STA, 14 September 2021 - Slovenia has been recording solid tourism figures this year but the sector is not expected to bounce back before 2023 or, more likely, 2024, Economy Ministry State Secretary Simon Zajc said on Tuesday.
Asian guests are unlikely to return before 2023. However, the digital Covid pass will make travel easier for European tourists in that it removes uncertainty in the crossing of borders, Zajc said.
Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) figures show tourist arrivals rose by 28% year-on-year in July and August combined, but this is still 28% below 2019 figures.
In the first seven months of the year, arrivals were down 19% on the year before and 61% lower than before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The projections for autumn are positive and whole-year arrivals are expected to rise by 11% over the year before, mostly due to the return of foreign guests, according to STO director Maja Pak.
The figures were presented at the Slovenia Incoming Workshop, the biggest event for tour organisers in the country. A total of 193 tour organisers are participating, of which 82 from abroad.
