Monday, 13 April 2026
Slovakia’s tourism market continued its upward trajectory in early 2026, with accommodation providers reporting record February figures driven primarily by a surge in international visitors.
According to data from the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, nearly 496,000 guests stayed in hotels and guesthouses across the country in February, marking a 10 percent increase compared to the same period last year. The figure also exceeded pre-pandemic levels, surpassing the previous February peak from 2020 by around 3 percent.
The growth was underpinned by strong performance in foreign demand. International arrivals rose by 15 percent year-on-year to approximately 195,000 guests, setting a new record for February. Domestic tourism also expanded, with nearly 301,000 Slovak residents using accommodation services, up 7 percent annually, although still slightly below the 2020 high.
In terms of overnight stays, total demand approached 1.4 million nights, also up 10 percent year-on-year. Foreign visitors accounted for a record 530,000 overnight stays, representing a 13 percent increase, while domestic guests generated around 825,000 nights, rising by nearly 8 percent. The average stay remained stable at 2.7 nights.
Regional performance reflected seasonal tourism patterns. Mountain destinations dominated activity, with Žilinský Region and Prešovský Region together accounting for more than half of all visitors. Both regions recorded their strongest February results on record, supported by winter tourism demand.
In urban markets, Bratislava Region ranked as the third most visited destination, attracting close to 88,000 guests. It remained the only region where international visitors formed the majority, with more than 54,000 foreign arrivals, also a record for the month.
Across the country, seven out of eight regions reported year-on-year growth in visitor numbers, with the strongest increase recorded in the Žilina region. The only exception was the Nitra Region, which saw a modest decline.
The positive trend extended into the broader start of the year. In the first two months of 2026, Slovakia recorded nearly 952,000 guests, representing an overall increase of 10.5 percent compared to the same period last year. Growth in overnight stays also remained robust, rising by 11 percent.
The data confirms that Slovakia’s tourism sector has not only recovered from the pandemic downturn but is now entering a new growth phase, with international travel playing an increasingly important role in driving performance.
