Ljubljana, 24 December (STA) - More than 311,000 tourist arrivals were recorded in accommodation facilities in Slovenia in November, up 19.7% compared to the same month last year. They spent 756,000 nights in Slovenia, up 14.4% year-on-year. In the first eleven months of the year, tourists arrivals were up by 6% and nights by 5%.
Slovenian guests accounted for just over 109,000 arrivals and 294,000 nights, both up by 4% year-on-year, the Statistics Office said on Tuesday.
Foreign tourist arrivals were up by 30% year-on-year to 202,000 and nights by 22% to 462,000. Most of the guests came from Italy (76,000 nights). Their share in the total number of foreign tourists was up by 50% to stand at 16%. They generated a quarter of nights in Ljubljana, followed by the coastal town of Piran and Nova Gorica.
Croatian guests were in second place with 65,000 nights (14% of all foreign nights). Their favourite destination was the capital as well, and two spa municipalities near the border - Brežice and Podčetrtek.
They were followed by tourists from Austria, Serbia, Germany and Asian countries.
Compared to last November, the number of tourists from Croatia rose the most, by 69%, while a drop was recorded only with tourists from Germany, by 2%.
Nearly a third of all foreign tourist overnight stays was generated in spa municipalities and 20% in Ljubljana. The coastal municipalities followed with 16%, where the most popular town was Piran, while 13% were generated in mountain municipalities.
Compared to last November, the figures were up for all four destination types, rising the most in Ljubljana, by 24%.
Slovenian guests mostly spent the nights at spas (47%), while for foreign tourists the most popular destination was the capital (31%).
Both domestic and foreign tourists mostly stayed at hotels (61%), private rooms, apartments and houses (15%) and camps (5%). Hotels recorded 14% more nights year-on-year, private accommodations 27% more and camps saw a 10% rise.
In the January-November period, 6.2 million tourist arrivals were recorded (up 6% year-on-year) and 16 million tourist nights were generated (up 5%).
Foreign tourists generated 11.8 million nights or 74% of all, which is 7% more than in the same period last year. Slovenians generated 2% less nights than last year.
