Slovak tourism experienced a record-breaking year in 2016 and the GM of the Hotels and Restaurant Union, Marek Haburľák expects a slight increase in numbers this year. "Breaking records is very difficult, nevertheless I believe - and developments so far confirm - that we could keep the stats from last year and maybe even improve them a little," said Haburľák. He also pointed to the US dollar which is getting stronger against the euro, attracting more Americans to Europe. This trend could be beneficial to Slovakia, too. Moreover, as Haburľák reminded, security threads in some of the western European destinations could turn the attention of Asian tourists towards central and eastern Europe. "We could say that there is no place in Slovakia which has nothing to offer tourists," said Haburľák emphasizing the high density of Slovakia's natural, cultural and historical heritage.
However, Slovaks prefer foreign holidays. According to research conducted by the STEM/MARK agency, if Slovaks have the chance to choose whether to spend their holiday abroad or in Slovakia, seven out of ten choose a foreign destination.
