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Slovakia eyes UK market

Slovakia is setting its sights on attracting Brits to the destination with the opening of its first UK tourist office.

The Slovak Tourist Board has hired an emerging destination specialist to head up the new office and will launch a PR offensive in September with a series of fam trips.

Director of the Slovak Tourist Board Martin Horvath said: “Slovakia has excellent flying links with the UK from several of its major cities and a varied touristic offering, including historic cities, spas, activity holidays and winter sports. We’re looking forward to working with the British public, press and travel partners to welcome an increased number of British visitors to Slovakia”.

Mary Stuart-Miller, the newly appointed director of the UK Slovakia Tourist Office added: “Slovakia is a new destination for many British travellers and greater awareness of its diverse offer will attract a lot of interest. As one of the youngest European countries, its emergence now as a tourist destination comes at a time of significant investment in its tourism infrastructure.

“A new five star Kempinski hotel opens in the High Tatras Mountains in October 2008, the country has good road and rail links throughout central Europe, three international airports and one of its best known resorts, AquaCity, was named the world’s leading green resort in the 2007 World Travel Awards. With a good and varied product and prices around a third of the more mainstream European destinations, this is certainly a destination to watch.”

By Dinah Hatch