PRESS RELEASE
Great results for Slovenian tourism in the first eight months of this year
In the first eight months,
a 10% increase in the number of tourists visiting Slovenia
30 September 2016– Provisional data by the Statistical Office of The Republic of Slovenia (SORS)regarding tourist overnight stays from January up to and including August show an 8% increase in tourist arrivals and a 6% increase in overnight stays compared to the same period in 2015. The positive trend of growth in the number of domestic and international tourists continues.
This year, the number of foreign and domestic tourists visiting Slovenia has been on the rise. In the period from January up to and including August, the tourist arrivals increased by 8% and the overnight stays by 6% compared to the same period in the previous year. The number of foreign touristsincreased by 10%, with an 8% increase in foreign tourist overnight stays. From January to August, Slovenia recorded a 71% visit of foreign tourists, of which 66% chose to stay overnight. During the first eight months of this year,the number of domestic tourists increased by 4%, with a 2% increase in domestic tourist overnight stays.
The results of the summer tourist season in Slovenia are satisfactory; the forecast for 2016 is also promising
Tourists from Austria, Italy and Germany represent a significant part of the traditional Slovenian tourism market and the largest share in foreign tourist overnight stays. In comparison to the first eight months of the previous year, the number of tourists from these states increased in terms of both arrivals and overnight stays. There was a 7% increase in arrivals and a 6% increase in overnight stays with Austrian tourists, a 7% increase in arrivals and an 8% increase in overnight stays made by Italian tourists, and a 6% increase in arrivals and a 4% increase in overnight stays by German tourists.
A double-digit increase in overnight stays is noted in many European and overseas states, including Israel(+27%), Hungary (+19%), Serbia(+10%), Poland (+11%), the Czech Republic (+13%), Slovakia (+13%), Bulgaria (+18%), Romania (+18%), Denmark (+22%), Luxembourg (+18%), Turkey (+26%), Spain (+24%), Switzerland (+10%), Macedonia (+26%), the Republic of Korea (+25%), China(+18%) and the USA (+12%).
Minister of Economic Development and Technology Zdravko Počivalšek said:
"Based on the figures regarding tourist arrivals and overnight stays in the first 8 months of this year, which were published today by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, we can estimate that the summer tourist season has been great and that the trend will continue in the upcoming months due to the appealing tourist offer. In the first eight months of 2016, the number of foreign tourist arrivals was increased by 9.6%, with a more than 8% increase in overnight stays compared to the same period last year.
In addition, we are extremely pleased that we have also achieved an increase in the number of domestic tourist arrivals and overnight stays. I am convinced that the year 2016 will be a record year for tourism. The gratifying figures are a result of excellent promotion made by Slovenian Tourist Board, which proves that decisions regarding the sustainable development of tourism have been the right choice. After being declared world's first green country based on the comprehensive assessment as per the Global Destinations criteria, Slovenia will, without a doubt, become even more attractive destination for demanding tourists from around the world. They will be encouraged to visit Slovenia by developing new, innovative and sustainable tourist products and services. The development of these products and services will be promoted though a public tender for the tourism economy, which has been published on the website of the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology.”
Maja Pak,Director of the Slovenian Tourist Board:
"The outstanding summer season results have confirmed that Slovenia is acquiring more and more recognition as a sustainability-oriented, green, active, healthy and safe boutique destination.Slovenian Tourist Board's intensive and successful activities have further contributed to the good results achieved in 2016.
The Board's goals for the future remain the same as they would like to increase Slovenia's recognition, establish effective partnerships with the Slovenian tourist economy and other key partners in the Slovenian tourism, intensify promotion of the Slovenian tourism in the most important European markets, develop new markets and segments, strengthen the digital content marketing and innovative marketing strategies, and provide key guidelines to stimulate and promote the sustainable tourism. This year, the Slovenian Tourist Board will perform crucial presentations in foreign markets, including the presentation of Slovenia as an excellent destination for preparations of world-class athletes and active leisure time at the World Travel Market in London in the beginning of November, and the presentation of Slovenia's tourist offer in New York in October. The Slovenian Tourist Board will promote Slovenia as a five-star tourist destination by using digital sources and television advertising campaigns and by exposing key winter tourism products through outdoor advertising."
A successful tourist season is also predicted byspecific tourist destinations. Below are the current figures for Ljubljana, Piran, Izola, Bled and Kranjska Gora.
According to the evaluation the Turizem Ljubljana public institute made on the basis of information acquired from approximately 80% of accommodation capacities that are daily monitored by the tourist information centre, this year, the number of overnight stays in Ljubljana from 1 to 29 September stood at 94,383, whereas, at the same period in last year, they recorded 91,730 overnight stays. The statistics of the tourist information centre show a 3.3% increase in overnight stays in comparison to September 2015.
The Municipality of Piran registered 126,000 overnight stays in hotels during the first 28 days of September. They expect to record 131,000 overnight stays in hotels by the end of September, which is 8% more than last year. This means that hotels in Piran and Portorož will have 962,000 overnight stays in the first nine months of 2016, which is 3% more than last year. Almost three quarters of overnight stays are generated by foreign tourists.
Izola has so far recorded a 12% increase in overnight stays in 2016 in comparison to last year. All accommodation capacities combined recorded almost 28,000 overnight stays – 70% in hotels, 7% in hostels and private accommodation facilities, and 16% in camp sites. The 273,000 overnight stays recorded in the first nine months of 2016 is roughly the same number as overnight stays recorded last year.
Bledcontinues with the positive trend in tourist arrivals. A 10% increase in overnight stays in hotel rooms or private accommodations has been estimated for the period from January to August. A 6% increase in tourists, with a 3% increase in the number of foreign tourists, and a 4% increase in the number of domestic tourists have been recorded in the period from January to 28 September 2016. The ratio of domestic versus foreign tourists stands at 6:94%.
The situation is similar in Kranjska Gora, where the number of overnight stays continues to grow. In comparison to last September, the visits to the tourist information centre increased by 19%.
Numerous events for marketing, promotion and development of the Slovenian tourism will be held by the end of the year
Between 11 and 13 October the 6th DAYS OF SLOVENIAN TOURISM (DST), which is the main event in the tourist industry, attended by experts and organised in cooperation with all major partner institutions active in the field of tourism in Slovenia, will take place in Radenci. During the three-day event, numerous important events will be held as part of the DST (some of them are presented below). THE PLENARY PARTof the event, entitled 'The Creative Thinking'will take place on Wednesday, 12 October, at 1 pm, in the big congress room of Hotel Radin in the Radenci health resort. The main speaker will be Marco Steinberg, a creative thinker, and the founder and CEO of Snowcone & Haystack company. The round table will take place on Wednesday, 12 October, at 3 pm, whereas the 19th Slovenian Tourism Forum on the digital content marketing in tourism is planned for Thursday, 13 October.
In the following months, the presentation of Slovenia and the Slovenian tourism at the World Travel Market in London will be the main topic in foreign markets. The World Travel Market in London – WTM Londonis the leading global event for the tourism industry. At this key event, Slovenia will present itself as a sport tourism destination with a pristine nature, quality services and infrastructure which represent the best conditions for the preparation of athletes, while a wide variety of quality health and spa services offer an opportunity for sport rehabilitation.
Before the winter tourist season, the Slovenian Tourist Board has been carrying out several advertising campaigns at the emitting markets of the Slovenian tourism, including advertising on specific television channels and outdoor advertising surfaces, and presenting Slovenia as a tourist destination on digital networks. This year, numerous business events in specific European markets will be held, while in October, Slovenia and the Slovenian tourism will be presented to business community and media in New York.
In mid-October, Slovenia as a partner state will participate at a tourism marketplace TTG Incontri. TTG Incontri is the most important business event for the tourism sector in Italy, during which Slovenia will present itself as a partner state and thus seize the unique opportunity to enhance its media recognition and reputation.
During the I FEEL SLOVENIA – MAKE NEW MEMORIES extensive global digital campaign, which was launched in April, Slovenian Tourist Board delivered positive results. On the first day of autumn, a creative approach to communication was adopted to promote autumn and winter activities under the sloganMake new memories. This winter there will be something to talk about.The biggest emphasis is placed on the promotion of natural attractions, whereas a special attention is also given also towinter activities,spa tourism,urban tourism,andthe Slovenian cuisine. All communication elements of the campaign follow the story of Slovenia as agreen, active and healthy tourist destination,which is comprehensively reflected in video advertisements. To enhance the recognition and reputation of Slovenia as a tourist destination, Slovenian Tourist Board prepared a 90-second video presenting Slovenia as a land that offers numerous adventures, andemphasising major Slovenian destinations–Ljubljana, the Postojna Cave, Piran, Bled and Lipica.
The activities of establishing a new web portal that is going to be launched at the end of this year, and projects that will enhance the effectiveness of content marketing, such as the ambassadors of I feel Slovenia brand are in full swing.
The main goal of the Slovenian Tourist Board's activities in 2016 has been to present Slovenia as a green, active andhealthy destination, and to promote the I FEEL SLOVENIA brand, whereas a special focus has been put on the Healthy Waters and Ljubljana – the European Green Capital 2016 projects that demonstrate Slovenia's and the Slovenian tourism's commitment to sustainability. The efforts in putting Slovenia on the map of the greenest tourist destinations did not go unnoticed as evidenced by the recent Global Green Destinations Day international conference during which Slovenia has been declared the world's first green state after reaching the astonishing 96 out of 100 points.
Tourism is becoming an increasingly important economic industry with a great growth potential
Current data on the Slovenian tourism industry performance show that tourism is an increasingly important economic industry in Slovenia with a great potential for further growth. In Slovenia, tourism generates 13% of the gross domestic product, represents 8% of total exports and 38% of export in services, and employs 13% of all employees in Slovenia. At the same time, tourism is an industry that contributes substantially to Slovenia's recognition and reputation, presenting it as a sustainable-oriented, green, active and healthy state. Slovenia's efforts to develop and promote sustainable tourism have been particularly noticed among the experts.
Last year for the first time since the declaration of independent Slovenia, the number of overnight stays exceeded 10 million, whereas the inflow from travel services exceeded €2.2 billion.
Not to miss:
We kindly invite you to participate in a press conference that will take place as a part of the DST and will be held on Wednesday, 12 October, at 11 am, and in a tour of the Tourism and Hospitality Chamber of Slovenia, starting at 10 am.
Additional information
Slovenian Tourist Board
Dimičeva 13, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija
Tel.: 00386 (0)1 5898 550, Fax: 00386 (0)1 5898 560
Maša Puklavec, Global Public Relations,