Slovenian Tourism to Focus on Quality and Innovation
Stakeholders in tourism gathered in Maribor on Thursday to examine ways of creating added value and offering innovative products. There is increasing demand for products that offer something more, and such products typically have higher value added, the head of the Economy Ministry's Directorate for Tourism, Marjan Hribar, said in his address.
Hribar noted in his address Slovenian Tourism Forum that a five-year strategic assessment period is running out this year. Objectives in terms of quantity have been fulfilled, but the quality indicators are lagging behind targets.
According to him, the goals of raising tourism revenues to EUR 1.6bn, increasing the number of beds in four- and five-star hotels and finishing a EUR 1.6bn investment cycle by 2010 will be met.
However, efforts to to up the number of overnight stays, improve occupancy rates and increase the number of high-end rooms in small hotels and private facilities are off-target, Hribar said.
Looking at the 2007-2013 EU budget period, Hribar said the main objectives would be to invest in tourism infrastructure and upgrade organisational structures with a view to improving quality.
Dimitrij Piciga, the head of the Slovenian Tourism Board, which organised the event, said the organisation would have to become an active player in tourism projects.
He added that Slovenian tourism must enter existing markets with new products, and make efforts to give new products a clear image that will set them apart from the competition.
Piciga said the key strategic guidelines would be to implement the new tourism brand and establish destination management.
According to him, one of the big opportunities for the promotion of tourism will be Slovenia's presidency of the EU in 2008.
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