DETUROPE - The Central European Journal of Regional Development and Tourism 2026, 18(1):181-210 | DOI: 10.32725/det.2026.008

Prioritisation of Sustainable Development Objectives and their Achievement in Museums and Galleries in Slovakia

Kristína Pančíkováa,*, Ján Veselovskýa, Viktória Gergelyováa
a Department of Tourism, Faculty of Central European Studies, University of Constantine the Philosopher, Nitra, Slovakia

Sustainable development has emerged as a pivotal global objective in the contemporary era, exerting a profound influence on all facets of social and economic life. This imperative poses a significant challenge for museums and galleries. The objective of study is to examine the integration of sustainable development principles into the management practices of select museums and galleries in Slovakia. The analysis aims to identify the specific activities undertaken by these institutions to contribute to the realization of social, environmental, and economic objectives within the tourism. The analysis meticulously documents the prevailing practices concerning environmental responsibility, financial sustainability, and social engagement within these cultural institutions in the tourism. The study is anchored in primary data procured from the management of 36 museums and 14 galleries in Slovakia during the period spanning from May to September of 2024.The analysis employs a range of non-parametric tests, including the Friedman, Wilcoxon, and McNemar tests. The findings of the study indicate a clear prioritization of social objectives by the studied museums and galleries, superseding environmental and economic concerns. The findings concerning the utilization of museums and galleries in tourism offer significant insights for museum managers, decision makers, and academic professionals involved in the development and implementation of sustainable practices in the cultural sector. The research specifically focuses on Slovakia, an area that has not been sufficiently explored in global research on cultural institutions and sustainable development. Such an approach brings new insights into the implementation of sustainability in cultural institutions in the Central European context.

Keywords: gallery, museum, social, environmental and economic objectives, sustainability, tourism

Received: March 13, 2025; Revised: April 2, 2026; Accepted: May 12, 2026; Published: May 16, 2026  Show citation

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Pančíková, K., Veselovský, J., & Gergelyová, V. (2026). Prioritisation of Sustainable Development Objectives and their Achievement in Museums and Galleries in Slovakia. DETUROPE - The Central European Journal of Regional Development and Tourism, 18(1), 181-210. doi: 10.32725/det.2026.008
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