PREŠOV (21. 2. 2024) - Tourism statistics in the Prešov Region brought positive figures for the year 2023. Visitor arrivals to the Prešov Region in 2023 grew by 17 % year-on-year. More than one million visitors to accommodation establishments visited the region, more than a quarter of them were foreigners.
The Prešov Region will accommodate in 2023 1 039 875 visitors to accommodation establishments, of which 284 938 were foreigners (27,4 % of all visitors to UZ). *Source of data. Compared to 2022, the number of domestic visitors increased by 11.5 %, number of foreign visitors increased up to 34.3 %. In total, the following were registered 2 981 468 overnight stays. Tourists spent an average of three nights in the region.
"Compared to 2022, we see an increase in the number of visitors and overnight stays in every month. We are 6 % visitors short of our most successful year ever in 2019. According to preliminary reports from the regions, the growth trend continues in 2024. The Prešov region is consistently the third most visited region in Slovakia," stated Martin Janoško, director of KOCR North-East of Slovakia.
Most foreign visitors came to the Prešov Region from of the Czech Republic (38,5 %), Poland (21 %) and Hungary (11 %). This is followed by Germany, Ukraine, Lithuania, Israel, the United Kingdom, Romania and Austria rounds off the top ten foreign visitors. Czechs came to the Prešov Region by 23 % more year-on-year, a total of more than 109 thousand UZ visitors. More than 50% increase is registered in visitors from Poland, Hungary and Austria, the increase of Romanians is up to 75 %.
The strongest district in terms of visitors is definitely Poprad with the number of accommodated guests 722 824. The following districts are Kežmarok, Prešov, Bardejov and Stará Ľubovňa. High Tatras with surroundings thus clearly form the leading visitor destination in the Prešov region.
For visitors to the Prešov Region in 2023 there were 1060 accommodation facilities available, hotels and guesthouses make up 34 % of the offer, the rest is private accommodation, campsites, tourist hostels and others. Revenue from accommodation amounted to EUR 117 408 291 (excluding VAT).
"We believe that in 2024 there will be an upward curve in both visitor numbers and service levels in our region. We are preparing a number of activities in cooperation with the Prešov Self-Governing Region, with regional tourism organisations and with various actors from the tourism and hotel industry at the regional and national level. Our aim is to attract tourists also to areas that are not yet known to the masses. Already before the summer season, we will present to the public an offer of tourism products and experience packages for different target groups from such locations. We will also present the region with an emphasis on its unique," said Martin Janoško, director of KOCR North-East of Slovakia.
The KOCR Northeast of Slovakia supported the region's visitor numbers in 2023 several marketing activities and investments in tourist infrastructure elements. The renewal of infrastructure elements also included activities to revitalisation and supplementation of marking of hiking and cycling routes, in 2023 in length 400 km. Information boards, shelters for cyclists in the Slanské vrchy Mountains, chains were installed in the Lačnov Canyon, another fountain was restored in the spa area in Bardejovské Kúpele, KOCR also supported the restoration of the Dukla Forest Park near Svidník, the Mysterious Forest Krakovec trail was built in the Sabinov district, and other activities were carried out.
Source of data: the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic
Author: Barbora Čechová, media@presovregion.travel
