In recent days, the SUSR has published the results of the past year, including December. The balance for the High Tatras Region looks as follows:
Facts and figures
The number of guests accommodated within the Poprad district was more than 609 thousand, the number of overnight stays exceeded 1.714 million. Directly within the High Tatras region the total number of guests was 513 thousand. However, the average length of stay decreased from 3.04 to 2.81 nights. Given the year-round pandemic situation present during 2021, bizarre results arise when comparisons are made - for example - when comparing December 2021 and 2022 there is an increase of +280%. However, the overall balance is still a reported decrease - +18,87% when comparing December 2022 against December 2019, which was the most successful CR year in the history of the CR.
When comparing the global tourism results for 2022 in Slovakia with those in the High Tatras, it should be noted that the decrease in the number of visitors staying in Slovakia in 2022 compared to 2019 is still - 25,00%, while in our OOCR RVT this decrease is lower with a height of - 16,75%.
We do not yet have an update as of the end of the year. With regard to attendance by nationality, we are therefore only able to give an intermediate figure, which we assume will not change substantially - only perhaps by a change of partitions and a percentage increase or decrease according to seasonality. It will depend on the type of client - whether they seek summer tourism or come to the region only for skiing and winter holidays, during the winter season, in addition to the top 5, other nationalities appear in the region than the current ranking (for example, we register a significant presence of Romanians, in this table are absent, for example, Estonians).
Ranking of the top 9 by nationality:
- Slovakia
- Czech Republic
- Poland
- Hungary
- Germany
- Lithuania
- Israel
- USA
- Latvia
The overall balance was not surprising as after the end of the summer season the result already showed a drop in performance by almost 20%, we are glad that we have maintained the result by our efforts and presentation of the winter season especially in foreign markets and December helped us to make up the loss significantly. Also, the revived convention tourism in the autumn months, when it is the traditional time for conferences, certainly helped to keep the results at this level. Several factors contributed to the decline in the full-year ranking - at the beginning of the year the pandemic was still at its peak, then came the complicated geopolitical situation in the form of the military conflict in Ukraine, which discouraged especially foreign clients from more distant European countries. Summer was again marked by the departure of Slovaks on foreign holidays to the sea, due to the long impossibility of travel, so as these trends copied the situation throughout Slovakia, so it was no different in the Tatras. The decrease in the average length of stay confirms the fact that clients decided at the last minute to travel somewhere - maybe for a weekend or a long weekend, and there is certainly a savings factor behind it, given the current energy crisis and inflation. The trend of saving on pleasures is a well-known fact in similar crises, which has also contributed to the decline in sales of gastronomic facilities or attractions, which during the year described such customer behavior, the balance of the year executive director of OOCR RVT Lucia Blašková.
On the contrary, 2023 has rocketed, with some resorts and hotels already reporting record occupancy rates, on par with 2019 and "better years". The High Tatras came alive with events, visitors and a significant increase in foreign clients. We are registering an increased number of day visitors in the Tatras, who come not only from closer but also from further afield, adds Blašková.
As winter holidays overlap in neighbouring countries and Slovakia, the occupancy rate was already rising in January. In the first half of January 2023, landlords were already reporting almost 50% of occupancy for the upcoming spring break period, and this is currently trending at around 70%. The strongest period, however, is the holidays in the West Slovakia region, with many accommodation capacities already booked for almost 90% in a given week. Excellent snow conditions and good weather are contributing to the positive trend. In terms of tourist enquiries at the information centres, the majority of them were tourists using accommodation and other services in the region. With the upcoming holiday season, the High Tatras are registering an increasing interest in information about accommodation in the region, but at the same time, tourists are also asking about insurance in the mountains, attractions and the program after skiing. This winter, the number of tourists who come to the region not only for skiing as their primary holiday destination, but rather to enjoy the full range of what the Tatra Mountains have to offer, including good food, wellness facilities and pleasant walks in snowy surroundings, has increased significantly.
Many sporting and cultural events, which are an attraction not only for distant visitors, but also for local day-trippers, contribute to the positive trend.
We are optimistic not only for the winter season but for 2023 in general. Zit seems that people have already thrown away the stress of the bad years that are behind us and are once again eager to travel, discover, enjoy the pleasures and return to a normal life in which travel and gastronomy have their place. It is obvious that the difficult times are not completely behind us, so it is in the hands of entrepreneurs and organizations to prepare for the coming months with their offer and services so that the client can choose an affordable holiday in the High Tatras region according to his taste. In our OOCR we already have our hands full for the spring and summer months to make their stay more pleasant and attractive, concludes Blašková.
Source:OOCR Región Vysoké Tatry
