"Small and perfectly formed; unspoilt countryside, chocolate box towns and great skiing in the winter months," is how ABTA describes Slovenia.

Despite the pressure on family budgets, ABTA expects the Brits to travel more this year, with interest shown in tested destinations, domestic tourism offerings as well as some up-and-coming destinations.

The latter include Slovenia. SPIRIT cites ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer as saying that Slovenia has many elements sought by British visitors such as natural beauties, historical attractions and an excellent food scene.

Slovenia is also attractive cost-wise and appeals to visitors from Britain both as a winter and summer destination.

The natural and cultural commodities and the relative proximity make Slovenia attractive to the mean and upper middle class income segment, but is still quite new and rather unknown destination on the market.

ABTA, which will hold its annual convention in Ljubljana in September, placed Slovenia side by side with favourites such as the Caribbean, Costa Rica, Greece, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Portugal and Italy.