Ljubljana - The summer tourism season looks set to be better than last year's, but figures are still below the 2019 peaks, according to preliminary figures and estimates. New tourism vouchers have had a positive impact, but foreigners have returned as well, in particular from countries within driving distance from Slovenia.

Statistical figure for July have not been released yet, but in June arrivals were up 55% over the year before and the number of nights surged by 67%, according to the Slovenian Tourism Board. The number of foreign arrivals rose by 42%.

Many destination have reported high occupancy rates for July and the first half of August, and even for the autumn months, in particular destinations offering active holidays and natural spas.

While the figures for the whole year will largely hinge on the course of the pandemic - the latest figures show a rapid rise in cases in Slovenia - the Slovenian Tourism Board expects headline figures to remain on a par with last year's barring a lockdown.

The main summer destinations on the coast are reporting upbeat figures. In the Piran municipality, which includes Portorož, stays in July were up by 3%; in the Alpine resort of Bled, stays are up by as much as 27%, according to figures from the registration portal Ttaksa. Similar growth rates have been reported in the Soča Valley.

The capital Ljubljana has seen tourists return in droves and stays were up by 85% in July over the year before; in the first half of August, the year-on-year increase is 250%.

This is largely due to the return of foreign visitors, who in July accounted for nearly nine in ten of all tourists in the capital, after largely staying away last year.

Tourism Ljubljana expects autumn to be equally successful as several major business events are scheduled. However, air traffic remains sluggish and aviation guests are yet to make a return.