COST E33 WG2 Country Report Slovakia
Recreation and Nature Tourism Demand, Supplay and Actual Usage
– Slovak Republic
Elaborated by COST E33 members, Slovakia:
Jan Supuka (MC+WG-2) [email protected]
Roberta Stepankova (WG-2) [email protected]
Maria Bihuňová (MC+WG – 3) [email protected]
Department of Garden and Landscape Architecture, Faculty of
Horticulture and Landscape Engineering, Slovak Agricultural University
in Nitra
Slovakia, Nitra, May, 2005
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3.1 INTRODUCTION
Even in Slovakia, during the first seven years after 1989, tourism proved to be a full as its dynamic
development – inter alia – has led to the absorption of a considerable part of workforce coming out of
primary and secondary sectors to the tertiary sector. This has considerably helped to address
unemployment issues, and the foreign currency surplus coming from tourism improves the trade
balance deficit, takes a share in the gross domestic product as well triggers investment activities in the
national economy.
Certain necessary measures have already been contained in the National Tourism Development
Programme adopted by the Government SR beginning in 2001.
The priority tasks for the Tourism Section of the Slovak Ministry of Economy will thus include a prompt
implementation, development, specification and clear focus of measures contained in the National
Tourism Development Programme (NTDP).
For future period, the following assignments may be identified:
- Provide for institutional coverage of tourism moving along two lines: state and business.
- Establish a legislative framework for the operation of tourism and its place in the Slovak economy.
- Intensify co-ordination operations and regional co-operation in tourism.
- Introduce quality systems in basic and additional services.
- Train human resources – educate and train tourism specialists.
- Focus attention on the field of gastronomy.
- Change the approach toward state promotion of Slovakia.
- Pay more attention to research and analyses of the development of tourism.
- Put greater stress on activating international co-operation.
- Devote ourselves to the development of recent and unconventional forms of tourism.
- Develop a tourist information system.
Its priorities include the establishment of the National Office for Tourism as a central state
administration body. The Section further introduces prerequisites for business, consumer protection
and financial support of entrepreneurs, an area also including implementation of the Development
Programme of Support to Tourism in SR.
Following a legislative standard aiming at consumer protection in tourism that came into effect
on 1 October 2001, we have been finalising another highly important standard – the act on tourism
associations and the financial coverage of their operation. It will be necessary to evaluate the
potential there and determine the regional development trends. Those are the tasks to be specified in
the document called Tourism Turning Regional.
The previous travelling trends have been replaced by requirements to experience unusual things and
health-related excursions. Those are activities on which the state promotion of tourism must focus.
From: National Tourism Development Programme in Slovakia
The influence of tourism is relevant for employment, especially for mountainous regions with
underdeveloped industry and unsuitable conditions for intensive agricultural production. It is usually
the only eligible way for development and for prevention of population migration from these places to
the cities.
National tourism is an important part of population consumption, also as a form of its regeneration and
health care. It improves at the same time the common culture, experience exchange, social contacts,
living standards and also creates the country image. From the economic point of view tourism is not
raw and material demanding sector of industry in Slovakia.
Despite of situating a part of tourism into protected natural areas, its impact on them is lower than
impacts of the other industry sectors. Tourism has a strong demand on ecologically not violated
environment and on original country values – even natural or anthropogenic.
Goals of Tourism Development – the main forms of tourism
Selection of main forms of tourism in each region depends on landscape supplies evaluation and on
long-time demand examination. The main forms are:
Summer mountain recreation – mountain tourism together with other free time activities.
Winter mountain sports – based on skiing and other entertaining and relaxation activities.
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City and cultural tourism – history and culture oriented forms of tourism together with congress
tourism. It will be perspective in our conditions just in the future because of closeness and market
mentality of our country.
Bath and wellness tourism – is preserved in his classical healing form and it is also developing his
new forms as relax, fitness, health prevention, beautifying and conditioning. These forms of tourism
are growing practically worldwide.
Rural tourism - is important for regions and localities.
Supplementary forms of tourism are aqua tourism, hobby tourism, cycle tourism, or other
alternative forms of tourism like sport tourism, shopping tourism or hunting tourism.
These main and alternative forms of tourism were acknowledged by independent foreign experts, but
mainly confirmed by praxis in Slovakia. Their importance is based on their part in our tourism industry
and especially on their economical benefits.
FORESTS IN SLOVAKIA
The total forest cover of Slovakia is 40,8% of its territory. There are 13% of private forest, 44% is
community owned forest and 43% is public/state owned forests. About 66,8% are production forests
and 16,6% are protection forests with special regulations due to their ecological sensitiveness; 16,6%
of the total Slovakia are forest with special function (park forests, spa forests, research forest, forest
for hunting). The amount of the forest area per person is going down since 1950 in Slovakia (from 0,5
ha/inhabitant to 0,38/inhabitant). Also the ownership of the forest has change since 1920. Between
1950 – 1990 the most of the forest (60% - 90%) were state forests. There is about 40% state forests
since 2000. Generally the access to the forest is allowed, but there are (will be) some restrictions,
which regulate the human activities in forests. In protected areas and national parks the access is
regulated.
Forest parks as suburban recreation space represents 33 000 ha at 60 towns of Slovakia.
3.2. RECREATION INVENTORIES IN THE PAST
3.2.1 Demand
In Slovakia 70% of inhabitants above 18 years old are participated on tourism every year. Dominant
proportion has national tourism which achieved 9.5 journey per inhabitant in 1998. There is by 28.5%
decrease in comparison with previous year 1997. Most often form of tourism is mountain tourism
(38.1%), staying at the water basins (27.7.%), the visit of relatives and firends (13.0%), spa treatment
staying (9.4%), staying in the rural country (5.6%) and combination (2.6%).
According to Statistical office of Slovakia 45% of Slovak population had long time holiday abroad or in
Slovakia during the Summer 2003, what is 1.5% less than in 2002.
The main reasons for decreasing of interest in long term holiday are:
 financial reason 45.8%
 health reason 15.0%
 employment reason 8.5%
 family reason 8.2%
 once during the several years 5.4% inhabitants had holiday
 out of own residence 10.0% of people do not go for holiday.
As you can see, for some groups of Slovak population regard holiday as a luxus consume. This is one
of the reasons, why national tourism is stagnated.
In some european countries (France, Poland, Switzerland, Hungary) the development of national
tourism is supported by „travel cheques“. In the nearest future we can not consider this kind of support
of national tourism.
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The supply of Slovak country at the active foreign tourism busines is very similar to surrouding
countries. For decisious on the tourism supply, there is very important to know demands of the
potential visitor groups.
The demand of visitors comming to the Slovakia is oriented to the recreational stayon the mountains
(29%), winter sports (22%, in winter season it is on the first place – 47%), family visits or friend visits
(11%) and staz near the water (11%). These three preferences of concern of foreign visitors makes
72% of whole demand. Then sightseeing tours and stays in spa follow. All other types of tourism were
under 5% according the concern of visitors. The smallest concern was about shopping tourism.
Results of local sample monitoring on two cities (Demand): Nitra city, 100.000
inhabitants, at lowland, surrounded by agriculture landscape, Banska Bystrica city,
85.000 inhabitants, at highland, surrounded by forest landscape
Table 1
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Results of local sample monitoring on two cities (Demand): Nitra city, 100.000
inhabitants, at lowland, surrounded by agriculture landscape, Banska Bystrica city,
85.000 inhabitants, at highland, surrounded by forest landscape
Table 2
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The concern of foreign visitors about recreationals forms in Slovakia
The orientation of the foreign visitors according the sending country (2003):
 Czechs favour recreational stay at the mountains (1/4 from them) and then are: winter sports,
recreational stay near the water (both 16%) and visit of family/friends (15%), shopping tourism
(8%) and other types of tourism are under 6% under marked concern.
 The Polish people favour mountain recreational stay (more than ¼ of them) and winter sports
(24%), this two types of tourism gain 49% of preferences.The mild concern was about
recreational stay near the water and the shopping tourism too.
 The Austrians have dead concern about the visit of family or friends, town cultural-historical
tours (14%) and mountain stays and winter sports were on the level 12%.
 The concern of Hungarien people was divided into more forms of stays . The most attractive
was shopping tourism, winter sports, mountain recreational stay, town cultural-historical tours
and stays and the visits of friens or family. The lowest concern was about the spa stays.
 The Ukrainian people (small group) signify concern about visiting family or friends and about
shoppinh tourism.
 The German visitors signify definite concern about winter sports, with space about mountain
stay, transit, town cultural-historical tours and stays, and stays near the water and in spa.
Average of concern all foreign visitors in individual types of tourism in Slovakia:
( informations from 2003 in % - zdroj: Department of Tourism)
Concern about (in %)
winter
summer
mountain recreational stay
winter sports
visit of family or friends
recreational stay near the water
shopping tourism
transit
town cultural-historical tours and stays
tours (recognition the nature, culture and history)
stay in spa
rural tourism
no consideration about stay in Slovakia
together
15,1
26,5
11,3
8,9
9,1
6,9
7,0
4,5
4,1
2,3
4,3
100,0
23,4
13,3
8,6
18,2
7,0
6,1
7,1
5,1
4,7
2,6
3,9
100,0
autumn
20,6
16,9
12,7
8,5
10,3
7,2
6,3
5,7
4,2
4,0
3,6
100,0
year 2003
(average)
20,2
17,8
11,4
11,2
9,2
6,9
6,6
5,4
4,2
3,3
3,8
100,0
From involved informations follow sizeable dispersion of the foreign visitors concern in the year and
between individual types of tourism, and the datas in regions and towns could be different. These
datas are usable for enterpreneurs and for carrying on businesses to create atractions and carrying
towards the demand. This is the signal to adapt the own marketing for Slovak Tourism Agency too.
In the recent days the biggest recreation pressure is on the forests and recreation areas, which are in
contact zones between cities and its surroundings. There are 6 471 000 ha recreation areas in
Slovakia and 68% from them are forests.
There were done some studies, which point out that inhabitants of the cities, which are situated in the
agricultural land are interested in recreation in the forest, and people from cities surrounded by the
forest do not prefer recreation in the forest so much.
The highest interest for recreation is in the Summer, than in the Autumn, Spring and Winter.
Families (45%) mostly visit the forest, than are couples (23%), individuals (19%) and groups (11%),
the others (2%). 55% of respondents visit just one forest and 45% many forests.
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3.2.2 Supply
Potential of tourism is quite reach in Slovakia. It covers almost all kind of tourism. According to
“Regionalism of Slovak tourism” the northen parts are suitable for hiking and winter tourism, southern
parts give the opportunities for water and thermal recreation. Also there are a lot of cultural, historical
and natural richness. Accommodation, boarding facilities and supplement services of tourism are
rising up.
There are some advantages, which Slovakia has in comparison with the surroundings states:
- natural conditions are geomorphological more variable in Slovakia
- amount of land covered with forest
- amount of mineral and thermal water sources
- folk architecture in good preservation
- easy reach centres of tourism
There are some preconditions, which need to be supported, developed and improved:
- urban and cultural tourism
- spa and health tourism
- winter tourism
- summer tourism and water tourism
- rural tourism / agrotourism
New world wide trend “fitness-wellness staying” is a new opportunity, which can be a challenge for
new products of tourism for clients of all age categories.
Spa centres need to be a little modernised and good propagated in foreign countries. There are 21
spa centres with curative using, 42 natural hot water spring centres for recreation using, 1200 mineral
water springs in Slovakia.
Winter tourism and winter mountain sports
Slovakia has good natural conditions for winter sports and winter tourism. Ski centres should
guarantee well conditions for long season. We should concentrate on the clients from countries, where
the conditions for winter sports are not so good (Hungary, Poland, Czech republic, Russia, Ukraine,
Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Bulgaria and Romania).
Equipments of winter (skiing) recreation centres: 240 winter centres with 33 funiculars and 979 ski
towns with whole transport capacity 407 786 persons per hour.
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Summer tourism and water recreation
There are also good climatic and geographical conditions for development this kind of tourism in
Slovakia. The interest of national and international clients are growing in thermal spa centres, aquaparks, lakes, dams and rivers. Centres open all around the year can help to better utilize the
accommodation and stabilizing of employees in new profession.
Development of tourism and agrotourism give the opportunities to improve the potential of Slovak
countryside for product supply (farmstead, folk architecture, agricultural work, harvest, fruits collection,
folk customs accommodation).
Big importance will have spread ecotourism, based on the sustainable development of tourism
according to the trends in EU. Cycling trails, camping sides, hunting grounds, thematic parks will be
constructed by the limits of carrying capacity for each form of tourism.
Hiking trails and cycle roads: 84 geomorphology units (as sample High Tatras) with 9 372.15 km of
total length hiking trails. Density of hiking trails is from 0,01 up to 0,97 km2. There are 6 000 km of
biking roads (along the rivers, in mountain areas) in Slovakia.
Accomodation capacity – supply.
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3.3 SUMMARY OF USING METHODS
3.3.1 Methods of demand detection
Research of recreation demands were done in 1977, 1985 and 2003 on the representation of 50
families in two cities. First one was in the city situated in the agricultural land and second one in the
city surrounded with the forest. The results reflected the differences between landscape and social
differences between the inhabitants. It was used questionnaire, which needed to be filled in. The
interest of the foreign tourists polled Slovak tourism institution.
3.3.2 Methods of supply detection
Recreation supply made review of tourist centres, buildings and facilities for tourism. It was done by
the Slovak tourism institution and Slovak tourism agency.
3.4. ORGANIZATIONS OF CONDUCTING/MAINTAINING OF INVENTORIES
Dosiaľ malý vplyv na rozvoj cestovného ruchu majú regionálne a miestne združenia cestovného
ruchu, ktorých činnosť na danom území je nezastupiteľná. Bez ich činnosti rozvoj cestovného ruchu
nie je zosúladený spoločnými cieľmi, chýba koordinácia prevádzkových problémov, formovanie
spoločného produktu, miestny a regionálny marketing ako aj výkon potrebných neziskových činností.
Institutions of Tourism Development and Organisation
- Slovak Institute of Tourism, which is govern by Ministry of Economy of Slovak republic
(www.economy.gov.sk)
- Slovak Agency for Tourism (www.sacr.sk)
- Association for Rural Development (www.vydra.sk)
- Middle Europe Information Network of Local Development (www.celodin.sk)
- Slovak Association of Enterprisers in Agrotourism (www.agrotourism.sk)
- Slovak Agency of Environment (www.sazp.sk)
- Regional environmental center (www.rec.sk)
- Rural organization of community activities (www.voka.sk)
In the tourism business sphere competitive background is developed between small and middle firms.
There are some occupational associations, which represent interests of small and middle firms for self
government and state government. They are: Slovak association of travel agencies – SACR,
Association of Slovak hotels and restaurants – ZHR SR, Funiculars and ski tows - Association –
LAVEX, Slovak association of rural tourism and agrotourism - SZVTA . These associations made their
own databases, but they have just partial results.
3.5. ORGANISATION AND COORDINATION
In current time there is no effective organisation of tourism structure in Slovakia. There is missing
complex responsible competence, systemic approaches including ministery specific department for
national tourism direction and sufficient financial resources. Centre of interes lay out at this time at the
territory, regional and local authorities and associations.
The main bearers of decision processes at the state tourism policy creation are organisations and
institutions as follow:
 Commision for tourism development at Commitee for economy, privatizing and enterpriting of
National parlament of Slovak Republic (SR)
 Government of Slovak republic
 Ministry of economy SR – Section for enterprising and tourism
 Autonomy regions – offices for tourism
 Regional and local associations for tourism
 Towns and villages
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The new tourism organisation structure should have exact define competence units for state direction
and management of tourism, interconnection to enterprice sphere, profession institutions, regional and
local autonomy, towns and villages in the course to foreign agencies and relationships between them.
For the future, there are assumptions to be created new institutions of tourism at central position and
directions. The main tools for central state organisation for tourism should be as:
- legislative backround
- application of state policy in tourism
- financial resources for tourism development.
The ideal solution for the future should be installation of over resort office or ministery for tourism
development, and to elaborate coordination structure and regulatives for relationships between
ministeries, regional and local authorities. The interests for tourism must be accepted in other partially
responsible ministeries as are e.g. forestry, agriculture, transport and communication, environment
etc. This task may be fulfilled only in the framework of new legislative correction in tourism. In the first
phase, particular acts should be approved with coordination character.
There is missing today the specific research institute aimed to decisive question of tourism
development founded at objective index of demand and supply as well as at revalorisation of natural
conditions. There is missing responsible gulified organisation to be able prepare objective and
analytical tourism material for decision sphaere as are government, ministery and or parliment. Many
questions and research projects are partially soluted at competence universities and research
institutions (e.g. forestry, landscape ecology, agriculture, landscape architecture, tourist economy and
management).
According to our opinion and international experiences, the replacement of competence to regional
authorities should be very effective, where establishment of specific financial resources is expected.
Organisation of rambling in Slovakia
On the 10th of August this year it was exactly 130 years since the foundation of the first rambling (or
hiking) organisation on the territory of that is today Slovakia. It was founded in Starý Smokovec in
1873. In 1990 – tourists restored their independent organisation and called in the Club of Slovak
Tourists (CST or KST). It followed up on all the good experiences and tradition and enhanced cooperation with clubs in other countries and again took over the care for 26 tourist buildings, which they
were returned. For the time being, the CST comprises 481 units with almost 30 000 members. Its
activities are focused on care of children and teenagers in over 200 youth rambling groups, care for
the net-work of marked tourist routes. Annually, over 600 events are organised for the public, regularly
publicised by the calendar of CST events and the CST web site www.kst.sk.
Caravanning and camping in Slovakia is organised under the auspice of the National Auto-Moto
Club SR (NAMK), camping and caravanning section (SCC) and the Slovak Camping and
Caravanning Club (SCCC). They pay considerable attentation to club activities, which comprise
separate club events, national sporting and tourist sojourns (regional events) as well as top events –
rallies with international participants. For the time being, Slovakia offers a whole series of options for
family and team recreational stays focused on caravanning and camping. There are over 120
registered camping places available (for assistance, consult the map Autokempingy SR) numerous
thermal pools, water areas, isolated natural beauties accompanied by historical sites and folk
peculiarities – interesting to see for any visitor.
In order to better use our camping places by nationals and foreign visitors, certain requirements need
to be fulfilled. The existing and operated camping places need to be tested and categorised by
a technical board, to be clearly indicated by information sings with prices compliant with the statutes of
international organisations F.I.C.C. and A.I.T. F.I.C.C. (Féderation Internationale de Camping et de
Caravanning) A.I.T. (Alliance Internationale de Tourisme)
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5. CONCLUSION
Project of Tourism Development, forms of supporting
The current Slovak Government (SG) declared support to tourism to be one of its priorities in its
manifesto.
The document further reads that the SG would focus its activities on shaping tourism as a sector
capable of creating new jobs and foreign currency incomes.
The Project of Tourism Development was addopted with total amount SKK 263,7 mn for the year 2002
The Project consist of the following programmes:
1. Programme of Tourism Development in SR with a budget SKK 161.9mn.
2. Programme of Tourism Development of winter resort Šarbov - a municipality in east SR - SKK 9mn.
3. Regionalisation of tourism - SKK 5mn.
4. Establishment of Foreign Representations of Slovak Agency for Tourism - SKK 6mn
5. Support to Regions in the Creation of Tourism Product - SKK 5mn
6. Organisation of the Day of the Slovak Republic in Prague - SKK 1mn
7. Grant Scheme - SKK45mn.
8. Tourism Information System - SKK 30.8mn.
9. Support to the Introduction and Improving Services by Tourist Information Offices in SR
10. Support to the Development of Spatial Orientation and Information in the Sector of Tourism in SR
For supporting of tourism infrastructure there exist only one specialised Programme for tourism
supporting in Slovakia which has been realized by Slovak quarantee and development bank. There
is contribution programme aimed till last year to interest from granted credit up to 70%, resp. 80% in
absolute part, maximaly 3mn SKK, resp. 4mn SKK. During 1991-1999 were granted almost 328 mn
SKK as financial dotations, where contribution from those programme has achieved supporting of
project with 6100 hotel beds, 25 thousands of chairs at the tables and almost 4 thousand jobs. This
project was very effective for tourism development. Actualisation of those programme has been
approved by government resolution of SR no.706/2000 and has been oriented for quality improving of
tourism objects (hotels, sport areas etc.) and for stabilizing of tourism services.
The further possibilities for tourism development supporting are in Supporting interest programme
(aimed to small and medium type of enterprising generaly, not only for tourism). This programme has
been realised by National agency for small and medium enterprising development via five commercial
banks. For tourism purpose has been granted in second half of 1999 year together 9 interests in
amount 37 mn SKK in the framework of this programme. From beginning of that programme
existence, 73 projects was supported with all amount 262 mn SKK in financial expression.
The Supporting funds of European union up today have had not more important influence to
enterprising in tourism, because Slovakia had not especially defined tourism in the country as one
from priorities. For development of several tourism activities in specific regions of Slovakia were used
foreign financial sources (from Germany, France, Great Britain) e.g. High Tatras, foundation of
Tourism Agency, Gothic road on eastern Slovakia, Žiar upon Hron, Rožňava, Vyšná Boca – Čertovica.
For reason of financial deficiency, many started tourism activities were inhibited or are in stagnation.
Some deficience and goals in research and practice
- Inventory of new built recreation objects and centres (golf play grounds, bike roads, hiking
trials and aqua-centres).
- Research of new negative phenomena in the landscape from recreation activities as are biotic
diversity changes, synanthropisation of vegetation (occurrence of invasive plants in protected
areas) soil and water degradation.
- Budget increasing for research and publications.
- Better cooperation between researchers and recreation property owners.
- Increasing of tourism promotion.
- Increasing of infrastructure and services for recreation a tourists.
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6. References (Literature)
 Report on the state of Slovak republic (in Slovak). Ministry of environment of SR, Bratislava,
Slovenská agentúra životného prostredia, Banská Bystrica, 240 pp. ISBN 80-88833-39-6
 Slovakia Spatial Development Perspective. Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak republic,
Bratislava, 1999. 84 pp. ISSN 80-88833-39-6
 Filo, J. – Greguš, C. – Hell, P.: Forests of Slovakia (in Slovak). POLY-KONTAKT, 1994, 86 pp.
 Forestry policy conception of SR up to 2005 year (in Slovak). Ministry of ground economy SR,
Bratislava, 2000, 64 pp.ISBN 80-88992-20-6
 Supuka, J., Vreštiak, P.: Basis of the forest parks creation and other recreationally used forests (in
Slovak). VEDA, Slovak Academic Press, Bratislava, 1984, 224 pp. . 71-052-84
 Sláviková, D., 1975. Investigation of landscape recreation value (in Slovak). Final report of
research project. Lesnícka fakulta VŠLD vo Zvolene, 1975, 262 pp.
 Valtýni, J.: Principles for the management of spa and recretion forests in Slovakia (in Slovak).
PRÍRODA Publishing House, Bratislava, 1986, 122 pp.
 Poleno, Z.: Suburban forests. SZN, State Publishing House (in Czech), Prague, 1985, 176 pp.
 Haspra, R., Mach, F.: Rural turism and agroturism at Slovakia (in Slovak). REKA Publishing
House, Bratislava, 1993 166 pp. (Issued by Agrotourism Enterprise Association of Slovakia).
 Michaeli, E.: Selected chapters from regional geography of the Slovak Republic (in Slovak). MC –
Methodical Center Publishing House, Prešov, 1996, 65 s.
 Human environment (in Slovak). Životné prostredie. Slovak and Czech International Journal
Issued by Slovak Academy Press Ltd. 6 time a year.
 Economic Review of Tourism (in Slovak). Faculty of Economy, Matej Bel University Publishing
House, Banská Bystrica.
 National Tourism development Programme
 Tourism Turning Regional (Regionalizácia CR)
 Strategy of Tourism Development in Slovakia
 Bihunová M. (2006), Recreational potential and its development in the contact zones of the cities.
NITRA: FZKI SPU Nitra, 2006. 99s
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