From: OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2014 Access the complete publication at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/tour-2014-en Slovak Republic Please cite this chapter as: OECD (2014), Slovak Republic, in OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2014, OECD Publishing. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/tour-2014-34-en
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Slovak Republic Tourism in the economy In 2012, the Slovak Republic s international tourism receipts reached EUR 1 789 million, up 2.5% on the previous year and contributing 2.5% of GDP (the same share as in 2011). Expenditure by Slovak citizens travelling abroad in 2012 totalled EUR 1 681 million, 6.4% more than in 2011. The balance of payments in international tourism therefore remained positive in 2012, but declined by 31% to EUR 123 million. The total number of domestic and foreign tourists staying in accommodation establishments increased by 5.7% in 2012 to 3.8 million, of whom 1.5 million came from abroad. The five leading foreign markets were the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Austria and Hungary, together accounting for 60% of foreign arrivals in 2012. In 2012, 3 643 enterprises provided accommodation services, offering 63 685 rooms with 163 898 beds. In the same year, 19 714 legal entities offering accommodation and food services operated in the Slovak Republic, 1.3% fewer than in 2011. The number of employees in accommodation and catering establishments was 97 200 in 2012, about 4.2% of the total employed workforce. Tourism organisation and governance Since 1 November 2010 responsibility for tourism has rested with the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development (Figure 1). The tourism section of the ministry is divided into two departments the Tourism Strategy and Policy Department and the Tourism Co-operation and Co-ordination Department with responsibilities including: creation of conditions for the development of tourism; formulation, implementation and monitoring of policy; preparation of legislative regulations concerning tourism; provision of comprehensive statistical data on the development of tourism; and representing the country s interests in international tourism organisations. The Slovak Tourist Board (STB) is a government agency funded from the state budget and responsible for promoting and marketing the Slovak Republic as a tourism destination. It markets tourism at the national level, provides information on travel opportunities in the Slovak Republic, promotes a positive image of the country as a tourism destination abroad, supports the sale of tourism products, and implements the EU Structural Funds in the tourism industry. The STB has eight national branch offices and six foreign offices located in the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Austria, the Russian Federation and Hungary. At the regional level, tourism responsibilities were devolved in 2001 to eight self-governing bodies in the regional governments Bratislava, Trnava, Nitra, Trenčín, Žilina, Banská Bystrica, Prešov and Košice and municipalities. Local governments in municipalities and towns also play an important role in the development of tourism in 279
Figure 1. Slovak Republic: Organisational chart of tourism bodies Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development National level Tourism Section Slovak Tourist Board Tourism Strategy and Policy Department Tourism Co-operation and Co-ordination Department Regional level 8 self-governing regions Regional Tourism Organisations (Regional DMOs) Tourism Industry and Tourism Associations Local level Municipalities Local Tourism Organisations (Local DMOs) Source: OECD, adapted from the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development, 2014. their areas. Tourism associations as professional entities also contribute at local and regional levels, primarily in the fields of quality improvement, expanding the range of tourism products and services, professional training, the application of quality standards, and the communication of best practices. By adopting the amendment to the Act on Support of Tourism in October 2011, the ministry is seeking to build a system of destination management organisations (DMOs), whereby local and regional tourism organisations are created on the basis of voluntary public-private partnerships (PPPs), with financial support from the government. In 2012, 29 local and 2 regional tourism organisations were created, increasing to 34 local and 4 regional organisations in 2013. The Slovak Convention Bureau (SCB) was established in 2010 as a non-profit organisation to facilitate public-private partnership opportunities between the STB and industry. The SCB promotes the country as a congress destination. Tourism budgets In 2012 the ministerial budget for tourism was EUR 3.32 million, of which EUR 28 500 represented the administrative budget of the tourism section and EUR 3.29 million were distributed in the form of subsidies to the regional and local tourism organisations. In addition, the budget of the Slovak Tourist Board (STB) was EUR 3.86 million. The Slovak Republic has access to EU Structural Funds through the National Strategic Reference Framework 2007-13. During this programming period, it was able to use funds totalling EUR 172.6 million for the support of business activities in tourism, the development of tourism information services, and the presentation of the regions and the country within the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Economic Growth. 280
Tourism-related policies and programmes The key challenge in the field of tourism in the Slovak Republic is the implementation of a destination management approach to tourism development, in compliance with the Tourism Support Act. An amendment to the Act on Investment Aid No. 561/2007 Coll. came into force on 1 August 2011. This amendment entitles the tourism section of the Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development to provide investment assistance to tourism projects. In October 2011, Parliament approved an amendment to the Act No. 91/2010 Coll. in Support of Tourism. The act regulates tourism support, the rights and obligations of natural and legal persons operating in the tourism sector, the drafting of policy documents, and tourism development funding. It is the first systemic, legislative framework for the creation and operation of local and regional tourism organisations. The aim is to boost co-operation and partnership in the tourism sector by creating local and regional tourism organisations, which are responsible for the creation and development of tourism within their defined territories. The funding of these organisations consists of membership fees and matching subsidies from the state budget. In its 2012-16 Manifesto, the government is committed to fostering the competitiveness of tourism and better using its potential to eliminate regional disparities and create new jobs. To achieve this goal, it will be necessary to: Reform the institutionalisation of the management and co-ordination of activities related to the development of tourism at all levels. Develop a new strategy to revive tourism, increase quality and competitiveness. Foster a better use of the tourism potential of the Slovak Republic. Improve effectiveness and transparency in the use of public resources for the support of tourism, including a more effective use of EU funds. Provide programmes to foster the development of air transport (including airports and airlines) as an essential component of the tourism industry. To this end, the government of the Slovak Republic approved in July 2013 the Tourism Development Strategy until 2020. The strategy focuses on two key areas: the quality of the tourism offer; and the presentation and promotion of the Slovak Republic as a tourism destination. At the same time, the Slovak Tourist Board has drawn up a new marketing strategy for this period. On 7 May 2013, the government approved a national strategy for the development of cycling transportation and cycling tourism in the Slovak Republic. Promotion of cycling is now, therefore, one of the priorities of the ministry, as it is a healthy and environmentally friendly means of transport, which supports the development of tourism and can contribute to reducing traffic congestion in towns. The strategy will promote cycling as an important segment of tourism with great potential to support the sustainable development of rural areas. The strategy has set a target for cycling to achieve a 10% share of total traffic by 2020. In June 2013, the ministry signed an agreement on co-operation with the Statistics Office of the Slovak Republic to improve statistics relating to inbound tourism and to establish Tourism Satellite Accounts (TSAs). The ministry has also financially supported the Statistics Office in this work. 281
Statistical profile Table 1. Slovak Republic: Domestic tourism Unit 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total domestic trips Thousand 12 781 10 650 10 433 11 928 p.. Overnight visitors (tourists) Thousand 6 727 5 490 5 382 5 912 p.. Same-day visitors (excursionists) Thousand 6 054 5 160 5 051 6 016 p.. Trips by main purpose of visit Business and professional.......... Holiday, leisure and recreation.......... Nights in all means of accommodation Thousand 29 324 24 458 19 484 21 401 p.. Hotels and similar establishments.......... Other collective establishments.......... Domestic travel receipts Million EUR 1 698 1 708 1 605.... 1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932988867 Table 2. Slovak Republic: Inbound tourism Unit 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total international arrivals Thousand 7 953 5 676 5 723 7 785 8 272 Overnight visitors (tourists) 1 Thousand 1 767 1 298 1 327 1 460 1 528 Same-day visitors (excursionists) 2 Thousand 6 186 4 378 4 396 6 325 p 6 744 p Top markets Czech Republic Thousand 537 425 433 477 491 Poland Thousand 308 165 162 172 164 Germany Thousand 165 134 132 133 136 Austria Thousand 62 50 52 59 66 Hungary Thousand 90 56 51 59 60 Nights in all means of accommodation Thousand 5 261 3 769 3 807 4 039 4 101 Hotels and similar establishments.......... Other collective establishments.......... Total international receipts Million EUR 2 059 1 820 1 768 1 806 1 846 International travel receipts 3 Million EUR 1 763 1 675 1 685 1 745 1 789 International passenger transport receipts Million EUR 296 145 83 61 57 1. Accommodation establishments (collective and private). 2. Excludes transit. 3. Includes same-day visitor receipts. Source: Statistical Office, National Bank. 1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932988886 Table 3. Slovak Republic: Outbound tourism Unit 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total international departures Thousand 6 500 5 821 4 949 5 939 p.. Overnight visitors (tourists) Thousand 4 114 3 638 3 066 3 583 p.. Same-day visitors (excursionists) Thousand 2 386 2 183 1 883 2 356 p.. Total international expenditure Million EUR 1 773 1 680 1 678 1 809 1 832 International travel expenditure 1 Million EUR 1 467 1 504 1 471 1 567 1 681 International passenger transport expenditure Million EUR 306 176 207 242 151 1. Excludes same-day visitor expenditure. Source: Statistical Office, Tourism Satellite Account and National Bank. 1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932988905 282
Table 4. Slovak Republic: Enterprises in tourism Number of enterprises 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total tourism enterprises 28 553 26 832 27 365.... Tourism industries.......... Accommodation services for visitors 2 734 2 961 2 995.... Hotels and similar establishments.......... Food and beverage serving industry 15 430 13 619 13 676.... Passenger transport 3 368 3 083 3 125.... Air passenger transport.......... Railways passenger transport.......... Road passenger transport.......... Water passenger transport.......... Passenger transport supporting services.......... Transport equipment rental 749 764 807.... Travel agencies and other reservation services industry 1 154 1 254 1 406.... Cultural industry 1 379 1 395 1 228.... Sports and recreation industry 3 739 3 756 4 128.... Retail trade of country-specific tourism characteristic goods.......... Other country-specific tourism industries.......... Other industries.......... 1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932988924 Table 5. Slovak Republic: Employment in tourism Number of jobs 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total tourism employment (direct) 1 88 892 100 684 94 956.... Tourism industries.......... Accommodation services for visitors 14 225 11 797 11 004.... Hotels and similar establishments.......... Food and beverage serving industry 31 169 45 380 40 277.... Passenger transport 20 979 19 974 20 953.... Air passenger transport 951 115 238.... Railways passenger transport 4 955 4 975 5 006.... Road passenger transport 14 992 14 818 15 649.... Water passenger transport 81 66 60.... Passenger transport supporting services.......... Transport equipment rental 1 148 1 107 1 122.... Travel agencies and other reservation services industry 2 161 2 757 2 728.... Cultural industry 8 183 8 742 8 654.... Sports and recreation industry 11 027 10 927 10 218.... Retail trade of country-specific tourism characteristic goods.......... Other country-specific tourism industries.......... Other industries.......... Gender breakdown Male (% of total tourism employment).......... Female (% of total tourism employment).......... Note: Full-time equivalent. Excludes self-employed. 1. Tourism characteristic industries. 1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932988943 283
Table 6. Slovak Republic: Internal tourism consumption Million EUR, 2008 Domestic tourism consumption Inbound tourism consumption Internal tourism consumption Total 1 674 1 939 3 613 Consumption products...... Tourism characteristic products...... Accommodation services for visitors 336 326 662 Food and beverage serving services 245 389 634 Passenger transport services 546 308 854 Air passenger transport services...... Railways passenger transport services...... Road passenger transport services...... Water passenger transport services...... Passenger transport supporting services...... Transport equipment rental services...... Travel agencies and other reservation services 78 5 83 Cultural services 225 116 341 Sports and recreation services...... Country-specific tourism characteristic goods 244 795 1 039 Country-specific tourism characteristic services...... Other consumption products...... Tourism connected products...... Non-tourism related consumption products...... Non-consumption products...... 1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932988962 Table 7. Slovak Republic: Key economic indicators Percentage 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Tourism GDP (direct) as % of total GDP 2.8 2.8 2.6.... Total tourism employment (direct) as % of total employment 1 5.0 5.5 5.3.... 1. Tourism characteristic employment. 1 2 http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932988981 For more information Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic Slovak Tourist Board Official Slovak National Tourism Portal Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic www.mindop.sk www.sacr.sk www.slovakia.travel www.statistics.sk 284