This study investigates the relationship between the quality of hospitality services and sustainable equestrian tourism development in Slovenia. The focus will be on the relations between equestrian tourism motivations, hospitality services quality, overall service quality, equestrian tourists’ satisfaction, and behavioral intentions. The target population was equestrian tourists who stayed in one of 30 tourism farms in Slovenia and used both accommodation and food and beverage services. Face-to-face surveys with convenience sampling were used for the data collection. The results show that equestrian tourism motivations are positively associated with both hospitality services quality and the overall service quality in equestrian tourism. Moreover, the overall service quality in equestrian tourism is positively related to equestrian tourists’ satisfaction, while equestrian tourists’ satisfaction is positively related to behavioral intentions. In addition, accommodation service quality and food and beverage service quality both mediate the association between equestrian tourism motivation and overall satisfaction. The study provides both theoretical and practical implications. For one thing, it fills the research gaps present in the literature. In addition, it gives practical guidelines to farmers and tourism practitioners regarding equestrian tourism development as one of the popular areas of sustainable tourism development in rural settings.

This study analyzes the effects that action 112 of the Rural Development Policy had on the socioeconomic status of Slovenian dairy farms. The data used in this paper were collected from Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), a database for applicants in action 112 (young farms transferees), from whose applications for participation in this action the data were obtained. Twenty-eight different econometric models were developed during the first stage of the research. The evaluation of the models was subsequently performed by applying valid statistical and econometric criteria. The results reveal the main positive effects that action 112 had on socioeconomic indicators of the dairy farms: number of full-time labor power, number of head of large livestock, total revenue (in euros) and net value added. Statistically significant differences in benefits from action 112 among dairy farms were determined by using two sets of dummy variables: region and level of education. The research in the field of the effect of the rural development policy action support of young farmers on socioeconomics performance of milk farms can make a significant contribution to developing the researchers’ work and policy makers’ decisions. Furthermore, this research is important from the agronomic point of view, since its results support two of the basic goals of Common agricultural policy after 2020: environmental care and conservation of landscape and biodiversity.

Exploring the connection between agrotourism, rural tourism value chain, and wellness tourism is essential, as the term agrowellness has not yet been well-established in professional and scientific literature. This study aimed to assess the current state of agrowellness offers in farm stays in Slovenia's Eastern Cohesion Region, a less developed tourist area compared to other leading destinations in the country. The study focused on determining if there is a connection between the development of agrowellness offers and the specialized label of a tourist farm that provides a healthy living experience. Additionally, the survey aimed to identify any statistically significant differences in the development of agrowellness offers based on selected general characteristics of the farmland, such as the location of the tourist accommodation farm, farm size, farm self-sufficiency, and the age of the operator of complementary activities. A quantitative structured observation method was used to assess the state of development of agrowellness offers on farm stay in Slovenia, specifically in the Eastern Cohesion Region. Five main themes emerged from the study, along with some fundamental characteristics of the tourist accommodation farm. These themes include sports and recreational activities, healthy diet, mental wellness, healthy lifestyle activities, and wellness services, as well as other rural tourism offerings. The over-all assessment of the wellness offer showed that the sampled farm stay underperformed compared to the average, but still had potential for further development. The healthy diet and sports and recreational activities segments received the highest ratings. Statistically significant differences were observed in the mental wellness segment, where farm stays with more than 34 hectares of land had more advanced mental wellness offers. Additionally, farm stays with operators of the complementary activity aged 50 or older had a more developed wellness offer in the sports and recreational activities segment.

The new role that agricultural advisory plays in innovation processes and the development of agriculture towards sustainability requires the improvement of its performance. The basic prerequisite for realizing the potential of agricultural advisory in the areas mentioned is a strongly developed education system that will enable the development of strong advisory capacities. This survey is based on three areas of the education system: organization of education, satisfaction with educators, and evaluation of education and the potential of individuals in the organization. The basic principles on which the education system is based are outdated and, therefore, inadequate for developing the performance that the new role of agricultural advisors in innovation processes requires. Multiple regression analysis results indicate that a greater evaluation of education and the potential of individuals in the organization implies greater involvement of agricultural advisors in the selection of topics that will be provided to them through education and more advanced performances of educators responsible for educating. One-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) determined that there are no statistically significant differences, at the p < 0.05 level, in the level of perceived competence of advisors for sustainable agricultural practices depending on the frequency of attending education.

Over the past half-century, rural areas have experienced a decline in vitality due to various reasons, primarily caused by emigration and a decline in population. However, in recent years, especially during and after the pandemic period, rural tourism has become extremely attractive to tourists and has become a factor in revitalizing rural areas. Rural tourism, as a selective form of tourism, encompasses numerous resources, spaces, and activities that not only attract tourists but also bring significant quantitative and qualitative changes to rural settlements and the lives of local communities. The positive changes affected by the development of rural tourism are undeniable on different levels - destination level, national level, local community level or rural household level. However, it is crucial that rural tourism, given the sensitivity of rural areas, develops in a planned, careful, and sustainable manner. The aim of this paper is to highlight the trends in the development of rural tourism and the positive and negative aspects of its development. The paper will present good practices in the development of sustainable rural tourism in the Municipality of Irig (Vojvodina, Serbia). Economic benefits for all relevant stakeholders, protection of natural resources and the introduction of new ecological practices, protection, and revitalization of cultural heritage, involvement of local population in the planning and development of rural tourism, with active support from the government and non governmental sectors through education and financing, must be key directions in the sustainable development of this form of tourism.

This study examines conference design preferences among Generation Z participants, with a particular focus on technology-related and sustainability-oriented attributes. As this generational cohort becomes increasingly influential within the business events sector, understanding their expectations is essential for the future development of conferences. Survey data were collected from 257 Generation Z respondents in Serbia, all of whom had prior conference attendance experience. Exploratory factor analysis was applied to identify the underlying dimensions of conference design preferences. The results reveal a four-factor structure comprising experiential and personalized learning, sustainability and social responsibility orientation, technology-enhanced conference interaction, and virtual participation and networking. The findings indicate that Generation Z strongly values interactive digital technologies that enable real-time engagement with speakers and flexible participation formats. In addition, sustainability-related practices, including environmentally responsible and socially conscious initiatives, emerge as a distinct and influential dimension shaping conference attractiveness. The study concludes that technology integration and sustainability are central determinants of conference appeal for Generation Z rather than peripheral features. These findings offer practical recommendations for conference organizers and destination stakeholders seeking to design future-oriented conferences that align with the expectations of this emerging and increasingly important market segment. Article history: Received (February 5, 2026); Revised (February 15, 2026); Accepted (February 22, 2026); Published online (February 27, 2026)