PZS calls for using tourist vouchers in huts

PZS calls for using tourist vouchers in mountain huts.



The Government of the RS will prepare and adopt a regulation in the coming days that will clearly define the use of tourist vouchers as part of the third anti-coronavirus law to mitigate and eliminate the consequences of the epidemic. In the Alpine Association of Slovenia, we are pleased that vouchers can also be used in mountain huts and therefore we wish as many Slovenes as possible to decide to spend their holidays in the embrace of the mountains this year. For this purpose, we have also submitted a proposal to parliamentary groups for using vouchers in multiple parts. When visiting huts, we urge hikers to follow NIJZ recommendations regarding hygiene and sleeping.







According to PZS estimates, Slovenian mountains are visited annually by around 1.7 million visitors. According to data from the Statistical Office of the RS, there were 120 thousand overnight stays in mountain huts in 2019. "At PZS, we are pleased that vouchers can also be used in mountain huts. We are directing our activities primarily towards promoting the mountain experience and encouraging mountain huts to prepare tourist packages for which overnight stays with breakfast could also be paid with vouchers," explained PZS General Secretary Matej Planko.







At PZS, we are also aware that the full amount of the voucher, given the low prices of overnight stays or overnight stays with breakfast in mountain huts, will be almost impossible to spend in one go, even in the case of an entire family staying. Therefore, during the preparation of the law, PZS addressed all parliamentary groups with a proposal that would enable the use of vouchers in multiple separate parts. The text of the law that was finally adopted does not prohibit separate use of vouchers, so we expect the government regulation to also provide for this option. We have also addressed this expectation to the Cabinet of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of the Economy, and the Directorate for Tourism.







There are, of course, several reasons why mountain huts should not be overlooked in this measure. "If using vouchers in multiple parts were not possible, mountain huts would bypass the voucher measure and even be placed in a competitively worse position. It must be emphasized that the share of foreign overnight stays in high-mountain huts in previous years exceeded 50 percent, and it is necessary to ensure the survival of the huts in these difficult conditions. Although we have not yet received an official response from the competent authorities, we believe they will take this into account in preparing the regulation," added Matej Planko.







Hygiene measures in huts







June is the month that, due to more frequent sunny days, invites to the hills. Most huts in the mid-mountains are open all year round, otherwise most of them only on weekends. In the high mountains, the season will start in mid-June. Thus, it is possible to actively spend free time in Slovenian mountains and hills at all times of the year. However, due to the coronavirus epidemic, certain measures and recommendations apply when visiting huts. "We recommend visitors to mountain huts to still disinfect their hands upon arrival, maintain proper hand and cough hygiene, ensure sufficient interpersonal distance, and the use of a face mask is also recommended upon arrival at the mountain hut and when using sanitary facilities. More restrictions still apply to employees in mountain huts and their operations. However, with the latest easing of measures, it is allowed for guests traveling together and already in close contact to overnight together in multi-bed rooms in addition to guests from the same household," concluded Matej Planko, expressing the expectation that Slovenes will this year more often decide to go on vacation or at least spend part of their vacation in our mountains, already due to restrictions or concerns about traveling abroad.







Slovenia and Slovenian mountains and hills offer many experiences for all age groups, and mountain huts welcome you. Visitors to Slovenian mountains have a network of more than 2,000 hiking trails totaling over 10,000 kilometers throughout Slovenia, maintained by trained path markers within mountaineering associations. The trail network thus offers numerous excursions and hikes for all target groups, including those who rarely venture into nature otherwise. To make hiking on trails safer and staying in huts cheaper, we invite you to join PZS, Slovenia's largest non-governmental and voluntary organization. All detailed information is available at www.clanarina.pzs.si, where you can also join.







NIJZ recommendations are available at: https://www.nijz.si/sites/www.nijz.si/files/uploaded/higienska_priporocila_pri_izvajanju_turisticno-gostinske_dejavnosti_za_preprecevanje_sirjenja_okuzbe_s_sars-cov-2.pdf