountaineering. At that time, the term “tourist” was used to refer to mountaineers, climbers and travellers. At that time, tourism was mainly about starting to build mountain huts, discovering new routes and training mountain guides.
It was only with the construction of the Bohinj railway in 1906 that a window to the world was opened to the Bohinj people and vice versa – Bohinj was opened to the world. The railway made Bohinj more accessible and interesting for tourists, opening the door for the development of tourism.
The origins and importance of the Bohinj Tourist Board
Although the beginning does not happen all at once, the year 1907, when the Association for the Attraction of Foreigners for Bohinjska Bistrica and its Surroundings and the Municipality of Srednja vas was founded on 17 February, is considered the beginning of organised tourism.
The association initially had 60 members, mainly innkeepers, innkeepers and villa owners. The president of the association was Martin Humek, a super-teacher, fruit grower and beekeeper, the founding member was the parish priest Ivan Piber, who understood not only the spiritual care of the locals, but also the tourist potential of Bohinj, and the first secretary of the association was the very active Jože Ravhekar, who, among other things, built the Hotel Zlatorog, managed the Danica swimming pool and the Belvedere toboggan run, and was involved in the construction of the trail to the Savica waterfall.
Dr Valentin Krisper, who is considered one of the most important pioneers of tourism in Kranj, and Alfonz Mencinger, who was one of the first Slovenian tourism writers and focused mainly on the hotel industry and foreign traffic in Bohinj, were also very active in the development of Bohinj tourism.
The association has been very active. It was involved in the regulation plan of Lake Bohinj, drawn up by the Ljubljana engineer Koch, was active in the reconstruction of roads, bridges and footpaths, had the bridge over the Savica River rebuilt, and took care of the marker boards, benches and boardwalks. A few months after its foundation, the first Bohinj brochure was published in Slovenian, German and Italian.
The number of foreigners staying at least one night increased from 2350 in 1906 to 8469 in 1907.
After 1909, winter tourism also developed significantly. The 2,100-metre-long Belvedere toboggan run in Bohinjska Bistrica and the Danica ice-skating rink were built, and touring skiing, ski lessons and toboggan rides were possible. At the end of the 1920s, a 50 m ski jump was built according to the plans of the Norwegian Hansen, over which Spodčeva Anica – a virtuous Bohinj woman in a skirt, considered to be the first Slovenian female ski jumper – flew.
During this time, additional associations were formed to develop tourism activities. In 1925, the Transport and Beautification Society for Inner Bohinj, St. John by Lake Bohinj was founded, which was renamed the St. John in Bohinj Tourist and Transport Beautification Society in 1932. There was also the “Skala” Tourist Club (from 1941 onwards the “Skala” Alpine Club).
Unfortunately, both wars brought Bohinj to a fatal standstill and caused a crisis in tourism development.
1st decade
A new start after the Second World War (1946-1956) After the devastation of the Second World War, foreign traffic in Bohinj was actively revived again. The Tourist Board of Slovenia (TDS), Bohinj branch, actively started recruiting members, informing people and the authorities about the purpose of the association, cleaning up the legacy of the devastation of the war with hit-and-run campaigns, setting up an information service and selling postcards.
They have also started landscaping, such as public lighting, benches and a path to the Savica waterfall. The following year, an information kiosk was opened at the then Hotel Sv. Janez. In 1956, a stone bridge was built over the Little Savica.
They have also started landscaping, such as public lighting, benches and a path to the Savica waterfall. The following year, an information kiosk was opened at the then Hotel Sv. Janez. In 1956, a stone bridge was built over the Little Savica.
In 1954, the first post-war Cow Ball was organised. In cooperation with 61 landlords, the association offered 241 beds in private rooms. The story of the Tourist Board began with a lot of will and small steps that contributed to the development of both tourism and the quality of life in Bohinj.
2nd decade (1957-1966)
With the development of tourism in Bohinj, which was largely due to the work of the active members of the association, the demands of the guests and the tasks carried out by the association have also increased. This was the time when the association abandoned activities not directly related to tourism (municipal activities, barber shop, guest house) and concentrated more on propaganda activities, organising events and other purely tourist activities.
The Association’s tasks included, among others: issuing private room assignments, letting camping pitches, registration service for private rooms, campsites and holiday homes, and information service. With its active membership, the association monitors and participates in almost all tourism projects in Bohinj. In 1960, the first new Kresna Nights were organised and the association, in cooperation with 138 renters, offers 980 beds.
3rd decade (1967-1976)
During this decade, the association has expanded beyond the boundaries and confines of an amateur association and has become an important tourist economic association in Bohinj. They were involved in propaganda activities, maintenance of parks, lighting and general beautification and landscaping of the place, providing information boards, running an information service and, from 1970, also providing reception services for all the cooperating members bound by contract.
The work team already numbered 5 permanent staff and several additional staff during the season. In winter, FIS-A cross-country ski races were organised on an international scale, which also represented the largest Yugoslav event of its kind at that time. In 1970, a new office was opened at 48 Ribčeve Lazo. The route to the Savica waterfall was constantly being upgraded.
During this and the following period, the Association took the initiative and guaranteed the repayment of the loans taken out by the hosts for the renovation of the foreign rooms, thus improving the quality of their facilities.
4th decade (1977-1986)
The Society has gradually expanded its activities. Membership has grown to more than 500 people, with 5 full-time members and 12 to 14 additional members of staff during the season.
Increasingly, they have also pointed to the shortfall in Bohinj’s tourism. One of the major problems was that, apart from its natural features, Bohinj offers too little to the tourist and that it is generally underdeveloped in terms of tourism infrastructure. In the context of improving conditions, this decade has been marked by a shift in the development of the tourist offer: asphalting of roads, renovation of paths, improvement of ski slopes and improvement of the catering offer.
They are also actively starting to recruit new members, especially young people. In winter, they successfully organise winter events on ice, which the association organises in cooperation with sports associations.
5th decade (1987-1996)
Every year it becomes more evident that Bohinj is lagging far behind in comparison to some other tourist destinations and in terms of natural features. Nevertheless, the association is working and developing.
One event in particular marks this decade, the opening of Camp Danica in 1989, which is an important asset for the association and for Bohinj’s tourist offer in general. The same year also saw the opening of the Youth Tourist Office.
6th decade: (1997-2007)
The association is still active and is one of the key players in the development of tourism in Bohinj. It has 397 members and their main tasks are: providing tourist information, services and accommodation, organising events, selling souvenirs and managing the Danica campsite, the Savica waterfall and the Church of St John. In 2004, the Tourist Office was given a completely new exterior and interior design.
Renovation of the offices, reception and souvenir shop has been completed. In 2007, with the reorganisation of the association, they also started a new way of working, in particular strengthening the marketing and events area.
7th decade: (2008-present)
Tourist Board of Bohinj from 2007 to today: today the Board has 445 members. Every year since the founding of the association, at the general assemblies, the members have realised that there are still many untapped opportunities in Bohinj. Every year, the Association invests in the development and renovation of the town and in the organisation of traditional and other events. Recently, we have been actively involved with the local community and Tourism Bohinj and together we are striving to develop the visibility of Bohinj as a tourist destination.
With sensitivity to nature and the people of our place, the association is committed to developing tourism, while at the same time being aware of the vast opportunities that have not yet been exploited. We are looking to the future with big new plans, still with Bohinj, the Bohinj people and the visitors to our basin in mind.
The heroes of the Society's success story are...
…members of the first committee elected at the association’s founding assembly: Jože Jeraj (President), Egon Mihelič (Vice-President), Franc Ceklin (Treasurer), Ludvik Dobravc (Secretary), Angelca Zalokar (Deputy), Miloš Ravhekar, Franc Logonder, Viktor Cvetek, Alojz Pekovec, Jože Torkar (Committeemen), Janko Torkar (Propaganda Section Specialist), Tone Kopčaver (beautification section), Mirko Ogrin (economic section), Maks Rožič (forest protection), Ruža Majcen (protection of cultural monuments), Franc Resman (catering section), Jože Voje, Vinko Orešnik, Alojz Logar (supervision).
Interesting facts
- The Four Heart Men of Bohinj, as we call them today, were the first to climb our highest mountain, Triglav, on 26.06.1778. These men were the miner Luka Korošec, the hunter Štefan Rožič, the miner Matevž Kos and the ranocelnik Lovrenc Willomitzer.
- In 1807, the Austrian Archduke Johann of Habsburg visited Bohinj. He was more interested in the beauty of nature and the authenticity of the people than in the army and the court parquet. A commemorative plaque commemorates his arrival at the Savice Waterfall.
- At the end of the 1920s, a 50 m ski jump was built according to the plans of the Norwegian Hansen, over which Spodec’s Anica – a virtuous Bohinj woman in a wing, considered the first Slovenian female ski jumper – also flew. Although she had never jumped before, the jump carried her 25 m far.
- In 1934, Prince George, Duke of Kent, was on holiday. Here he announced his engagement to Princess Marina of Greece.
- Prince Pavel Karadjordjevic was in love with Bohinj. He was interested in nature and hunting, and stayed in Bohinj for up to 4 months at a time.
- The famous crime novelist Agatha Christe spent a holiday in Bohinj in 1967. She stayed at the Bellevue Hotel to get away from the public and journalists.
- Bohinj was once a popular destination for honeymooners on their wedding trips. A guest brought us a photo. He and his young wife had a great time on their first holiday together, so to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary, they decided to visit us again. We hope that other newlyweds have also found their first holiday in Bohinj to have made a difference to their happiness together! We wish you many more years of true happiness in marriage!
