The word is definitely out about Slovenia as it is attracting more holiday makers than ever. Almost 349,000 tourists visited Slovenia in April – 28% more than in the same month of 2016. Meanwhile, the number of tourist overnight stays in May was 27% higher than in 2016 and amounted to more than 810,000 people, the Slovenian Statistical Office said on June 26, revising and expanding preliminary data announced on May 31.

The highest numbers of tourist arrivals and overnight stays ever were recorded in 2016 in Slovenia, breaking the previous year’s record, as almost 4.32mn tourist were registered at accommodation where they spent 11.18mn nights. The number is expected to rise further, mainly thanks to the “Melania Trump effect” – the US first lady was born in Slovenia.

The country has many attractions for holiday makers: activity holidays, such as cycling, sailing and skiing are becoming increasingly popular as well as cultural holidays for those wanting to take in the art, architecture and stunning scenery of the country. Many people are also attracted to the mountain spa resorts with their thermal springs.

In April, the number of foreign tourist arrivals increased by 44% y/y and the number of their overnight stays was up by 47% y/y. The number of domestic tourists remained almost the same as in April 2016 while they spent 2% less overnights than a year ago.

Key markets, from which foreign tourists generated the most overnight stays in Slovenia in April, were Italy (almost 117,000 or 21%), Austria (16%), Germany (10%), Croatia (4%), the Russian Federation (4%) and Serbia (4%).

Meanwhile, in April against April 2016, overnight stays by tourists from Germany increased by 61%, from Italy by 56%, from Russia by 50%, from Austria by 49% and from Croatia by 27%. Overnight stays by visitors from Serbia decreased by 1%.    

In April, 70% or almost 566,000 of all tourist overnight stays were recorded in hotels, 8% at camp sites, 5% in apartment settlements, 4% in private accommodation – rented rooms and dwellings and 4% in youth hostels, according to the Statistical Office.

The highest number of tourist overnight stays (30% or almost 243,000) in Slovenia was recorded in health (spa) resorts, followed by seaside resorts (23% or almost 189,000), mountain resorts (17%) and the capital Ljubljana (15%).

In January-April, 13% more tourist arrivals and 10% more overnight stays were registered in tourist accommodation than in the same period of the previous year.

Domestic tourists generated 5% more tourist arrivals and 3% more overnight stays than in the same period of the previous year. In the same comparison the number of foreign tourist arrivals increased by 18% and of their overnight stays by 16%.