STA, 12 June - The coronavirus epidemic and the vouchers that permanent residents will receive to spend on accommodation seem to prompt Slovenians to largely spend their summer holidays in Slovenia this year. A survey by the Slovenian Tourist Board shows that 52% of all respondents intend to spend their summer holidays in the country.
Only 32% of the respondents will go abroad, which compares to almost two thirds of all private trips by Slovenians in 2019 being made abroad, mostly in neighbouring Croatia.
The Tourist Board wanted to identify the trends of Slovenian tourists for this year's summer season, as tourism has suffered a major blow due the Covid-19 pandemic.
Over 40% of those who intend to holiday in Slovenia will make several shorter trips around the country, a quarter will afford one such trip and a fifth a mix of both.
Almost a half of them (49%) will go to the seaside, followed by spas (37%) and mountains (36%).
Of the 52% who intend to go on their holidays in Slovenia, as many as 94% plan to use the holiday vouchers to pay for accommodation, a state aid measure to kick-start tourism.
Every adult with permanent residence will receive a EUR 200 voucher to spend until the end of 2020 on bed and breakfast or just bed, with minors receiving EUR 50.
As many as 42% have decided to spend their summer holidays in Slovenia because they will receive the vouchers.
The majority will opt for accommodation at private rooms, self-catering units or cottages, 15% at hotels and 12% at camping sites.
The Tourist Board said vouchers seem to have a major impact on deciding whether to holiday in Slovenia or abroad, as 33% said they were the main reason for staying in Slovenia.
The survey also shows that Slovenians are not terrified of catching Covid-19, with a half not afraid of contracting it at all.
As many as 16% of the respondents meanwhile do not intend to go on holidays this summer, with the majority (34%) citing financial reasons, 23% concern for safety and health and around 10% closed borders.
