Slovenia's tourist destinations attracted almost 2.6 million visitors in the first half of the year, 4.5% more than in the same period last year. They spent 6.4 million nights in tourist accommodation facilities or 2.2% more than last year.

Visitors from abroad accounted for 70% of the nights spent, most of them coming from Germany, Austria and Italy, data from the Statistics Office show.

Slovenians spent two million nights at tourist accommodation from January to the end of June, 2% fewer than a year ago, as the number of nights spent by foreign visitors rose by 4% to 4.4 million.

In June, however, the figures were down slightly year-on-year, as 678,000 tourists spent 1.6 million nights, which is down by 1% and 4%, respectively.

Almost 147,000 arrivals were by Slovenian tourists in June, who spent 423,000 nights, mostly in the coastal towns of Piran, Izola and Ankaran. Both figures are down 3% year-on-year.

Foreign tourist arrivals were virtually level at almost 532,000 and nights were down by 4% to 1.2 million. Tourists from abroad mostly visited Ljubljana, Piran and the lakeside resort town of Bled.

Most foreign visitors in June came from Germany, followed by those from Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, the US and the Netherlands. They spent a third of nights in Alpine municipalities, most in Bled.

Germans accounted for 19% of all nights spent in June, most often spending the night in the Alpine municipality of Bovec, and Austrians for 8%, a third of which in the Piran municipality.