More domestic hikers in Slovenian...

More domestic hikers in Slovenian huts and mountains this year.



This year's mountaineering summer season is different from previous years due to measures after the coronavirus epidemic. Due to the adopted measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus, there are fewer overnight stays in mountain huts, and hikers must follow certain measures and instructions. Hut keepers note that significantly fewer foreigners have chosen to visit Slovenian mountains, but more Slovenians. But since the whole of August is still suitable for mountain visits, we hope the mountains will embrace even more Slovenians.







Mountaineering has been one of the more successful tourist products in the alpine part of Slovenia for decades, as well as in other hilly parts of the country. Slovenia is criss-crossed by a network of more than ten thousand kilometers of hiking trails leading to 179 mountain huts, shelters and bivouacs with 7,400 beds and more than 10,000 seats. This year, hut keepers complain about lower mountain visits and fewer overnight stays than in previous years, down 25 percent. "The highest drop in overnight stays is recorded by some high-altitude huts, even by half. In previous years, foreigners made up the bulk of overnight stays, but this year there are 70 percent fewer of them. Fortunately, we observe an increased visit by Slovenian guests. But since Slovenians don't go to the mountains in bad weather, the beds remain empty," explained PZS expert associate Dušan Prašnikar.







Traditionally, during the peak season, the most visited huts are those in the Triglav area and the Kamnik-Savinja Alps, as well as those more easily accessible for families. Some huts at mountain trailheads can boast good visits and more overnight stays. Many huts are accessible by vehicle, and many use tourist vouchers there. Good visits to lower-lying huts can be boasted by PD Srednja vas v Bohinju, which manages four huts. "This year, compared to previous seasons, the structure of guests has changed. If last year it was 70 percent foreigners, this year there are only a handful. Most guests in our huts are Slovenians, almost 95 percent. Since we introduced the tourist voucher redemption system in time, our guests often use this service. There are more visitors in mid-mountain huts, fewer in high mountains. Probably also because of this, changes in the guest structure. This year, compared to last year, there are half as many overnight stays in Vodnik Hut at Velem Polje," explained the president of PD Srednja vas v Bohinju, Jakob Zupanc.







Special measures reduced the number of available beds in mountain huts







According to the latest data from the Financial Administration of the Republic of Slovenia, 1,833 vouchers have been redeemed in mountain huts so far, which is 1.6 percent of all vouchers. Some huts could accommodate more guests, but they are limited by the measure issued by the National Institute of Public Health (Hygiene recommendations for carrying out tourist-hospitality activities to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection). "The key measure for mountain huts stipulates that two people or more people from the same household can sleep in one room, or if more people are traveling together, i.e., a group of friends on a joint hike or a group on a club trip. Due to these measures, there are consequently fewer available overnight capacities in mountain huts, so we urge visitors to make timely reservations for sleeping (we recommend at least three days in advance), especially in case of planned use of tourist vouchers," said Dušan Prašnikar.







Visitors and keepers report no special complications in using vouchers. However, it is necessary to note that for voucher redemption, you must have a photocopy of your ID document with you (high mountain huts do not have photocopiers). If the voucher user is a different person from the entitled person, you must also have a completed voucher transfer statement with you. In special cases, if someone who is not the legal guardian redeems the voucher for minors, they must have a signed power of attorney to a third party for voucher redemption. All statements can be found on the FURS website.







Tourist vouchers attracted new hikers







Hikers mostly use vouchers in mountain huts accessible by vehicle, some also in high-altitude huts. "We can say that there would be somewhat fewer overnight stays without vouchers. Hut keepers note that vouchers in huts are used by those who don't usually go to the mountains, but vouchers motivate them to try something else," added Dušan Prašnikar.







The hut on Planina Loki (1534m, PD Luče) on the eastern slope of Raduha, just above the forest line, is a frequent choice for hikers. Mojca Kramar Kokalj, keeper of the Koča na Loki pod Raduho, complained that even at this hut it is noticeable that there are fewer foreign hikers this year, but due to tourist vouchers, there are a few more Slovenians. "We notice that people stay overnight here who we didn't see in the hut in previous years. It is certainly noticeable that there are fewer foreigners who more often stayed overnight in the hut. We try to attract Slovenian mountain lovers in various ways, also with varied culinary offerings."







PZS also generally invites and recommends visiting mountain huts throughout Slovenia. You will not find the hospitality of huts only in the Triglav area or in the other two mountain groups, the Karavanke and Kamnik-Savinja Alps, but also in the hills of Slovenia, where you can also use the remains of tourist vouchers in September and October. For more information on Slovenian huts, click on the website www.koce.pzs.si.







Online reservation







Since this July, it is possible to book overnight stays online in certain huts in Slovenia. The Alpine Association of Slovenia has joined an adapted reservation system for mountain huts, which has been used in alpine huts for several years. "The key advantage for users is that they can see the occupancy rate of beds for a specific time slot in the reservation system. The system is translated into Slovenian and enables easier booking also for overnight stays in foreign mountain huts. In Slovenia, some more popular huts have joined the system. Online reservations can be made at Aljažev dom, Dom Planika pod Triglavom, Koča na Planini pri Jezeru, Vodnikov dom na Velem polju and Poštarski dom na Vršiču," explained Dušan Prašnikar.







Best mountain hut 2020







What is it that makes you like to visit mountain huts and what do you value in their offer? Within the Best mountain hut 2020 campaign, which PZS has been preparing for the sixth year in collaboration with the Siol.net portal, visitors have selected ten finalists for the best mountain hut and the best high-altitude mountain hut. You can still vote for your favorite hut via the voting form on the Siol website.







Safely to the hills







At the peak of the mountaineering season, don't forget the basic instructions for safe hiking in the hills. PZS recommends good and thoughtful planning of the hiking tour and the use of appropriate equipment. The first step to a safer mountain visit is planning the route using a hiking guide and map. In huts, at PZS, tourist and other points, mountain visitors also have available a leaflet with tips for safer summer mountain visits in Slovenian and English. Your backpack should now also include a protective mask and a small bottle of disinfectant. We recommend going to the mountains healthy, and on our website we regularly update recommendations for carrying out mountaineering activities.







Welcome to visit mountain huts and best regards from the mountains!