Tourism: Hotel bookings for winter negligible

Hotels in Slovakia are currently reporting minimum reservations for the winter season, with the main reason being the lack of information and fear of guests whether facilities will be able to operate and under what conditions, said Tourism Association (ZCR) president Marek Harbuľák "We also saw when the economy was being opened during the first [coronavirus] wave that guests started visiting hotels only when we were able to open swimming pools, wellness centres, water parks. The demand from guests is minimal without these services. The same applies to ski resorts," emphasised Harbuľák, adding that it is necessary to give a clear signal and information about the conditions for the winter season. He pointed out that only then would people start planning a holiday in Slovakia, otherwise they would begin planning it in surrounding countries. Harbuľák believes that this winter season in Slovakia will be good, provided that it will be possible to provide services to domestic and ideally also foreign tourists. "We do not admit there will be no winter season. Thousands of entrepreneurs and employers in tourism would not be able to survive further months without tourists and visitors," he warned.