At 10:00 AM, on February 6th, 2013, the two countries will host a joint event entitled “Experience Croatia, Feel Slovenia”, to promote and encourage Israeli tourism to both magical neighboring countries, located at the heart of Europe
In preparation for The 2013 International Mediterranean Tourism Market (IMTM) in Tel Aviv, Croatia and Slovenia will host on February 6th, 2013 a special joint event, intended to promote both countries’ relations with Israeli tourism operators, as well as to encourage the Israeli tourist to visit the two magical neighboring countries, located at the heart of Europe. This is the third consecutive time the two countries host a shared event for the IMTM.
The special gathering will include meetings between Israeli travel agents and their Slovenian and Croatian equivalents. Attending the event will be Croatian ambassador to Israel, Pjer Simunovic, and Slovenian ambassador to Israel, Alenka Suhadolnik, alongside the heads of Croatia’s and Slovenia’s tourist boards and senior officials in the Croatian and Slovenian tourism industry.
Bordering Austria, Italy, Hungary, Croatia and the Adriatic Sea, Slovenia is slightly smaller than Israel in its area, as well as in population (approx. 2 million). This magical country contains a combination of rich nature, mountains and wild green landscapes with leading spas and important historic sites. Slovenia contains everything a tourist could possibly ask for: tall snowy mountains, breathtaking sites, famous spas, wine regions and ski sites, alongside with forests, caves, ancient castles, beaches, national parks and old villages. It is truly heaven for the Israeli tourist. Slovenia has 27 thousand kilometers of flowing water and at least 87 hot springs. It is among the top countries in terms of the number of rivers flowing through it. The leading tourist attractions are the vacation towns Portoroz and Piran. One of the most prominent must-see sites in Slovenia are the largest karst caves in Europe – Postojna and Škocjan. Formed about seventy million years ago, the amazing Postojna cave is 27 kilometers long and includes several incredible halls with various types of stalactites and stalagmites. Triglav National Park is one of the largest nature parks in Europe. It is located in the heart of the Alps, with the Triglav Mountain – the highest peak in Slovenia with a height of 2,864 meters - towering in the center of the nature reserve. Another site that tourists simply must visit is Bled Lake and the impressive church on the Island in its center. In the capital city of Ljubljana, one can find various architectural styles that have characterized Europe through the centuries. Slovenia offers tourism at affordable prices, suitable for many various tastes and styles, and available all year round. Slovenia is also known to host international cultural, sporting, and other events. This year it will host the EuroBasket championship. Slovenia, its people avid skiers, offers well maintained ski sites, filled with delightful sloped routes. Kranjska Gora is Slovenia’s largest and leading ski resort, boasting over 30 kilometers of colorful ski routes for both beginner and expert ski lovers. Another prominent and unique site is Pohorje, in north eastern Slovenia (near Maribor). The site offers challenging routes for experienced skiers. 37,520 Israeli tourists had visited Slovenia between January and October of 2012, a 32% increase compared to the equivalent period in 2011, which brought 28,354 tourists and 89,301 registered accommodation arrangement.
Croatia offers many tourist attractions to the Israeli public: nature reserves, ancient cities, island cruises, magical beaches and historical sites. It is a magical country, where the European nature meets the Mediterranean, with a fascinating history and warm and welcoming people. In Croatia, everyone will find their heart’s desire: a wonderful mountain range North of Zagreb (the capital), the clear blue-green waters of the Adriatic Sea, thousands of islands and rocky lagoons spread out almost across the entire length of the coastline, fast rivers and streams, clear lakes, thick forests of pine trees, lovely cities and beaches. Croatian wine is considered to be one of the best in the world and has received many international awards. Bordering the Adriatic Sea, Croatia is nearly three times the size of Israel, and the number of Islands within its borders is one of the largest in the world. There are over one thousand islands off the Croatian coastline, many of them rocky and uninhabited. The country enjoys a Mediterranean climate. The Plitvice Lakes National Park is a great attraction for nature lovers. It is a magnificent nature reserve, with 16 lakes and hundreds of waterfalls and streams. The lakes, folded between mountains and gorges, are on different levels, interconnected through waterfalls and rapids, the sound of their running water mixed with the sounds of exotic birds. The park is located in a forested mountain area, the flora, fauna and scenery of which, are among the most beautiful in Europe. In Zagreb, the capital, one can find an abundance of museums, parks, tourist attractions, shops and restaurants. The pearl of the Adriatic Sea is the city of Dubrovnik, part of UNESCO’s exclusive list of world heritage sites and just one of altogether seven Croatian entries to the UNESCO list. The old city walls hide within them beautiful alleyways and many cultural treasures.
In the first ten months of 2012, Croatia achieved 61.9 million overnight stays, which is compared to the same period of 2011 an increase of 2.3 million or 4 percent. Meanwhile, there were nearly 11.5 million arrivals in the first ten months, three hundred thousand more than the previous year. In the year 2012 (January till October 2012), 35,376 Israeli tourists visited Croatia, an increase compared to the equivalent period in 2011 – 33,928. In the first six months of 2012, tourism revenues amounted to 2.1 billion euros, which is, compared to the same period of the previous year, an increase of as much as 10.6 percent.
