Dr. Aleš Gacnik
Associate Professor, Department of Cultural Tourism, Faculty of Tourism
Studies – Turstica, University of Primorska
Head of the Centre of Gastronomy and Wine Culture – University of Primorska
Dr. Aleš Gačnik is an IGCAT expert (International institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism) since 2016. He is Associate Professor of social sciences and humanities in tourism and lecturer in the field of cultural heritage, and cultural and gastronomy tourism. As a researcher, he focuses his work in the fields of cultural heritage, art and tourism, heritage, cultural and creative tourism, museology, wine and culinary culture, agriculture, regional development, wine and gastronomy tourism. He has been the (co)organizer of several national and international conferences, (co)editor of several scientific and professional monographs and journals.
His research is directed at a wide range of projects in the field of research and communication of heritage and culture and incorporating them into various forms of social, cultural, economic and social development. In last decade he focused on the strategic research and developmental partnerships between heritage / culture, tourism and agriculture (cultural tourism, gastronomy / wine tourism).
His bibliography comprises more than 780 bibliographic units, with numerous publications in scientific and professional articles in domestic and foreign journals in the field of cultural heritage, tourism and development, hotels; executed over 80 projects in the field of cultural heritage and the (regional) development and (co-)author of more than 20 museum and gallery exhibitions and heritage projects.
The main research fields:
– cultural heritage and heritage tourism
– culture and cultural tourism
– gastronomy and gastronomy tourism
– wine culture and wine tourism
– museology and phenomenon of collecting
– mask culture (traditional and carnival masks and carnivals, carnival tourism)
– art & heritage hotels
– small boutique hotels
Receiver of several national and international awards:
2013: A great contribution towards achieving the mission of ZOTKS on the field of youth research work
– Silver Award from Association for Technical Culture of Slovenia (ZOTKS)
2017: Honor diploma of the wine counsellor (Sommeliér)
– Honor diploma of Association of wine advisers Sommeliér Slovenia
2018: Faculty of Tourism Studies Turistica (University of Primorska) – student award
– Master thesis of Katja Kovič, Tourist potential of pumpkin and pumpkin seed oil
2019: Faculty of Tourism Studies Turistica (University of Primorska) – student award
– Master thesis of Anja Pipan, Heritage as a basis for the development of gastronomic tourism in the Vipava valley
2019: Faculty of Tourism Studies Turistica (University of Primorska) – student grade
– rated by students as the best professor for the academic year 2018-2019 (grade: 4.83 out of 5)
2021: Faculty of Tourism Studies Turistica (University of Primorska) – faculty award
– recognition for pedagogical excellence in 2020 for achieving above-average results and professional achievements in the field of pedagogical work and in strengthening the reputation of the faculty
2023: Faculty of Tourism Studies Turistica (University of Primorska) – student award
– Master thesis of Simona Skubic, Recognition of Slovenian gastronomic regions through protected agricultural products and foodstuffs
Membership (current / standstill / former) in humanitarian, gastronomic and other associations or clubs:
1998 – 2012: Lions Clubs International – Lions club Ptuj / District 129 Slovenia
2009 – Chaîne des Rôtisseurs (1248 – 1950)
2012 – Society for the Recognition of Sautéed Potato and Onions as an Independent Dish
2014 – 2017: St. George Orden – European orden from Haus of Habsburg Lothringen
2014 – 2018: Honorable wine convent of St. Urban
2015 – SloVino Sommellier Club
