Visitation to the Prešov Region grew again in 2024. The Prešov Region was visited by 1 068 052 visitors to accommodation establishments. Foreign visitors accounted for 27 percent. This is the second most successful year in history in terms of visitor arrivals to accommodation establishments.The Prešov Region will accommodate in 2024 1 068 052 visitors to accommodation facilities. *Source of data: the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. The accommodation capacity was used by 28 177 more visitors than last year, which represents an increase of almost 3%. Out of the total number of accommodated guests, foreign visitors accounted for 27.3 %, a total of 291 951 foreigners. A total of 3 049 418 overnight stays were registered, foreigners accounted for 25% share. Tourists spent an average of three nights in the region.
During the winter months, 2019 was also surpassed
„We are just 3.6 percent short of our most successful year ever in 2019. In the winter months of January, February, March and December, the 2019 numbers were surpassed. In January and March 2024, even by more than 9 percent. The Prešov region is the third most visited region in Slovakia,“ said Michal Iľkanin, chairman of KOCR Northeast of Slovakia.
Compared to 2023, an increase in the number of visitors was recorded in eight months. The summer holiday months saw the highest number of visitors, with domestic tourists traditionally preferring the month of August for a home holiday.
Foreign visitors
Most foreign visitors came to the Prešov Region from the Czech Republic (34,46 %), Poland (24.67 %) and Hungary (10.68 %). The number of Polish visitors increased significantly, by 19 % year-on-year. The number of visitors from Romania and the United Kingdom also increased by 21 % and 20 % respectively. „The increase is also reflected by the promotional activities of regional and regional tourism organisations in these markets, especially the OOCR High Tatras Region or the support of the air connection between Poprad Airport and London. Slight decline in statistics for Czech visitors, we will try to contribute to their growth again with promotional activities,“ informed M. Ilykanin. The highest average number of overnight stays was made by visitors from the Czech Republic, with an average of 2.9 overnight stays, followed by visitors from Latvia, who made an average of 2.8 overnight stays.
The strongest district of the Prešov Region in terms of visitor arrivals is Poprad (729 426 visitors to UZ), followed by the districts of Kežmarok (106 493), Prešov (56 340), Bardejov and Stará Ľubovňa. High Tatras thus clearly form the dominant region of the Prešov region.
There were 1,078 accommodation facilities available for visitors to the Prešov Region in 2024. Revenues from accommodation amounted to EUR 125 482 589 (excluding VAT).
Activities to promote attendance
„In 2025, we want to strengthen marketing communication not only on the domestic market but also towards neighbouring countries. We are planning several activities in cooperation with the Prešov municipalities, regional tourism organisations and various stakeholders. In connection with the reconstruction of the A. Warhol Museum of Modern Art in Medzilaborce, we are preparing tourism products in the adjacent region. This activity is joint with OOCR Horný Zemplín and will focus on soft tourism and exploring the uniqueness of this little-known area in order to keep tourists in the region.,“ said Martin Janoško, director of KOCR North-East of Slovakia. As he added, in 2025 locals and visitors can also look forward to the tenth jubilee year of the family travel game LEGENDARIUM, which will be upgraded in the form of a mobile app. According to the official statistics, in 2024, Legendarium involved more than 3,200 registered children, the real numbers are higher by the number of accompanying persons and those involved who did not register for the competition.
The attendance of the region was supported by KOCR Northeast Slovakia in 2024 other marketing activities, influencer info tours, presentations at tourism fairs, creation of experiential products and investments in elements of tourist infrastructure. These include, for example, the restoration of tourist information boards in Spiš and Zamaguri, the restoration of boards on the nature trails to the World War I cemeteries in Výrava and Veľkrop, or the maintenance of the singletrack Cyclostopes near Stará Ľubovňa.
In the area of development of tourist infrastructure, cycling was strongly represented, more than 300 kilometres of cycling routes in the Prešov Region were renewed.. On the ground floor of the Marčulina lookout tower in the Levoča Hills, a shelter has been built, which will be opened in the spring of 2025. The activities were Implemented by from the membership fee of the Prešov Self-Governing Region, subsidies Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic and membership fees of regional CR organisations.
Šariš region attracts more and more tourists
The year 2024 was for the region Saris one of the most successful periods in tourism. Accommodation facilities in the region were visited by 63 041 visitors*, who together have recorded 117 876 overnight stays. These figures confirm the growing interest in the area, which offers a rich history, natural beauty and unique experiences.
Text Source: press release KOCR Northeast of Slovakia Source of data: * Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic
