Italian long-distance coach operator Itabus will provide a link between Ljubljana and several major Italian cities, including Venice, Trieste, Verona, and Milan, starting from 16 October.

The new service will also link Croatia's capital Zagreb and the Italian cities, the Austrian Press Agency (APA) and Italy's ANSA have reported.

For those wanting to travel from Slovenia or Croatia to Italy, or vice versa, there will soon be rail and bus connections available under a single ticket, according to APA.

Passengers will be able to travel by bus to Venice or Trieste and then continue their journey by train to other cities.

According to ANSA, there will be six connections daily (3 one-way and 3 return) with major Italian cities such as Naples, Rome, Florence, Bologna, Ferrara, Padua, Venice, Trieste, Verona, Milan and Turin and new foreign destinations.

"Our company is increasingly firmly rooted at home but is now ready to expand internationally," Itabus CEO Francesco Fiore was quoted as saying.