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World video travel guide
2011 a record-breaking year for Slovenian tourism according to final statistical data
Last year, more tourists came to Slovenia than in 2008, which had been the most successful year for tourism until now
Friday, 30 March 2012 – According to the final official data provided by the Slovenian Statistical Office (SORS), the total number of overnight stays by tourists increased by 5% last year, compared to the year before, and surpassed 9.3 million overnight stays. The total number of tourists last year amounted to over 3.2 million, implying a growth in the amount of 7%. Compared to 2008, a record year until now, the total number of overnight stays in tourism grew by 1%, while the number of overnight stays by foreign tourists increased by 2%.
Foreign tourists
Last year, the number of foreign tourists and their overnight stays increased by 9% (to 2 million arrivals) compared to 2010 and the number of domestic tourists grew by 4% (to 1.2 million arrivals). In 2011, the most overnight stays in Slovenia were created by Italian tourists (over a million overnight stays), followed by tourists from Austria (0.7 million overnight stays with a 9% growth) and Germany (0.6 million overnight stays with a 12% growth).
It is pleasing to learn that a growth in the number of tourists from traditionally important markets for Slovenian tourism was recorded last year: from Germany by 13%, from Austria by 10% and from Italy by 2%. Compared to 2008, which was a record year until now, the number of overnight stays by tourists from Austria increased by 3% and from Italy by 2%, while German tourists remain slightly behind 2008 (-2%).
A positive trend in the number of tourists has also been noted with tourists coming from Russia (+27%), the Benelux countries (+18%), Hungary (+14%), Croatia (+7%), Serbia (+6%) and Great Britain and Ireland (+3%); a large growth is also expressed in the number of tourists coming from Asian countries. Namely, we recorded a 15% growth in the number of tourists coming from Japan, China, Korea and other Asian countries.
Domestic tourists
Last year, a positive trend was also noted in the number of domestic tourists (+4%), while the number of their overnight stays in 2011 remained at about the same level as in 2010 (3.9 million). A more modest number of visits by domestic guests is primarily a result of the economic crisis and decreased purchasing power in Slovenia.
By municipality
In 2011, the most overnight stays were created by health resorts (33%), followed by mountain resorts with 24% and seaside resorts with 22% of overnight stays. Compared to 2010, the highest growth was recorded in urban municipalities (+13%), followed by Ljubljana (+8%), seaside resorts (+6%), mountain resorts (+6%) and health resorts (+3%).
Forecasts for 2012
The European Travel Commission (ETC) predicts a 1.3% growth in this year’s number of tourist arrivals at a global scale, with a 1.1% decrease in the number of tourists from Europe, a 2.1% increase in the number of tourists from North America and a 5.5% increase in the number of tourists from Asia and the Pacific. Therefore, in light of the growth rate recorded in previous years, a moderate or steady growth of international tourism is expected this year.
Due to the severe economic situation in Slovenia and the consequently reduced purchasing power of Slovenian households, these are expected to allocate a relatively smaller part of their income for consumption – including for travelling across Slovenia – this year than the year before. The Slovenian Institute of Macroeconomic Analysis and Development (IMAD) expects a drop of economic activity in Slovenia this year in the amount of 0.9%; the situation is also expected to deteriorate in catering.
Mag. Maja Pak, director of the Slovenian Tourist Board: “2011 was a record-breaking year for Slovenian tourism, as the number of tourists and overnight stays surpassed the record-breaking year so far, year 2008. The number of foreign tourists increased by 9%, which is above the European average. The steep growth was definitely influenced by continuous and systematically designed communication at targeted markets in cooperation with the Slovenian tourism industry and focus on the key close-by markets that create the largest share of overnight stays. For example, after several years of decline on the German market, we managed to realise a 13% growth last year. The increasing visits to Slovenia are most definitely also a result of investments by the industry into the development of a quality and diverse offer, which is proven by the high rate of satisfaction expressed by tourists in Slovenia. At the same time, we realise we are in a period characterised by the economic crisis, which is reflected in a slow-down of growth in the number of international tourist arrivals, lesser consumption by tourists and, simultaneously, fierce competition.”
Mag. Marjan Hribar, Director-General of the Tourism and Internationalisation Directorate at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology of the Republic of Slovenia: “The final results provided by the SORS for 2011 have confirmed a statement, uttered so many times, that tourism is one of the key activities for this country’s economic development and is a development promoter, since it brings positive economic results based on actions and successful promotion, promotes local economies and makes an important contribution to the national GDP. Substantial investments in tourist infrastructure in recent years have been yielding results that are now expressed by the official statistics. However, due to a deepened economic crisis, we remain cautious in our predictions for 2012. In the area of tourist arrivals and overnight stays, we expect a 2 to 4% growth this year compared to 2011, a record year for Slovenian tourism. We predict the revenues from the export of travels to exceed €2 billion and to increase by about 4% from the record-breaking income in 2011. After the 2012-2016 Development Strategy for Slovenian Tourism is adopted by the Government of the RS, we will direct our activities in the sustainable development of tourism, promotion of innovations and quality in Slovenian tourism and the development of human resources in tourism.”
Arrivals and overnight stays by tourists in the first two months of 2012
Today, the SORS also released (temporary) data on arrivals and overnight stays by tourists in Slovenia for February 2012. The number of tourist arrivals from January to February 2012 increased by 2% compared to the same period last year. An increase has also been noted in the number of overnight stays, i.e. by 1%. In the first two months of 2012, 2% fewer arrivals by domestic tourists were recorded, while the number of overnight stays by domestic tourists decreased by 1%. Nevertheless, the arrivals and overnight stays by foreign tourists in the period from January to February 2012 grew compared to the same period last year (arrivals by 5% and overnight stays by 3%).
Foreign guests represented 40% of all overnight stays by tourists. Among foreign tourists, the most overnight stays this February were again created by Italians with a 19% share. These are followed by guests from Austria, who made up 13% of all overnight stays, Croatians with 12% and Serbians with 8%. The largest increase of overnight stays was recorded in guests coming from the Russian Federation (by 24%), Germany (by 22%) and Serbia (17%).
