Sava's move to take over the hotel company seems to be reviving the idea from 2015 to set up a state-owned mega tourism holding that would later be sold at a higher price.

This has not yet happened because several hotel bosses have resisted the idea floated by former bad bank head Torbjörn Mansson, who left Slovenia soon after.

The planned takeover has been hailed by the local tourism association because it hopes that the creation of a stronger player will boost investments on the coast.

Portorož is still the number one place in Slovenia as regards the number of overnight stays. But the destination has been resting on its laurels.

Those opposing the idea of a state-owned tourism holding believe that the move will kill competition. "This might be true but in the given situation this is the best out of bad options," the paper says under the headline Best of Bad Options.