1994 – In the sphere of the European PHARE TEMPUS project, the Slovenian Tourist Industry establishes the College of Hospitality and Tourism in Portorož (VŠHT). The predecessor of Turistica is thus the first independent Higher Education institution in Slovenia, established according to EU standards. Mag. Marjan Tkalčič is the first appointed dean.
1995 – In autumn VŠHT enrols the first generation of students, studying on the Higher Education professional programme Hospitality and Tourism. The international comparability of the programme is still assured by the TEMPUS project, which connects VŠHT with the universities in Italy (Università Ca’ Foscari in Venice), Frnace (University of Angers), Belgium (Vrije Universiteit in Brussels) and the Netherlands (University of Applied Sciences NHTV in Breda). In the first years, the studies are carried out at the premises of the prestigious Villa Marija in Portorož.
2000 – VŠHT is renamed to Turistica – College of Tourism Portorož. Through an evaluation, performed together with the tourism industry, the first contextual update of the study programme is made. Hence three study orientations are formed: Hospitality, Gambling and Tourism. The full-time studies are carried out in Portorož, part-time studies, on the other hand, are performed in Radenci, Ljubljana and Nova Gorica.
2003 – Dr. Milan Abrož is appointed as Dean. Turistica becomes the founding member of the new Slovenian university – the University of Primorska. The land next to the student dorms in Portorož is meant for Turistica to built its own new premises. Until the new building is constructed (2007) the lectures are held at the Auditorium Portorož arts and convention centre. The Encuentros scientific conference on tourism is planned and in 2004 carried out as the first larger international conference of Turistica.