When tourism meets law:governing short-term rentals in Slovenia

Purpose of the article – is to provide insight into regulatory efforts concerning short-term rentals (STRs) of private accommodations for tourists in Slovenia. The study examines the perspectives of public sector representatives engaged in STR regulation and to synthesize the most recent governmental approach to STR regulation in new the Hospitality Act (HA). The article builds upon previous research on STR regulation in Slovenia initiated in 2018. Research methodology – adopts a qualitative research design. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and in relevant secondary sources. The data were processed through content analysis, using coding and matrix techniques. Findings are presented descriptively and illustrated with tables and graphs. Findings – reveal the positions of public actors on the societal and tourism-related impacts of STRs, and their views on the regulatory framework. The synthesis of HA provisions is complemented by legal considerations, suggesting that establishing a definitive STR framework in Slovenia remains ongoing. Practical implications – The topic is relevant for Slovene tourism in light of recent governmental attempts, spanning a decade, to establish a coherent STR framework. Originality/Value – The study emphasizes the role of legal frameworks in sustainable tourism. By bridging tourism and law, it contributes to an underexplored scholarly field