Slovenia's tourism hits record high in June amid 'alpine summer' trend

Slovenia's tourism sector experienced a record-breaking June, surpassing even the successful 2022 season. Accommodation facilities hosted 810,000 tourist arrivals and registered over 2 million overnight stays, marking a 2% increase compared to June of the previous year. This surge highlights a growing trend of "alpine summers," where tourists opt for mountainous destinations over coastal resorts due to milder temperatures.

While German and Austrian tourist numbers saw a decline of 18% and 7% respectively, visitors from the United Kingdom and Poland showed substantial growth. British tourist arrivals increased by over a quarter, and Polish and Czech visitors were up by a fifth. This shift in origin countries indicates a diversifying international appeal for Slovenia's diverse landscapes.

Domestic tourism also saw a slight increase of 1% in arrivals, with Slovenians contributing nearly 454,000 overnight stays, a 2% rise from the previous year. They predominantly favored spa municipalities, accounting for over half of the overnight stays in that category. In contrast, foreign tourists primarily chose the capital, Ljubljana, contributing 96% of the city's overnight stays.

Mountainous regions, including Bled, Bohinj, and Kranjska Gora, were the primary drivers of tourism, accounting for 37% of all overnight stays. These areas saw a 5% increase in overnight stays compared to last year. Spa municipalities and Ljubljana also experienced growth, while coastal areas saw a decrease, further solidifying the preference for cooler, mountainous getaways during the summer months.