In For a Great Tourist Season If August Successful

The projected growth trend of the number of tourists and overnight stays in top Slovenian tourist destinations continues in the peak summer season. If the tourist numbers growth trend from May and July continues in August, the summer season and tourist year 2008 will generate impressive results for the Slovenian tourism economy.

Tourist arrivals statistics for major Slovenian tourist destinations are known: the positive trend from July will continue, forecasting another successful summer tourist season. In 15 Slovenian natural health resorts, the number of visitors in July increased by 3.9% and the number of overnight stays increased by 10% compared to last year. Compared to July 2007, the number of overnight stays in Ljubljana increased by 15% and the number of visits to tourist information centres increased by 22%; the municipality of Piran registered a 3% rise of occupancy rate of Portorož hotels, Bled recorded a 4% increase in the number of overnight stays over the same period last year. In the light of the remarkable July statistics for Slovenian tourism and given a successful August, we expect a record-breaking tourist year 2008. Mr Dimitrij Piciga, M.Sc., Slovenian Tourist Board director: “We expect the results of the summer tourist season to be even more successful than last year. We believe that the positive growth trend in the number of tourists and overnight stays will continue like in recent years. This forecast is based on statistical data for the current tourist season and successful efforts to deseasonalise Slovenian tourism offer, that is, to tone down the seasonal character of tourist demand. A key factor for a successful season is also numerous investments made by the Slovenian tourism economy. At the same time, positive results of efforts to diversify the demand and lessen Slovenian tourism’s dependence on a handful of key foreign markets are shown in the form of double or even triple-digit increase in the number of visitors and their overnight stays from the growing markets, such as overseas, Scandinavian and Eastern European markets, where the Slovenian Tourist Board and Slovenian tourism have in the last two years intensified their marketing and publicity campaigns. If the weather continues to be favourable for tourism, we will record another excellent tourist year at the end of 2008.”

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