SACKA: Expanding Air Travel May Drive Growth in Tourism

Detva, 29 March (TASR) - The number of foreign tourists in Slovakia has now returned to the levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, while expanding air travel could help to boost the figures further, according to Slovak Travel Agencies Association (SACKA) president Ludmila Masarikova. In order to encourage foreign visitors to spend more time in Slovakia, it's important to offer them a fun-packed itinerary, she said. Historical sites, the countryside, food, cycle routes and spas are among the options for encouraging longer stays. Slovakia is off the beaten path at the moment, but the geopolitical situation in recent weeks has worked in its favour, she added. "Europe is becoming a destination for safer travel, and we're already seeing increased interest in spending time in Slovakia," she stressed, adding that it's no longer just about high-quality accommodation, as visitors can now enjoy local food and products, or craft beer and wine tastings. However, road infrastructure remains a major shortcoming, and a seamless connection between Bratislava and Kosice for bus and car transport would be a major benefit, added Masarikova. According to Dagmar Gubova, chairwoman of the Slovak Association of Tourist Guides, there's a shortage of guides proficient in specific foreign languages. "There's enough English, but German isn't available. Finding a German-speaking guide is a problem," she said, adding that the same applies to Finnish and Dutch, while Chinese-speaking guides would be welcome as well. Gubova also remarked that films produced in the 1990s have created a poor image for Slovakia and that some foreigners are still holding on to these outdated perceptions. She suggested that obtaining higher numbers of visitors isn't necessarily about competing with destinations such the Alps or Vienna. "The Czechs came up with the 'Year of Czech Baroque'. We could, for instance, offer a 'Year of Slovak Castles'. Other countries have what we have, but they're better at presenting themselves," said Gubova. jrg/df