This part of winter season traditionally welcomed Slovaks but also Russian speaking holidaymakers in
Tatras. There was noticed increase of Russian speaking clients in four‐star hotels comparing to the
last year. The interest in booking via own hotel webs increased as well. The last minute reservations
clearance, even 4 days prior to the New Year’s Eve have been noticed comparing to the last year.
The increased visit rate was mainly due to construction of new unique cable car in Slovakia,
Funitel, which is connecting both ski slopes of Chopok and also due to the investment into Tropical
Paradise in aquapark Tatralandia. Liptov region strengthen its position of TOP winter destination in
Slovakia thanks to these investments.
Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians or visitors from the Baltic countries arrived to Slovakia individually –
by cars, train, some of them via travel agencies – by air. The statistics confirm that Russian speaking
client liked to spent money for good quality services, ski equipment was borrowed for 3 and more
days in average. The interest in additional services like ski school have been increased comparing to
the last year, mostly when it comes to private lessons. The families with children have been enjoying
the entertainment in kids ski schools Maxiland with animation program, at sledging or at social
games in the hotel cafes.
The most used services in Tatras were wellness treatments – massages and spas. The interest of
Russian clients was oriented also on trips to long distance places like Bratislava or Vienna, which they
organized trough their own travel agencies. Some of the clients used also services of local taxi
services for shopping. The ski bus transport of Russian speaking clients directly to the slopes of
particular ski resorts has significantly increased comparing to the last year.
Positive is that the Russian clients were much more disciplined, there was no disturbance or
excessive alcohol usage on ski slopes noticed. The curiosity of some clients from the Eastern
European countries is that they are less skilled skiers. There were also cases where the clients lifted
up by a cable car on the top and then took the same cable car also the way down with the skis. There
were also non‐skiers between the visitors of the resorts, who came to spend the Russian Christmas in
Tatras. The average client spent approximately 300 Euro on additional services. The client was
interested in multi‐days skipases, internet connection, and outdoor fireplaces for BBQ in some
accommodation facilities.
The Top season in the ski resorts showed that there is still growing interest in Tatras. The complex
offer of services and high quality is awarded by regularly returned visits of clients.
Tatry mountain resorts, a.s. is the top player in the tourism segment in Central and Eastern Europe, which itself or via subsidiaries owns and operates attractive mountain resorts and hotels in the area of the Low and High Tatras. The assets in the Low Tatras include the resort Jasná Nízke Tatry and the following hotels: Wellness hotel Grand Jasná, Tri Studničky Hotel and Chalets Záhradky De Luxe. In the High Tatras, TMR owns and operates resorts Tatranská Lomnica, Starý Smokovec and the following hotels: Grandhotel Praha Tatranská Lomnica and Grandhotel Starý Smokovec, Hotel Slovakia and hotel FIS Štrbské Pleso. TMR also co‐operates the ski area Štrbské Pleso and since the winter season 2012/2013 it has been leasing the mountain resort Špindlerův Mlýn in the Czech Republic in cooperation with SMMR, a.s. TMR owns Tatralandia, the largest Slovak aquapark with all-year operation, which offers a lot of water activities, the Fun Park, or relax in a special tropical hall with sea water. It also offers accommodation in bungalows and suites of the Holiday Village Tatralandia. TMR owns and leases out Hotel Liptov and Hotel Ski&Fun Záhradky and Bungalows, and Kosodrevina Lodge. More than 144 million Euros have been invested by the end of 2012 in the already mentioned resorts. These investments help to increase the standard and visit rate in the Tatras. The TMR shares have been traded on three European stock exchanges – in Bratislava, Prague and Warsaw since 2012.