In terms of the quality of natural environment, Slovenia ranked 16th, while in the number of hotel rooms per capita, it ranked 27th place. On the hotel price index, it took 29th place.

The Slovenian tourism industry is less competitive in airport infrastructure, flight connections, airport fees, visa policies, openness to foreign investors and labour force flexibility, the report highlighted.

This year's UN World Tourism Day, celebrated since 1980, is dedicated to water protection, as tourism is a major consumer of water resources.

Unlike in Mediterranean and some other regions, Slovenia's water capacities are abundant and the amount of water per inhabitant is four times the European average.

Last year Slovenian tourism capacities registered a record overall number of arrivals and overnight stays - 3.3 million arrivals, up 2% over 2011, and about 9.5 million overnight stays, up 1% compared to 2011. Almost a quarter of all arrivals and almost a third of all overnight stays were registered in municipalities with spa capacities, a testimony to their popularity.

Alpine municipalities meanwhile registered another quarter of arrivals and overnight stays, while seaside municipalities - Izola, Koper and Piran - raked in 20% of all arrivals and 22% of all overnight stays.