The catalogue that was released in 50,000 copies in cooperation with the Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) was presented at Wednesday's meeting of the Association of Slovenian Farmstays in Šentilj.

Agritourism goes well with Slovenia's striving for green and sustainable tourism, as it offers an alternative to mass tourism, a healthy and active holiday in the countryside, said Livija Kovač Kostantinovič of the STO.

Slovenia boasts more than 400 farmstays and many of them adhere to the latest trends in tourism by developing innovative products such as sleeping at hay barns in the Logarska dolina valley or a forest selfness in Cerkno, she noted.

Ethnologist Janez Bogataj thinks the sector with a 50-year tradition will survive only if it is offered systematic training. "Farmstays are estates whose primary activity is agriculture and secondary tourism, all the rest is walking on thin ice," he said.

Agritourism generates about one percent of all arrivals and overnight stays in Slovenia. Last year, the sector recorded a one percent growth both in arrivals and overnight stays for both foreign and domestic guests.

Some 70% of the guests are Slovenians, while foreigners enjoying this type of holidays are mostly Germans, Italians, Austrians, the French, Israelis and Belgians.

Farmstays have a maximum of 60 seats and 30 beds available and at least 40-50% of home-grown food products. They offer unique experiences to their guests, according to the farmstays' association.