VYSOKÉ TATRY/LIPTOVSKÝ MIKULÁŠ (13/9/2023) The mountain resorts and water parks operated by the Tatry mountain resorts, a.s. (TMR) company have evaluated the summer season. Although the summer is not over yet, holidayers have filled statistics with interesting numbers.
The mountain resorts of Vysoké Tatry and Jasná plus the water parks of Tatralandia and Bešeňová have counted as popular holiday destinations of visitors from Slovakia as well as from abroad this summer. The water parks have had the best time, but the mountain resorts have experienced a successful season too.
“All in all, the summer has been not only good but very good. Especially our water parks have excelled this year. They have been full virtually all summer long, we haven’t had any serious visitor number fluctuations so we can speak about a very successful season. Our mountain resorts like Vysoké Tatry and Jasná haven’t reached the pre-Covid turnout level yet, but it has been very close. As far as the turnover and other indicators are concerned, we can call it a very successful season,” informed Igor Rattaj, the Chairman of the Board at Tatry mountain resorts, a.s. (TMR).
The visitor numbers in water parks have been the same as before the pandemic this summer. This was mainly thanks to the early arrival of summer, which has not only equalled but exceeded the turnout of the summer in 2019. The mountain resorts – mainly in the High Tatras would need about one more week of good weather to reach this level as well. But the weather has improved after the summer holidays ended and is now enjoyed by fans of peaceful walking but also by school groups. The number of cable car tickets and other products purchased online has increased, which means that visitors could avoid queuing at ticket offices and enjoy better online prices.
Although the mountain resorts still have the autumn coming up, which is sought after due to stable weather and great hiking conditions, they are already thinking of the winter too. “Another season ski pass selling wave has begun and winter hotel packages with ski passes included in the price are available as well. Jasná plans to be the first resort to open the winter season at the first December weekend,” informed Branislav Kačkovič, the operations director of Slovak TMR resorts.
Interesting summer and statistics facts:
Slovak, Czech and Polish visitors were the TOP 3 nationalities in all resorts. At some water park hotels, there were more Czechs than Slovaks during certain weeks.
“Bandits at the sheep farm of Priehyba” in Jasná with Ondrej Kandráč was the most successful event of the summer.
The sheep farm in Priehyba offered not only traditional Wallachian sheep but also an original shepherd’s hut to present the history and life of sheep farming better.
The number of Slovak guests in the High Tatras has increased by 15% when compared to the years before the pandemic (74% now).
The Hungarian nationality has reached the greatest turnout increase when compared to 2019 in the Tatras – it has been 2.7 times more.
The water parks of Tatralandia and Bešeňová have been visited by 20% more guests than in 2019, Polish clients formed almost ¼ of the whole clientele in Tatralandia.
The cable car that operates to the iconic top of Mt Lomnický štít has used to be sold out several days in advance in summer from the moment it was added to the online pre-purchase system.
The number of advance cable car tickets sold via the AOM kiosks has increased by more than 200% when compared with the previous summer.
The regularly sold-out Dinner under the Stars in Skalnaté Pleso was the greatest summer hit in the Tatras, and the renewed Humno restaurant in Tatranská Lomnica has been very popular too.
The Bear Days were the most successful event in the Tatras and their new silent mode was perceived positively by the guests as well as the experts.
The summer season in the Bešeňová water park was opened with a musical and the sold-out “Na skle maľované” (Painted on the Glass) hit was the first open-air musical in Bešeňová ever.
Tatralandia celebrated 20 years and rapper Kali with singer Lenka Piešová were also there to wish a happy birthday and shoot a music video.
How has the summer in other resorts operated by TMR looked like?
LEGENDIA (PL)
The Legendia Śląskie Wesołe Miasteczko amusement park has been one of the most visited places in the Silesian Voivodeship this summer again. The turnout has doubled when compared to the pre-Covid era. The selling numbers of the Magic Season Tickets have increased by record 240%. “Summer like in a fairytale” has been the theme of this year’s season and has offered extra activities and also new park figures from well-known fairytales such as Cinderella, Pirate Jack, Tom Thumb, Alice in Wonderland and others.
SZCZYRK MOUNTAIN RESORT (PL)
Szczyrk Mountain Resort has defended its summer tourism leader position in the Polish market successfully and when compared to the pre-Covid era, the number of mountain bikers on renewed enduro trails in Szczyrk, which are becoming more and more popular, has almost tripled. The turnout at SMR has increased not only thanks to the second successful TREK DAYS edition but also due to an attractive offer of family events and concerts in the Kuflonka restaurant. New LONG FRIDAYS have been introduced in the summer of 2023, i.e. longer cable car opening times for cyclists and tourists every Friday until 8:00 pm. The growing numbers of Czech tourists can be considered a very interesting trend. Szczyrk has become an attractive and easily accessible year-round destination for them.
SKIAREÁL ŠPINDLERŮV MLÝN (CZ)
A unique exhibition called “The History of Mountain Rescue” organised by the Špindlerův Mlýn ski resort in cooperation with the Mountain Rescue Service has been the greatest hit of the summer. The season was opened by traditional Green Špindl, which was followed by the Orlen Špindl Summer Opening. The number of cable car passengers in Špindlerův Mlýn has been slightly below the usual mainly due to the relatively cold second half of the summer school holidays.
SKIAREÁL JEŠTĚD (CZ)
The special offer WALK & BIKE season passes have been the most popular product in summer. Tourists as well as cyclists could enjoy cable cars without limits and at the best prices with them. The resort hosted the Czech Hill Climb Championships and a Czech Downhill Top on Trail Cup bike race.
GOLF & SKI RESORT OSTRAVICE:
The season beginning was affected by a rather cold summer beginning, but after that, the resort was almost fully booked. The hotel had record sales during the summer holidays and it looks good also as for September and October.
GOLF KASKÁDA (CZ)
The unusually cold summer beginning increased the popularity of the hotel wellness centre and resulted in record pro-shop sales. New renewed Superior rooms have met with a favourable response. In addition, the hotel was fully booked for a whole week in July of the greatest golf event of the year – Kaskáda Challenge Tour 2023, which more than 100 golfers from the Czech Republic and abroad participated in.
MӦLLTALER GLETSCHER & ANKOGEL (AT)
The summer season began with a 3-week ski season extension after which snow was stored to start the autumn ski season faster. In the summer, the number of transported tourists has grown by 10% in Mölltal as well as neighbouring Ankogel – thanks to active cooperation with local partners and the Carinthian destination card. The premiere Wim Hof Gletscher Challenge event has been perceived positively too.
MUTTERERALM INNBSRUCK (AT)
From morning yoga to an MTB downhill and mountain carts – adventurous Muttereralm located high above Innsbruck has been true to its name also in summer. The local bike park with new trails and a cable car in Götzens has been the greatest hit this year again. Trail fans from all around the world couldn’t miss the Crankworx festival, which had the record numbers this year. A water reservoir and a magical world of mini lakes, water wheels and hiking trails have been a magnet for families with children. Mountain carts have been popular too and used by 25% more clients. The overall resort turnout in summer has been on the same level as in the previous summer due to periods of bad weather among other reasons.