Received MSc from the University of Colorado, USA and PhD from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Presently he is employed as full professor (in geography) by the young and dynamic University of Primorska at Koper-Capodistria. At present he is Dean of the Faculty of Tourism Studies TURISTICA of the University of Primorska (Portorož-Portorose / Koper, Capodistria) and acts as the honorary vice-president of the Commission on Political Geography of the International Geographic Union (CPG IGU) which he chaired for 6 years (2006 – 2012). He worked for almost three decades at the University of Ljubljana, but gained first work experiences at the Kompas Yugoslavia Travel Agency. Several years he was professionally active at foreign institutions of higher education: two years in Munich, Germany; four years in the United States of America – at universities in Boulder, Co., Portland, Or. and Springfield, Mo.; and one year in Christchurch, New Zealand. He received scholarship and research grants of the Fulbright, Deutscher Akademischer Austauchsdients (DAAD) and Erskine foundations. Professionally he published on subjects of Geography Tourism and Recreation, Political Geography, Geography of Population and Social Geography. He was member of the Austro-German team of professionals which, in the 1970’s, made the Methodology and Theory of Social Geography a basic tool in contemporary research and understanding of spatial processes. He is professionally interested in regions of SE Europe (The Balkans), the Eastern Mediterranean and the Eastern Alps. His “Slovenia – A Tourist Guide”, produced in co-authorship with M. Jeršič, has after the disintegration of Yugoslavia placed Slovenia on the world map of tourist destinations. This comprehensive description of tourist attractions and routes received the world’s “Best Tour Book” prize in 1995. For his internationally recognized work he was awarded with the title “Ambassador of Science of the Republic of Slovenia” (2005) and named “The Envoy of Science” (2010). He received highest recognition from his professional associations and work environments. Namely, he was head of geography departments, vice-dean and dean of faculties/colleges in Ljubljana and Koper-Capodistria. In 2002 he was among pioneers whose efforts resulted in the creation of the University of Primorska in Koper-Capodistria, the third public university of the young nation-state of Slovenia. He acted as vice-president of the National Council of Higher Education (2002–2006) and of UNESCO-Slovenia (2004–2008). Since 1992 he is member of the prestigious International Academy of Tourism Studies (IAST) as well as of several national professional associations. Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana recognized his professional work by granting him the “Golden Plaque«, he received the award »Messenger of Science “and the “Golden Plaque« by the University of Primorska, Koper-Capodistria. As the second in history of the Association of Slovenian Geographers he was in 2014 named a honorary member of the Austrian Geographical society (ÖGG), and was appointed member to the German-Austrian Association for South-East Europe (SOEG). In 2015, he received the highest national professional recognition – the Melik Award – for his lifetime work and the recognition of the Slovenian geography on the international level.
