Putting Slovenia on Tourist Map Judging from first responses, more successful co-operation between Slovenia and Australia in the tourist sphere, too, is promised for the future. The presentation of the Slovene tourist offer, and discussions about possibilities of including Slovenia in the programmes of Australian travel organisers, was attended by 36 representatives of the Australian travel industry, mainly tour operators and air carriers. Representatives of the Slovene National Tourist Organisation, a representative of the tourist custer of mountains and lakes, the tourist agency Kompas and ABC rent-a- car, presented Slovenia and drew particular attention of partners to the central position of Slovenia in relation to Venice, Salzburg, Vienna, Prague and Budapest, since this is an important asset for easier sale of tourist programmes on the Australian market. "Australians are attracted by the discovery of extreme sports, and in this field we can offer quite a lot," said Eva Stravs, director of LTO Bled Turizem. "Australians don't even have a very clear idea where Slovenia is," added Stravs. Maggie Porter, director of Wanderweg Holidays, promised that she will certainly visit Slovenia during a coming trip to Austria and will do everything possible to include Slovenia in the programme for 2001: "Our agency needs something new. The right time has dawned for Slovenia," she said. Peter Middleton stressed that: "the interest of the many representatives of the biggest tour operators who took part in this event in the middle of the Olympic heat shows that 'Aussies' are very interested in tourist trips to Europe, and that they see Slovenia as a new "spice" which will further improve and strengthen interest in the old continent. The most recent Australian statistics show that in the first six months of this year, 8.4% more Australians visited Europe than the same period last year, which is twice the growth rate of the average movement abroad (4.5%). The Australian tourist industry understands that they must offer something new and worthwhile to sustain such growth." In 1999, 3,405 Australians visited Slovenia (the same as the previous year), and they spent 7,453 nights. In the first seven months of this year, there were 34% more visitors, spending 27% more nights than in the same period last year. The well-received tourist presentation of Slovenia ended in the late afternoon at a Slovene 'gostilna', with bean soup, potato dumplings with red lettuce, game, and Prekmurian 'gibanica', accompanied by a choice selection of Slovene wine. Additional Information: Slovenian House - Sydney Tel: +51 2 9263 5947 or +386 (0)1 5891 840 (Misa Novak) sloveniainsydney@hotmail.com