The number of overnight stays and of visitors to Slovenia exceeded all expectations in the first quarter of 2007, Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) chairman Dimitrij Piciga told the press in Portoroz on Friday on the first day of the Slovenian Incoming Workshop 2007.
According to Piciga, numbers were upbeat for domestic and foreign tourists alike. The number of former rose by 9% in the first quarter, while their overnight stays have increased by 5%, and the number of latter was up by 12%, and the number of overnight stays by 11%, Piciga added.
The STO is satisfied with the inflow of tourists from Slovenia's traditional markets: Italy, Austria and even Germany, after the economic situation had improved in Europe's largest economy.
In the future, STO wants to attract tourists from other, less traditional markets, such as Belgium, the Netherlands, and even Japan. While, according to Piciga, five new air routes to Ljubljana and Maribor airports are to be introduced next year.
He however expressed disappointment over the recently cancelled air link that would connect Serbia's capital of Belgrade with the Italian capital of Rome via the Slovenian seaside resort of Portoroz.
The link was cancelled by the Serbian flag carrier JAT, which quoted lack of available planes. Piciga said STO would request that JAT pay it back over EUR 50,000, the expenses the STO had in concluding the deal.
This year, 125 Slovenian tourist companies and 197 companies from abroad are taking part in the Slovenian Incoming Workshop in Portoroz.
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