Cave Tourism in the Classical Karst: Assessing sustainability across borders

Abstract: Cave tourism was first established in Europe in the classical karst, a geographic region that spans the north-eastern Italian / western Slovenian border. This area has long been celebrated for its geological richness and high tourism potential. Over the last century, touristic caves have become the main economic attractions in the region, prompting conversations about economic and environmental sustainability in the age of mass tourism. As the classical karst crosses a national border, cohesion between Italian and Slovenian governments, scientists and tourism operators is crucial in order to achieve sustainable management practices in the entire region. Equally important to operational sustainability is the promotion of geoheritage and geoconservation through social and educational outreach. This paper aims to provide a review of cave tourism in the classical karst using the Karst Sustainability Index (Van Beynen, Brinkmann, and Van Beynen 2012), a standardized metric published in 2012 that is specifically designed for karst areas. The study will measure environmental, economic, and social indicators of sustainable development across five touristic caves in Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy) and Slovenia. Lastly, the paper includes constructive criticism of current practices and offers suggestions for future growth and enhanced sustainability.