1 ContactUp
1.1 Organization The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic
1.2 Address Miletičova 3, 824 67 Bratislava
1.3 Contact name Martina Özoğlu
1.4 Organization unit Department of Methodology and Synthesis of Business Statistics
1.5 Phone number +421 2 50236 341; +421 2 50236 339
1.6 Email address info@statistics.sk
2 Metadata updateUp
2.1 Date of last update 14.01.2021
Statistical presentationUp
3.1  Data description
The survey on domestic and outbound tourism and business trips is being realized by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic since 2003. The purpose of this survey is to provide basic information about tourism demand on behalf of domestic and foreign users in terms of international rules. The purpose is to provide basic information on tourism demand for domestic and international users in accordance with the established methodological definition and Regulation (EU) No 692/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning European statistics on tourism. The survey was realized quarterly on the basis of a representative sample of circa 1200 respondents older than 15 years. In 2014, a survey was connected to Labour Force Survey (LFS) and data has been collecting within the LFS survey during the last visit of households (5th visit) and since 2018 during the first visit of the household. The questionnaire is filled in by a respondent, who traveled and stayed in the surveyed time period for personal or business purposes outside his/her usual environment. Other respondents specify their reasons for not traveling. Data from the sample survey are grossed-up to the whole population of people older than 15 years.
3.2  Classification system

Not applicable.

3.3  Sector coverage

National tourism: domestic tourism and outbound tourism (trips made by residents of the reporting country).

3.4  Statistical concepts and definitions

Tourism- the activity of visitors taking a trip to the main destination outside their usual environment, for less than a year, for any main purpose, including business, leisure or other personal purposes, other than to be employed by a resident entity in the place visited.
Traveling refers to the activities of travelers.
Tourism refers to the activities of visitors (same-day visitors, tourists).
Tourism is a subset of traveling and visitors are a subset of travelers.
The statistical terms and definitions are in accordance with Regulation 692/2011 on European statistics on tourism, and the Methodological Manual of Tourism Statistics (version 3.1.).

3.5  Statistical unit
  • Participation in tourism: the individual excluding children up to 14 years old and students living in dormitories/student houses
  • Tourism trips: the tourism trip with at least one overnight stay made by the individual.
  • Same-day visits: the SDV made by the individual.
3.6  Statistical population

Participation in tourism: All residents aged 15 or over excluding children up to 14 years old and students living in dormitories/student houses, persons living in monasteries, members of Slovak embassies, and institutions abroad.

3.7  Reference area

The survey includes households according to random sampling within regions, age groups, and gender. The sampling frame was lastest updated in 2015 for the usage in the next 5 years. The sample is recalculated by using mathematical-statistical methods to the entire population of the Slovak Republic older than 15 years within the entire territory of the Slovak Republic.

3.8  Time coverage
  • Participation in tourism: since 2003, break in time series in 2013
  • Trips: since 2003, break in time series in 2013
  • Same-day visits: since 2013
3.9  Base period

Not applicable. The data are presented in absolute terms.

Unit of measureUp

Number of trips, number of persons. Expenditures are presented in EUR.

Reference periodUp

Year 2018

Institutional mandateUp
6.1  Legal acts and other agreements

Regulation (EU) No. 692/2011 concerning European statistics on tourism  link

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1051/2011  link

Methodological manual for tourism statistics— link

6.2  Data sharing

Statistical information from the survey is a source for fulfilling the obligations of the Slovak Republic arising from the requirements of the European Statistical System, the requirements of international institutions, and to ensure the needs of the information system of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.
Data are regularly provided for usage of international and national organizations such as: OECD, UNWTO, NBS, government, state administration, professional and trade associations in tourism. Data are also used for compilations of Tourism Satellite Account.

Confidentiality Up
7.1  Confidentiality - policy

Confidentiality of statistical data is laid down in Act No. 540/2001 Coll. on State Statistics, as amended, § 30. In accordance with the Act on State Statistics no. 540/2001 Coll. §2g and §30, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic may not publish confidential statistical data, but only information that has been created by summarizing confidential statistical data, which does not allow direct or indirect identification of the reporting unit.

Instructions and guidelines are provided in internal directive MET-4/2019 - Directive on confidentiality data protection SME-5/2012 complemented by Methodological guideline. The directive contains general issues related to confidentiality, while the methodological guideline is focused on concrete methods and parameter values used in the phase of confidentiality treatment of particular statistical surveys results and data files.

7.2  Confidentiality - data treatment
Only aggregated data are published.
Release policyUp
8.1  Release calendar

First Release Calendar contains the first release dates of selected variables for upcoming months. First Release Calendar is monthly updated. In the First Release Calendar compilation release dates defined by Eurostat are taken into consideration. The “Catalogue of publications” is released every year. It contains information on particular publications, periodicity, and dates of release. 2018 data on domestic and outbound trips of Slovak residents were released in August 2019.

8.2  Release calendar access

First Release Calendar is publicly accessible. It is disseminated on the office's website. Users are also informed about the availability of the release calendar in a notice published in the relevant activity's publication.


Release Calendar

8.3  User access

The Act 540 of November 29, 2001, on state statistics, Part 5 Dissemination of statistical information in Articles 29 and 30, institutes obligation to maintain confidentiality and confidentiality data protection. It is available also on the website in Slovak and in English, free of charge. The information service of the SOSR also provides users with this information on request, free of charge.

Users are consulted:

- in accordance with internal directives on Value adding processes, part Communication with users;

- via Survey on satisfaction of users with products and services of the SO SR, in two-year periodicity;

- via conduct of activities focusing on learning about expectations of key users and on supporting better interpretation and better use of statistical products (action program defined by the development strategy of the SOSR and reflected in the Marketing Plan for respective year); the activities are evaluated in annual Evaluation of Marketing plan; document Overview of activities focusing on learning about the expectation of key users and on supporting better interpretation and better use of statistical products

- via meetings with users conducted in accordance with the action program defined by the development strategy of the SOSR and reflected in the Marketing Plan for the respective year: to carry out activities focusing on learning about expectations of key users and on supporting better interpretation and better use of statistical data.
The first release is performed in the form of an information report or a press conference. There is a standing rule, that all users have the right to be provided with information at the same time. Outputs (information reports) are released at the standard daily time (at 9.00 o’clock) at the Internet portal of the SOSR in accordance with Principles of Release and Provision of Statistical Information.

10  Accessibility and clarityUp
10.1  News release

The first release is performed in the form of an information report.

10.2  Publications

Basic Indicators of Holiday and Business trips in 2018 (Language versions: SK/EN)
- regular annual publication with data on holiday and business trips of Slovak residents, in the Slovak Republic and abroad, classified by length of stays, mode of accommodation, transport, and by age category.

10.3  On-line database

DATACUBE

STATDAT

10.4  Micro-data access

Only aggregated data are published, microdata are not published.

10.5  Other

International and national institutions such as OECD, UNWTO defined their specific needs for the data and dissemination format which is followed.

10.6  Documentation on methodology

Annual publication Basic Indicators of Holiday and Business trips in 2018 (Language versions: SK/EN) contains an introduction concerning methodological notes and contact for the information service.
On the website of the SOSR there is available:

  • information on tourism in Methodological notes,
  • statistical questionnaires forms in a national version,
  • concept dictionary (descriptions of statistical indicators in detail) in the national version.
10.7  Quality documentation

Internal documentation of the Statistical Office of the SR on ensuring the quality of statistical outputs:

  • Internal Methodological directive for application of mathematical-statistical methods for statistical surveys MET-3/2012,
  • Internal methodological directive - Quality indicators of statistical outputs and statistical processes MET-2/2012.

Quality reports according to the ESS Handbook for Quality Reports (EQHQR) are prepared in the ESS Metadata Handler environment on yearly basis, based on Eurostat requirements. Quality reports are an integrated part of the IŠIS and updated according to internal guidelines.

11  Quality managementUp
11.1  Quality assurance

The Quality declaration expresses the basic concept and commitments of the President and senior management of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic for Quality Policy Office of the SR, as well as improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the integrated management system Statistical Office.

Quality declaration

The quality policy is based on the mission of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic: to provide high quality and objective statistical products and services by keeping the confidentiality of statistical data and by minimizing burden on interested parties using effectively existing resources with the aim to support the improvement of the information and intellectual capital of our customers. In this way, we want to contribute to reduce risks and improve effectiveness in their decision-making processes and so to support the sustainable development of the Slovak Republic as part of the EU. The mission is stated in the development strategy of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

Quality policy

The Statistical Office of the SR has established the system of quality management. The quality manual contains a description of the system of quality management and fulfillment of requirements of standard ISO 9001. The application of the manual in practice ensures that all activities with an impact on the quality of statistical products are planned, managed, examined, evaluated, and meet the requirements accepted in the customer order.

Code of Practice

The basis of the whole quality management system is the Code of Practice for European Statistics.

11.2  Quality assessment


12  Relevance Up
12.1  User needs

The requirement to consult user needs is stated in Act No. 540/2001, Coll. of the Law on Official Statistics. Within the preparation of the Program of State Statistical Surveys, the user needs are consulted.

The Programme of State Statistical Surveys is a generally binding legal act compiled by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic in cooperation with ministries, other government authorities, and state organizations. It contains a list of statistical surveys that are organized and executed by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, ministries, other government authorities, and state organizations. The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic issues the Programme of State Statistical Surveys in the form of a decree published in the Collection of Legal Acts of the Slovak Republic.

The SO SR has established the Statistical Council as a permanent professional consultative body whose main task is to prepare and submit proposals and recommendations for the concepts of statistical surveys, to consult the Programme of State Statistical Surveys. In practice, based on bilateral agreements and activities covered by the Action Program, national users are consulted.

In terms of tourism statistics, SOSR has rich communication and cooperation with the Tourism section of the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the SR and NBS. Tourism data meet the needs of national users. The main users are the Slovak government, ministries, the media, and students.

12.2  User satisfaction

Since 2009, the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic has carried out at two-year intervals of customer satisfaction surveys. The purpose of the survey is to obtain information on users' interests and opinions regarding the provision and quality of statistical products and services. The result of the survey in 2017 is published on the website of the Statistical Office of the SR.

Fulfillment of the goals is monitored by the credibility indicators of SOSR and by the level of data usage provided for the public. The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic has carried out at two-year intervals customer satisfaction surveys via the external organization. The purpose of the survey is to obtain objective and reliable results for the public.

One of the goals of the Strategy of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic 2022 is customer orientation. The strategic goal is to provide statistical products and services that meet existing and new customer needs and will contribute to the creation and monitoring of the implementation of various policies and decision-making processes.

Building partnerships with key customers and data suppliers, compliant with the coordination role with partners contribute to the creation of these products. This goal is fulfilled by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic through the implementation of the objectives that will ensure providing statistical information which represents the satisfaction of user needs according to the strategy of differentiation - differentiation from other institutions providing partial statistical data.

12.3  Completeness

Compliant with the requirements of Regulation on tourism statistics 692/2011 as well as recommendations laid down in the Methodological manual for tourism statistics.

13  Accuracy and reliabilityUp
13.1  Overall accuracy

Sample size of the survey is based on the sample system of the Labour Force Survey (the first visit in a household). The LFS sample is based on a Population Census conducted once in ten years (last time in 2011).

13.2  Sampling error

Over-coverage: Small over-coverage can be observed in terms of the sampled dwellings in case of their non-residential usage (recreational or commercial space), wrong addresses or temporarily empty flats (no persons with usual residence).

Under-coverage: Out of scope are household members of collective households, persons living in convents, members of the Slovak embassies and institutions abroad and students and schoolchildren living at dormitories or boarding schools, for which the data is not collected.

13.3  Non-sampling error
In 2018 unit non-response rate represented 1,4% per year. The grossing-up methods are used for dealing with unit non-response. Item non-response rate is lower than 1% in qualitative variables.
14  Timeliness and punctualityUp
14.1  Timeliness

No deviations have been recorded.

14.2  Punctuality

Release dates have been respected.

15  Coherence and comparabilityUp
15.1  Comparability - geographical

Indicators from the survey on domestic and outbound tourism are compiled for the entire territory of the Slovak Republic.

15.2  Comparability - over time

Comparable time series: 2003-2012. Break in time-series between years 2012 and 2013 is caused by methodological changes in the processing of data (collection of data is newly realized within Labour Force Survey, the sample size of tourism survey is based on LFS survey, data were collected within the last visit of LFS household and since 2018 during the first visit of LFS household).

15.3  Coherence - cross domain

The data are part of the comprehensive outputs of tourism statistics together with the relevant results from statistical surveys such as Monthly survey on the activity of accommodation facility (CR 1-12) and Annual survey on selected services in tourism (CR 6-01).

15.4  Coherence - internal


16  Cost and burdenUp

Cost and burden at European statistical product level is the responsibility of the Eurostat Resources Directorate.

17  Data revisionUp
17.1  Data revision - policy

Revisions are in conformity with standards, time-tested and transparent. They are described indecision ROZ-3/2018 Revision Policy of the SO SR.
According to Revision Policy of the SO SR the revised data are accompanied by all necessary explanations (reasons, character, etc.), they are accessible via the SO SR Portal. The Revision Policy and Calendar of Revisions of the SO SR as well as all necessary explanations are accessible via the SO SR Portal.

  • The Revision Policy of the SO SR
  • Revision calendar

We distinguish:

  • Routine revisions – regular revisions of data not influenced by change of methodology. These are usually major data corrections, including changes due to the obtaining new data sources. The publication of the revised data is done periodically in line with Calendar of revisions
  • Annual revisions - when all monthly, quarterly data are available and more detailed results from annual surveys are already available.
  • Extra-ordinary and major revisions –revisions of definitive data due to changes of methodology, changes of classifications, change of base year, changes of mathematical/statistical methods of data calculation. Those revisions may result in a break in time series of data.
17.2  Data revision - practice

Only final data are published.

18  Statistical processingUp
18.1  Source data

The sampling design is a stratified two-stage probability sampling of dwelling units, using the Census of Population 2011 as the basis. The sampling frame was last updated in 2015. The strata are formed by (79) districts (correspond to the NUTS 4 level). The primary sampling units (PSU) correspond to the Census Administrative Units. These are selected at the first sampling stage in each district with probability proportional to the district’s population size. Each PSU can be selected more than once. At the second stage, dwelling units are selected from each instance of the PSU using a simple random sampling method. Within the domestic and outbound tourism survey (module attached to the LFS) individuals are interviewed during the 1st visit of the LFS household.

18.2  Frequency of data collection

Quarterly.

18.3  Data collection

Within domestic and outbound tourism survey (module attached to the LFS) all individuals aged 15+ in households living in selected dwellings are interviewed during the 1st visit of the LFS household. 5 LFS visits in one dwelling are done for collecting data for LFS and during the first visit, interviewer collects also data for domestic and outbound tourism survey. Data for students living outside their usual environment (and households) in dormitories, schoolchildren at boarding schools and other types of dwellings are not collected.

18.4  Data validation

Data validation is performed according to the national validation rules and Eurostat validation rules and according to the national technical project of the survey. The data collection is followed by a validation process based on the logical control rules and the validation rules according to Regulation 692/2011. The aggregated data are compared with the previous year.

18.5  Data compilation

Data from domestic and outbound tourism are collected quarterly.

18.6  Adjustment

Unit non-response or missing data are imputed from relevant sources such as Accommodation statistics CR 1-12 (average price of an accommodation per night by category of accommodation and by region) which are used for imputation of tourism expenditure in domestic tourism.

Data from the Annual questionnaire on selected services in tourism CR 6-01 are also used within imputation of expenditure on outbound package trips. The results of the sample survey are calculated by mathematical-statistical methods for the entire population of people older than 15 years.


19  CommentUp