Travel
STA, 29 April 2020 - The Slovenian and Croatian ministers in charge of tourism, Zdravko Počivalšek and Gari Cappelli, met in Zagreb on Wednesday to discuss the possibilities for relaunching the sector in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. They agreed that a solution should at least be found for Slovenian owners of real estate in Croatia.
Počivalšek, the minister of economic development and technology, noted that around 110,000 real estate units in Croatia were owned by Slovenian citizens and that it would be appropriate if they were able to visit their holiday homes.
Slovenia is optimistic about the possibility that cross-border traffic with Croatia is at least partially re-established, at least by the late summer, if not earlier, under special medical protection conditions, he added.
The press release from the Croatian Ministry of Tourism also said that the Slovenian minister labelled Slovenia and Croatia as traditionally tourism-oriented and friendly countries, with both nations being good hosts.
Počivalšek later told the press that Slovenia and Croatia had a good epidemiological situation, which allowed the countries to think about gradually opening the tourism sector and borders, which would be implemented in two phases.
In the first phase, which would start by the end of May, Slovenian owners of real estate and boats in Croatia and vice-versa would be allowed to cross the border.
In the second phase, which is the most likely to start in the second half of June, travel by other tourists would also be allowed, the Slovenian minister said, adding that he and Cappelli would propose this to their respective governments.
Počivalšek said it was too early to speak about specific dates, as the opening of borders must be based on epidemiological criteria. A protocol for crossing the shared border and accommodation in tourist destinations needs to be laid down first, he added.
"The National Public Health Institute will contact next week the relevant Croatian centre so that the protocol is drafted, because it will not be possible to cross the border without it," the Slovenian minister said.
Cappelli meanwhile said as he met Počivalšek that Slovenians were among the most numerous tourists in Croatia, and the countries cooperate very well in tourism. Croatia last year recorded almost 1.6 million visits and just under 11 million overnight stays by Slovenians.
Cappelli added that the relevant bodies were already discussing the possibilities to open borders and on how to secure all needed measures and procedures so that Slovenian citizens could spend their summer holidays in Croatia.
Slovenian citizens who own real estate and movable property in Croatia are a special issue, he said, adding that a solution was being sought under which they would be able to visit their property while respecting all epidemiological measures.
Cappelli and Počivalšek assessed that such an agreement could serve as a case of good practice in the EU, with Croatia as the current EU presiding country having already launched an initiative for a similar solution to be implemented at the EU level.
The ministers also stressed the need to improve the state of tourism, especially in the light of the availability of funds for the sector in the future financial frameworks of the EU.
They also discussed the current state and options for maintaining the stability of tourism companies and jobs in the sector.
It was agreed that both national tourism organisations should prepare for the coming period together. "So that we jointly promote this party of Europe in remote markets when airline transport gets revitalised," Počivalšek said.
STA, 24 April 2020 - In the wake of the novel coronavirus epidemic the Chocolate Festival is moving to the virtual realm. First, it seemed that the popular annual event in Radovljica would not take place this year due to the extreme situation, but the organisers have decided to hold it online between 24 April and 30 April.
The festival, which had been supposed to get under way in the picturesque northern town on 17 April, was cancelled mid-March in the light of lockdown measures imposed to contain the spread of the virus.
However, at the initiative of chocolatiers, chocolate enthusiasts will now be able to feast their eyes and order various treats online.
"Even if we are left without the festival, that does not mean that chocolate lovers should be left without quality Slovenian chocolate," said Nataša Mikelj, the head of the festival's organiser Radovljica Tourism and Culture.
She added that the transition to the virtual world was prompted by the public's reaction to the festival's cancellation. The event attracts some 50,000 visitors every year.
Slovenian chocolatiers, who have been left without traditional sales outlets due to the closure of boutique chocolate shops and restaurants, will hence have a platform to promote their products.
The online edition of Chocolate Festival will be the first virtual food festival in Slovenia.
Apart from the festival's web page, the events will also unfold on Facebook. On top of chocolate promotion, the virtual content will include ideas for activities featuring chocolate, sweet challenges and contests as well as video content presenting chocolate artisans.
Chocolatiers will display their high-quality, hand-made products on virtual stalls and treat visitors to sale offers.
The organisers are aware that visiting the festival in person is a unique experience. However, taking part in the virtual edition, one avoids crowds and does not even need to use protective gear, they have highlighted.
One of the advantages to living in a small and diverse country such as Slovenia is that beautiful landscapes are never far away. As a photographer, I’m always shooting off to capture a beautiful scene. As everything is so close, it often means just a short drive somewhere. 15-30 minutes will easily put me in front of some mountainous scene to capture.
Enter the coronavirus and the subsequent lockdown. As a landscape photographer being confined to his own area, this is very frustrating. I can see the mountains from my home, even from the window and balcony, but cannot go to them.
However, thanks to the telephoto lens and Slovenia’s compact size, while I cannot go to the mountains I can bring the mountains to me. As we are also allowed to go out in our immediate area, as long as we avoid gatherings of more than 5 people, it also means I can go out to a nearby field where I can also see the mountains. Slovenia’s small population helps ensure I can easily find a spot well away from any crowds.
The trick, as always in landscape photography, is finding the perfect viewpoint that will give me a clear composition where I can cut out any rooftops, electricity cables and trees from the picture and isolate the mountain or hill I’m trying to capture.
There’s always an upside to having your hands tied like this, it forces you to think harder. At times like this you tend to take a closer look at what is around you. We often look to the horizon for new things and ignore what is close to us. Due to these restrictions I was forced to explore this field in more depth looking for the perfect viewpoint. And I found it.
In this video, I show you how I utilize a telephoto lens with the perfect place to stand to get past all the distracting objects and zoom right up to Smarna Gora and Storzic Mountain and capture their beauty at sunset.
In part one of my video series, seen below, I show you some tips and techniques. In part two, coming soon, the skies cleared and I got some beautiful shots of the Kamnik Alps at sunset, right from this field.
If you’d like a more comprehensive look at Ian’s work check out his free e-book here, or purchase a revised version here. You can also see many images in higher resolution, find other photo posts, sign up for a workshop, and subscribe to his newsletter here, or follow his work on Facebook. If you’d like to see him in action then you can watch his series of videos showing you some tips and tricks to producing better photos, and these can be found on YouTube. More of Ian's work can also be found on TSN, here.
The Slovenian Tourist Board recently predicted a 60-70% fall in related business for 2020, and with no word yet on when cafés, restaurants, spas and hotels will be reopening there’s a profound sense of gloom within the travel, tourism and hospitality sector, even as the days get longer and warmer.
But things will eventually recover, or evolve, and one focus for the rebirth of tourism in Slovenia is the fact that in 2021 the country will take its place as a European Region of Gastronomy. The culmination of many years’ efforts, and a key achievement of the 2017–2021 Strategy for the Sustainable Growth of Slovenian Tourism project (PDF), which aims to expand the areas people travel to, and the range of activities they try.
To prepare the ground for 2021 the Slovenian Tourist Board has been publishing a series of brochures and books, the latest of which is an 84-page guide to the country in its emerging role as culinary destination. It’s a beautifully photographed and well-designed guide to Slovenian gastronomy, as broken down into four broad regions: Alpine, Mediterranean & Karst, Ljubljana & Central, and Thermal Pannonian.
It not only presents an overview of the variety of food and drink on offer in each of these areas – themselves encompassing 24 gastronomic regions – but also gives details of the best chefs, restaurants and inns, culinary events, souvenirs you can eat and drink, and so on. The free pdf is available here in English, German, Italian, French and Slovenian, with the latter making the publication an ideal dual text if you want some colourful learning material going over all the terms you’ll need to talk about food and drink in Slovenia and beyond.
If you’d like to go a little deeper into Slovenian cuisine, then the Tourist Board has also produced this pdf guide to all 24 of the country’s gastronomic regions, with more great photos and descriptions of the many dishes and delicacies you can find in this small nation. Note that there are, however, no recipes, for which your best bet is probably the Cook Eat Slovenia cookbook, or even our own list of recipes. Wine lovers are also directed to another more extensive guide from the Tourist Board, which goes into far more depth with regard to the country’s wine-growing areas, with a focus on Slovenia’s wine roads.
STA, 14 April 2020 - Tourism is among the industries hit particularly hard by coronavirus. Slovenia is in a precarious position. Not only is it next door to one of the main coronavirus hotspots in Europe, it also relies on foreign guests for three-quarters of arrivals. The Slovenian Tourist Board expects the sector to experience a 60-70% contraction this year.
Previous economic crises have been brutal on tourism, but the sector has been able to recover fairly quickly. The coronavirus pandemic is different.
"The virus has spread to all continents, it is present in all countries in Europe. The impact of the crisis on life, the economy, jobs and in particular tourism is more intensive than in previous crises," Slovenian Tourist Board (STO) director Maja Pak told the STA.
While the situation remains uncertain and it is difficult to gauge the impact of the pandemic on tourism, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development estimated at the end of March that international travel would decline by 45% in the event strict lockdown measures last until June. If the recovery is pushed forward to autumn, the decline will be 70%.
The STO estimate is even more pessimistic: Pak expects a 60-70% contraction in demand if the relaxation of lockdown measures starts in June, if not, the figure is likely to be higher.
Maja Uran Maravić, an associate professor at the Faculty of Tourism Studies in Portorož, agrees with the estimate given the estimated 30% contraction in the first quarter compared to a year ago.
"The decline will probably be around 70% assuming hotels start opening at least by 1 June," she said.
After the sharp decline, the recovery is expected to be long. Pak expects it will take several years, depending on how successfully the virus is contained, when borders reopen, and when tourism providers are allowed to operate again.
A lot will also hinge on how successfully the tourism industry adapts to the "altered consumer behaviour and the new situation post-crisis", according to Pak.
"Distance, which will be the new standard for a long time, will affect revenue and slow the recovery."
Slovenia recorded 6.2 million tourist arrivals and 15.8 million nights last year. According to Tanja Mihalič, a Ljubljana School of Business and Economics professor who specialises in tourism, it may take until 2023 or 2024 before Slovenia returns to these levels.
It may take even longer before revenue from foreign guests returns to the level recorded last year, according to Mihalič, who noted that the situation might even escalate into a price war.
On the upside, Slovenia is relatively well accessible by car from the countries from which the majority of foreign guests come, and its seaside might benefit from the misfortune of major seaside destinations such as Italy or Spain.
Regardless of the pace of recovery, tourism is likely to be different than it was before the crisis, requiring far-reaching adjustments by players in the industry.
As Mihalič noted, the trends included smaller groups, a focus on hygiene, and greater demand for tourism products that involve less interaction between people. "Companies with automated receptions and services and card access to facilities and services will have an advantage," she said.
Pak highlighted Slovenia's established position on the market for green tourism and niche products, which she said was a great asset going into the recovery phase.
The STO is also counting on domestic guests, who accounted for roughly a quarter of all guests last year, with Pak noting than after past crises Slovenians tended to value the safety of spending holidays in their country. Moreover, it will take a while before global travel returns to pre-corona crisis levels.
However, Maravić says that there are simply too few domestic guests to offset the decline in foreign visitors. "But if even domestic guests do not show up, our tourism will be ravaged if the borders stay shut."
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‼️URGENT‼️ Brits in Slovenia wishing to return to the #K: there may be limited availability on a flight to the UK from Slovenia tomorrow (21 March) at 10:00 a.m. Email us ASAP if interested (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Make sure to include the names, dates of birth and passport numbers of all travellers.
HMA Honey also has a message, below, but if you want that flight then email now
Despite its relatively small size, Slovenia is home to a wide selection of fish species, including some rarely found anywhere else in the world. Fishing in both freshwater and saltwater has been rooted in Slovenian tradition for generations. The specimens swimming in Slovenia’s waters are very healthy thanks to the country’s favourable mixture of microclimates which surpass the European average. With the increasingly sophisticated management of waters and catch and release techniques, fishing is expected to flourish even further in the coming years and decades.
Photo: Fishing Guides Slovenia
Fly-fishing in Slovenia
Fly-fishing is the type of fishing Slovenia is most famous for. Its rivers are nothing short of heaven for any enthusiast. There are numerous incredible catches, the most famous being the Marble Trout. In addition to residing in the most pristine and stunning river in Slovenia, the Soča River, this trout species can grow to enviable lengths and can even hit the 10 kg mark – a trophy-sized catch for any fly-fisherman! Our rivers and lakes also provide great Brown trout, Rainbow trout, Grayling and other fantastic fish.
Carp fishing in Slovenia
Carp fishing is very popular in Slovenia, and in recent years, this type of fish species has grown to enviable sizes, as catch and release has been introduced in most lakes, which greatly contributes to the size of carp caught. The current Slovenian record-holder is a whacking 34-kg monster, but this record is bound to be broke soon, as quite a few fish in our waters have already come close to this size.
The main carp fishing spots are Lake Bled and Šmartinsko Lake, where the largest beasts reside. Šmartinsko Lake is especially intended for carp fishing, as parts of its shore have been wonderfully arranged to facilitate carp fishermen. This lake holds the Slovenian record, but there are quite a few specimens roaming around Lake Bled that have likely already tipped over the 30 kg mark.
Spin fishing in Slovenia
Another popular fishing sport in Slovenia is spin fishing because of the remarkable number of elusive predators which can reach record sizes. Catfish grow over 250 cm and can weigh more than 100 kg. The Pike record is 134 cm. Then there’s the lake-dwelling Zander, a tricky yet very satisfying catch. The king of rivers is, of course, the Huchen, or Danube salmon, a fish that is highly regarded in Slovenia, with only a few other countries beating our record in the size of this exquisite species. In autumn and winter, when the temperatures drop significantly, the hunt for Huchen is on!
Sea fishing in Slovenia
Slovenia doesn’t have a large coastline and its territorial waters are quite small, but that doesn’t mean this part of the Adriatic fisherman-friendly. Just the opposite! According to those who have experience fishing in these parts and eaten the fish caught in these clean and calm waters, fishing off the Slovenian coast is placed among the best in the world. Unbeknownst to many, giant 200-kg Tuna can be caught in our sea. Even a shark has been known to hang off a hook and you are most certainly going to catch Dentex, Mahi-mahi, Sea Bass and other equally powerful and combative saltwater inhabitants. An additional bonus of fishing in Slovenia is that sea fishing from the shore doesn’t require a permit.
You can learn more about fishing in Slovenia at Fishing Guides Slovenia.
STA, 15 March 2020 - The Foreign Ministry said on Twitter on Sunday that Slovenian citizens were no longer allowed by Serbian authorities to enter the country as a measure to contain the spreading of the new coronavirus. It had also been unofficially reported that the measure was implemented by Croatia, which was later denied by the Croatian authorities.
The Serbian authorities announced the measure on the government website. As an additional measure to contain the outbreak, a temporary ban has been issued for foreigners coming from Slovenia, France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Greece and Switzerland.
The ministry said in a tweet that "Serbia no longer allows Slovenian citizens to enter Serbia. The temporary ban also applies to citizens of other countries where epidemic has been declared."
In another tweet, the ministry said that "according to the information we possess, Croatia is denying entry to Slovenian citizens." It added that Slovenian citizens who have residence in Croatia would be subject to two-week self-isolation upon entry to the country.
The ministry explained for the STA that the information had been received from the Slovenian police and the Slovenian ambassador in Croatia. It added that this was not official information.
Later in the day, the ministry tweeted that "according to the information from the Croatian authorities, a ban on entry of Slovenian citizens to Croatia is not in force."
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STA, 13 March 2020 - After Slovenia instituted restrictions on lorries, trains and buses crossing the Slovenian-Italian border late on Thursday to contain the spreading of the coronavirus, long tailbacks of traffic are being reported on the border crossings. Lorries leaving the country are waiting more than 15 hours to cross the border.
The situation seems to be the worst at the Obrežje border crossing with Croatia at the moment, where drivers are waiting more than 18 hours to leave the country. At Gruškovje, the waiting time for vehicles going to Croatia is more than ten hours and at Zavrč seven hours.
At Središče ob Dravi, lorries have to wait five hours to exit the country, at Metlika three and at Dobovec one hour.
Hungary and Croatia had closed their borders for all vehicles coming from Italy without a prior notice.
Traffic congestion is now being reported also at the Pince border crossing with Hungary.
The trade union representing workers in transport said that basic necessities had been provided to drivers that are stuck in the congestion for hours without food, water or toilets.
Water and sandwiches are being distributed to them, and mobile toilets are also being set up along the motorway by the motorway company DARS.
Outgoing PM Marjan Šarec told last night's late news show Odmevi that the Foreign Ministry had requested information from Croatia on border measures but had not been "very successful".
"We'll thus continue trying to learn from Croatians what all this is about. The measure has of course caused big problems and this will have to be agreed between the governments beforehand in the future, because this is not the way to do it," Šarec said.
The incoming prime minister, Janez Janša, said on Thursday that Slovenia would have to follow the example of Serbia and Croatia regarding restrictions for cargo transport. He said he had already discussed the matter with Croatian PM Andrej Plenković.
Slovenia imposed a ban for trains, buses and lorries at 10pm last night but shipments of protective gear, medicines, humanitarian aid and mail packages are except.
All small border crossings with Italy are closed. The border crossings Rateče, Robič, Vrtojba, Fernetiči, Krvavi Potok and Škofije remain open but health checks are being conducted there.
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Croatian police have informed the Slovenian Traffic Information Center that the country is now rejecting all vehicles arriving from Italy at its border crossings.
As such, an increased number of heavy vehicle traffic jams are reported at the border crossings to Croatia, with the line at Obrežje border crossing now being 13-km long. Truck drivers are having to wait in the righthand lane for more than eight hours to exit the country and seven hours to enter.
At Dragonja and Metlika border crossings the waiting line for heavy vehicles to exit the country is a little shorter, at around two hours.
You can follow the conditions at the Traffic Information Centre’s English Website.
STA, 10 March 2020 - Prime Minister Marjan Šarec has announced he has ordered the closure of the border with Italy. The measure, which Šarec said was modelled on Austria's, does not apply for cargo transport. In a statement, he said that the number of coronavirus cases had risen by another three to reach 34 this afternoon.
Šarec tweeted he had ordered the closure to the health and interior affairs ministries and that the measure was in line with the agreement on joint and proportionate measures.
The government tweeted that the border would be closed as soon as technical and administrative conditions are met. "This is a necessary measure if we want to have the situation under control," Šarec later told the press.
"Italy has declared quarantine in the entire country but people are disregarding this and continue to leave Italy. It's high time we take action.
"In Primorska, a lot of people cross the border daily, we know that children [from Italy] are in kindergartens on this side of the border, for example."
Slovenia will strive to remain in the first phase of the spreading of the virus as long as possible, the government's official Twitter account also said, adding that cargo transport would not be limited so as not to cause damage to the economy.
The closure follows the ban on arrivals from Italy introduced a few hours earlier by Austria. The ban does not apply to Austrian citizens returning home and persons carrying a doctor's note certifying they are healthy. Also allowed is transit travel through Austria without stopovers.
Šarec said the measure - stepped up from what was being mentioned on Monday - had already been discussed at Monday's session of the National Security Council. The measures are adapting to the situation, which "is changing by the hour", he said.
While explaining individuals will be able to turn to the Slovenian Foreign Ministry for help, he said he had already stressed days ago people should avoid going abroad, especially to Italy.
The Slovenian Foreign Ministry expanded today its travel warning to the whole of Italy and advised Slovenians in Italy to return home.
Asked what will happen to those commuting to Italy for work, Šarec said the detailed explanations on this would follow shortly.
Meanwhile, in the afternoon, when the total reported number of confirmed case was still 31, the Health Ministry said almost 1,500 people had been tested.
It added the new cases were related to previously confirmed cases, explaining a total of 17 people had been infected abroad and 14 were the result of community transmission.
Measures for containing the spreading of the virus were stepped up in line with Monday's announcement. A ban is in place on indoor gatherings that include more than 100 people, which has affected most cultural events. There are a few exemptions to the ban, including shopping malls, weddings and funerals.
University lectures in large lecture halls have been cancelled for the next two weeks, while kindergartens and schools remain open for now.
Temperature screenings are expected to be introduced in the coming days at Ljubljana airport, which is seeing an increasing number of flight cancellations.
Meanwhile, fears of supply problems were assuaged today by Agriculture, Food and Forestry Minister Aleksandra Pivec, who stressed the supply of food products in Slovenia was not disrupted or in peril.
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