Inner-Karst statistical region

Inner-Karst statistical region spreads to 1.456 km2, which amounts for 7,2% of the entire Slovenia area. It includes the following municipalities: Bloke, Cerknica, Ilirska Bistrica, Loška dolina, Pivka in Postojna. There are 51.483 inhabitants, which makes Inner-Karst region one of the smallest in Slovenia and at the same time the least densely populated (35 inhabitants/ km2), having five times lower population density than the Osrednjeslovenska region. Nevertheless, a high population growth rate, mainly due to its popularity among immigrants, has lately contributed to a slightly higher population density.

The is among economically less developed in the country as in 2006 it contributed only 1,9 % of Slovenia GDP. In 2007 craft enterprises presented almost a half of all enterprises in industry and services (45,9 %), which was much more than in the Osrednjeslovenska region that had the lowest share of craft enterprises (30,2 %). With only five persons in paid employment on average, enterprises in this region were among the smallest in the country. Even though the employment rate was in 2007 with 64,5 % the highest in the country, a large number of people from Notranjsko-kraška worked in the neighbouring regions. Accordingly, economic strength of Inner-Karst inhabitants is proportionally high. In comparison with other regions, the inclusion of children in day-care centres is lower. National and regional traffic infrastructure is relatively well developed and enables quality access to the inside and outside of region, mostly in direction towards Ljubljana, Koper and Reka.

 

Development concept of eco-region

The region is directed to diminish the tendency of development behindhand with implementation of development concept of eco-region. With it, it is aspired to turn to advantage of natural, cultural, social, economical and environmental benefits that the region holds. The heart of eco-region is presented by the areas of Nature 2000 that occupies about 54 % of regional entire area and are – together with other preserved natural treasures – the main potential of region. Additionally, they present the developmental opportunity of the region, directed to implementation of sustainable tourism. This orientation presents great market opportunity as analysis show that there are no areas in Slovenia, where all economic, social and environmental activities would be directed to ecologically healthy way of residing and living. Namely, the Inner-Karst region has plenty of possibilities to direct its development energy to this objective. There are several characteristics that enable the attainment of this:

•   Good preservation of natural environment
•   Plenty of natural and cultural resources
•   Immense forestry and energy potential
•   A very small proportion of environmentally-challenged industry.

The region will above all encourage investment in coherence with nature and environment that would at least preserve if not support natural resources and would at the same time assure high quality living. The region will thus gain attraction to home as well as foreign visitors and will be recognized as good and well-known brand. This aim presents a horizontal priority that will be present in every aspects of living and is thus included in all measurements and most of development projects.

The vision of the region is: »We will become recognized, economically stable and developmentally ecologically directed region that will encourage self-development by usage of natural and cultural resources and by stimulating the development of human resources. We will become known by healthy way of living and as a well-known tourist destination.«

 

The Inner-Karst region in numbers:


Area (km2)                                                         1456
Population                                                          51483
Population density                                               35,4
Number of live births                                            473
Number of deaths                                                489
Natural increase                                                  -25
Number of persons in employment                           17557
Number of persons in paid employment                    15625
Number of self-employed persons                           1933
Number of registered unemployed persons                1664
Regional gross domestic product, fixed rate              591

 

 Source: SURS, 2006