Tourism News - January - February 2020
International Fair ITF SLOVAKIATOUR was full of inspiration
The international fair of travel and tourism ITF SLOVAKIATOUR took place in Bratislava from 23rd to 26th January. In the area of 17 000 m², 345 exhibitors from 20 countries of the world were presented, including the Tourism Section of the Ministry of transport and construction of the Slovak Republic. During four days, visitors could experience the beauty of Slovakia thanks to expositions of all Slovak regions and tourism organisations. Natural wonders, presentations of tourist attractions and destinations proved that Slovakia has many places to offer. The gala dinner that took place on opening the international fairs of travel and gastronomy ITF Slovakiatour and Danubius Gastro was a perfect occasion to award the Tourism Personality of 2019. Lenka Šprochová, the director of the Tourism Section of the Ministry of Transport and Construction SR awarded two persons: Eva Mazuchová – for her long-term activity in tourist information centre and Association of Information Centres of Slovakia and Marián Bilačič – for his long-term engagement as a tourist guide and in Slovak Tourist Guides Association, too. During the fair, there was also a conference "Support of Tourism 2020" under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic. The fair was accompanied also by exhibitions dedicated to gastronomy: DANUBIUS GASTRO, to professional and amateur hunters and fishermen and all nature lovers: HUNTING AND LEISURE and FISHING AND LEISURE.
International Mediterranean Tourism Market in Tel Aviv
On 11 and 12 February 2020, the 26th International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM) took place in Tel Aviv. IMTM is the largest tourist fair in Israel with a long tradition. Exhibitors from 60 countries participated in it and more than 30,000 visitors visited it. The Slovak Republic again had a national stand funded by the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic, in which High Tatras region, Spa Trenčianske Teplice, Rafting Dunajec and Bratislava Airport were presented. Visit Košice and Košice Region Tourism had separate stand here. Most visitors of Slovak stands were interested in the possibility of spending leisure time with children.
The stand of the Slovak Republic attracted many interested people from the public as well as representatives of travel agencies and journalists. Visitors were interested in our cities, especially Bratislava, ski resorts, spas and possibility of air transport to Slovakia.
The Israeli Minister of Tourism Y. Levin and Minister for Jerusalem and Cultural Heritage of Israel Z. Elkin officially opened IMTM. The head of the representative office and the Economic diplomat of the representative office in Tel Aviv took part in a gala dinner. Mr. Igor Maukš, the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic in Israel, also visited the Slovak stand.
The gems of Slovakia were presented in Vienna
The Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic organized the participation in the international tourism fair Ferien-Messe 2020 in Vienna, which took place from 16 to 19 January 2020. More than 800 exhibitors attended this year’s fair from 80 countries and Austria and during four days, more than 155,000 visitors saw the fair.
The national exhibition of the Slovak Republic presented a wide range of holiday options in Slovakia. After a successful presentation in previous years, it was again linked to the exposition of the Bratislava self-governing region. Visitors could find exhibitors from various Slovak regions here who have represented the best of Slovakia as a holiday destination: the High Tatras region, the Pieniny region with Goral traditions and rafting and the Orava region with a beautiful Orava castle or steam railway presented by Museum of P.O.Hviezdoslav from Dolný Kubín. Trenčianske and Turčianske Teplice presented spa and wellness. Interesting was also the offer of an Association of Historic Hotels which presented an attractive combination of luxury stays, history, gastronomy and wellness. The rich offer of wellness, aquaparks, thermal water and regional specialties completed the regional tourism organization Žitný ostrov. Master of folk-art production in traditional costume, which showed original decoration of gingerbreads, an accordionist presenting Slovak folklore and a sommelier who provided the tasting of Slovak wines were the attractions of the Slovak national exposition here.
On the first day of the exhibition, His Excellency Ambassador Peter Mišík, Ambassador Radomír Boháč, who acts in Austria as Permanent Representative of the Slovak Republic to the OBSE and Chairman of the Permanent OBSE Council and Secretary General of the Austrian Tourism Association ÖRV, Walter Säckl, also visited the Slovak stand.
Holiday World Show 2020 in Dublin
The Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Dublin took part in the Holiday World Show in Ireland on January 24-26, 2020. Approximately 40,000 visitors attend the exhibition every year. This year, Mrs. Martina Kováčová, Head of Marketing and Promotion Department from Tourism Section of the Ministry of transport and construction of Slovak Republic, and partners such as High Tatras Area Tourism Organisation, and representatives of Go Slovakia travel agency, specializing in small tourist groups from Ireland, were participated too. All the entities promoted the Slovak culture, history and natural wealth of the country, are convinced that Ireland is a promising market in terms of the influx of tourists to the Slovakia. They are also interested in supporting Slovakia's participation in further trade fairs and their organizations in the next Holiday World Show exhibition.
The Head of the Embassy and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Ireland attended the official opening. Slovak representatives met with several Irish partners - TV programs creators promoting various regions and countries, the media, as well as representatives of travel agencies in Ireland and other companies and organizations. During the fair, negotiations were held on cooperation in tailor-made products for the Irish market - mainly tours to the High and Low Tatras. The Slovak folk ensemble Ostroha (operating in Dublin), which attracted a large number of people to the Slovak stand, supported the presentation of Slovakia. Mrs. Kováčová from the Ministry of transport and construction of Slovak Republic presented Slovakia as a holiday destination to visitors of the fair during the weekend.
Award at HOLIDAY WORLD 2020 in Prague
Slovakia has successfully participated in already 29th annual of the Central European Tourism Fair HOLIDAY WORLD & REGION WORLD 2020 in Prague. Our national stand included also six co-exhibitors: the City of Bratislava and the Bratislava Region, the High Tatras Region, the Tatras - Spiš - Pieniny Region, the Orava Museum of P.O.Hviezdoslav in Dolný Kubín, the Slovak Paradise and Spiš Region, and the Žilina Region.
Visitors were most interested in thermal pools, High Tatras and other natural beauties such as Slovak Paradise, Low Tatras, Roháče, caves and cultural and historical sightseeing (historical towns, castles and chateaux, gothic and church monuments).
The Slovak exposition was also enriched by the accompanying program, in which students of secondary school in Nové Mesto nad Váhom presented their project, which won the competition for the TOP tourist destination of the region - “Čachtice ... in the footsteps of a bloody Countess”.
Impressive folklore music, tasting Slovak wines and gastronomic specialties presented during the fair were also the part of the Slovak stand.
More than 31,000 visitors could admire our national stand, which took this year's 3rd place for the most impressive exposition over 60 m².
Bratislava MICE Day
The first Bratislava MICE Day of this year on "Sustainability in Tourism" attracted full room of tourism professionals from the whole Slovakia. It was held in Hotel Tatra on 26th February. The representative of the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic attended this highly interactive event and got to know a lot of news in MICE segment. This event was organized to put many companies working in congress´ tourism under the one roof and give them opportunity for networking. Presented by sustainability expert, Mr. Miroslav Rončák from University of Olomouc and accompanied by Rastislav Kočan from Go4Insight speaking about data collection tools, both have delivered meaningful insight into what we need to do to prevent negative effects of overtourism. Implemented with the financial support of the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic.
