The minister will be accompanied by a delegation of the Slovenian Tourist Board (STO), which aims to present Slovenia as a five-start destination with unspoilt nature and excellent cuisine.

Počivalšek will hold a series of bilateral meetings and meet with representatives of companies including Harvey Norman, the Australian retailer which also has operations in Slovenia, and Asko Gorenje, a division of the Slovenian home appliances maker.

He will also attend the opening of an honorary consulate in Geelong, Australia.

Although Australia and New Zealand account for a tiny share of overall visitors to Slovenia, the STO considers them important overseas markets.

Over 32,500 Australians visited Slovenia in January-November 2017, a fifth more than in the same period the year before.

The number of guests from new Zealand was at under 6,000 in the same period, up a tenth year-on-year.