Cultural Heritage, Sustainability, and Local Identity as Foundations for Developing a Creatively Sustainable Cross-Border Destination From the Perspective of Local Residents and Visitors

Authors

Maja Rožman
University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5120-6311
Barbara Bradač Hojnik
University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1314-9088

Synopsis

The chapter examines the role of cultural heritage, sustainability and local identity in the development of a creatively sustainable cross-border destination. It is based on the assumption that the development of such a destination depends not only on the availability of cultural, natural and creative resources, but also on how these resources are perceived and evaluated by key stakeholders. The empirical part is based on data collected within the CROCUS project, which addresses cross-border cultural and creative tourism in rural and remote areas. The analysis focuses on two complementary stakeholder perspectives: local residents and destination visitors. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, with the results interpreted according to perceived economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts of tourism, the importance of cultural heritage, sustainability and local identity, satisfaction with attractions, and destination development opportunities. The findings show that local residents mostly perceive tourism as a development opportunity, while visitors evaluate the destination positively, especially as a place for short or repeat visits. The results highlight that sustainable destination development requires the coordination of economic, cultural, social and environmental dimensions, as well as collaborative management of cultural heritage as a key resource for creating tourism experiences.

Author Biographies

Maja Rožman, University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business

Maja Rožman is an Associate Professor in the field of Quantitative Methods in Business Sciences at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor. She is Head of the Department of Quantitative Economic Analysis and a member of the Institute for Operations Research. She is the head of the Data Science in Business specialisation within the Faculty’s master’s study programme. Her research focuses on contemporary challenges in economics and business sciences, particularly from the perspective of quantitative research and data analysis. She actively participates in national and international research projects and is the author or co-author of numerous scientific and professional papers, chapters in research monographs and teaching materials. 

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: maja.rozman1@um.si

Barbara Bradač Hojnik, University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business

Barbara Bradač Hojnik is a Full Professor of Entrepreneurship at the Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, and has more than two decades of experience in entrepreneurship research and teaching. She has participated in numerous national and international research projects. She leads the Slovenian Entrepreneurship Observatory project and is a member of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor Slovenia research team and the longitudinal research programme Entrepreneurship for an Innovative Society. She is also a member of the Audit Council of the Ekvilib Institute for DOD. Her main research areas include start-up and corporate entrepreneurship, sustainable and digital entrepreneurship, and entrepreneurial ecosystems. She is the author or co-author of numerous scientific articles, research monographs and papers presented at international scientific conferences. 

Maribor, Slovenia. E-mail: barbara.bradac@um.si

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Published

August 11, 2026

How to Cite

Rožman, M., & Bradač Hojnik, B. (2026). Cultural Heritage, Sustainability, and Local Identity as Foundations for Developing a Creatively Sustainable Cross-Border Destination From the Perspective of Local Residents and Visitors. In B. M. Borut Milfelner (Ed.), & N. Basle Vertiz, Med ponudbo in povpraševanjem: konkurenčnost kreativno-trajnostnih turističnih destinacij (pp. 299-358). University of Maribor Press. https://doi.org/10.18690/um.epf.8.2026.6