Tuesday, 14 October 2025
Slovakia’s accommodation sector reached a new milestone in August, as the number of guests staying in hotels, guesthouses, and other facilities exceeded 800,000 for the first time. The growth was driven by a strong recovery in foreign tourism, which returned to levels last seen before the pandemic.
According to data from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, 808,000 visitors stayed in accommodation establishments during August — a 9% increase compared with the same month in 2024. The number of overnight stays surpassed 2.2 million, up 6.6% year-on-year, with an average stay length of 2.8 nights.
Domestic tourists continued to form the majority of visitors, accounting for roughly two-thirds of all guests, or 484,000 people, a 4% increase from the previous year. While domestic tourism remains strong, its peak was recorded during 2020–2021, when travel restrictions encouraged residents to holiday within the country.
The strongest recovery came from foreign visitors, whose numbers rose by 17% year-on-year to nearly 324,000 — just 0.5% below the pre-Covid record. This marked the closest foreign tourism has come to full recovery since 2019, highlighting renewed international interest in Slovakia as a summer destination.
Regional data show that all eight Slovak regions recorded growth in visitor numbers compared with the previous year. Žilinský Region led the way with a 12.3% increase, hosting nearly 200,000 guests for the first time. Bratislavský and Prešovský Regions also exceeded 150,000 visitors, with the three regions together accounting for 63% of national tourism.
Five regions — Žilinský, Prešovský, Banskobystrický, Košický, and Trnavský — achieved their highest-ever August visitor counts. Meanwhile, Bratislavský, Nitriansky, and Trenčiansky Regions remained slightly below their pre-pandemic highs.
Between January and August 2025, accommodation providers across Slovakia hosted 4.3 million guests, up 6% year-on-year. Foreign arrivals increased more sharply than domestic ones, while total overnight stays grew by 5%.
Compared with the record year of 2019, Slovakia’s accommodation sector remains only 1.4% below peak levels, or about 59,000 guests short, suggesting that full recovery may be within reach by the end of the year.
The Statistical Office noted that its tourism figures are based on reports from all registered accommodation establishments in Slovakia, including hotels, guesthouses, and campsites providing temporary lodging to visitors.
Source:SOSR
