Growth in tourism industry above average in 2017

In 2017, tourist accommodation facilities recorded over 4.7 million tourist arrivals and over 11.9 million overnight stays, which is 13% more arrivals and 11% more overnight stays than in 2016, of which foreign tourists generated almost 8 millions of all overnight stays by tourists (67%) or by 14% more than in 2016 and over 3.4 millions of tourist arrivals (+14% as per 2016). Domestic tourists generated over 3.9 million overnight stays (+3,5% in comparison to 2016) and over 1.3 million arrivals (+5,5%).According to arrivals, the key markets were: Austria (10,5%), Italy (15,8%), Germany (10,9%), Croatia (5%), Serbia (3%) and the Russian Federation (1,5%). In comparison to 2016, the number of overnight stays also increased in 2017, from Germany (+26%), Italy (+6%), Croatia (+13%), Serbia (+8%), the Russian Federation (+25%) and Austria (+12%). The majority of overnight stays were generated in hotels – almost 7.2 millions or 60% of all overnight stays, followed by camping sites with 14%. According to the number of generated overnight stays, municipalities with spa facilities (27% or almost 3,3 millions) prevail, followed by coastal municipalities (20%), the Municipality of Ljubljana (12%) and mountain municipalities (26%).

The value of travel export was EUR 2.2 billion in the period January–November 2017, which is almost 9% more than in the same period in 2016.

Slovenia was above average

In 2017, tourism grew also at the global level, although not with such an intensity as in Slovenia. The data of the World Tourism Organisation, UNWTO, reveal that last year’s results were the best in the last seven years: tourist arrivals at the international level grew by 7% (+17% in Slovenia) in the first ten months of 2017 and reached 1.322 billion. A 4–5% growth is forecast for 2018. Europe, internationally the most visited continent, attained an 8% growth in the first ten months of 2017 (671 million arrivals), which is substantially larger than in 2016. The countries which belong to the so-called Mediterranean group and which on average recorded a 13 % growth contributed greatly to the high growth rate. This group also includes Slovenia.

The comparison of international arrivals within Europe, prepared by the European Travel Commission (ETC), confirmed Slovenia’s attractiveness as a tourist destination. Among European countries, Slovenia recorded the largest growth in arrivals of Dutch tourists (before Lithuania and Cyprus; Croatia was in 8th place and Austria was 23rd); third largest growth in arrivals of German tourists (after Cyprus and Montenegro; Croatia was in 12th place and Austria was 26th); eighth largest growth in arrivals of French tourists (Croatia was in 13th place and Austria was 22nd) and British tourists (Croatia was in first place and Austria was 23rd) and ninth largest growth in arrivals of Russian tourists (Austria was in 14th place and Croatia was 24th).

In spite of the exceptional growth results in 2017, the forecast of tourist arrivals in Europe for 2018 remains conservative (3.6% growth), while a 4.2% growth in tourist arrivals at the global level is anticipated. 

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