1 ContactUp
1.1 Organization The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic
1.2 Address Lamačská cesta 3/C, 840 05 Bratislava
1.3 Contact name Zuzana Sečánska
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 30.03.2023
Statistical presentationUp
3.1  Data description

The purpose of the survey survey on domestic and outbound tourism and business trips is to provide basic information about tourism demand side in accordance with the established methodological definition in Regulation (EU) No 692/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning European statistics on tourism and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1681 of 1 August 2019 amending Regulation (EU) No 692/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning European statistics on tourism. 

3.2  Classification system

NUTS 2016

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,  its Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1681, on European statistics on tourism, and the Methodological Manual of Tourism Statistics (version 3.1.).

3.5  Statistical unit

Respondents addressed in the survey provide information on

  • 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 (15 years old and more).
  • Same-day visits: the SDV made by the individual (15 years old and more
3.6  Statistical population

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 sample is grossed-up 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

In the Datacube database, data are available from the reference year 2003: 

  • 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

Data are presented in absolute values and as a index compared to the previous year = 100)

Unit of measureUp

Data are presented in absolute values, in euros and as a index compared to the previous year = 100)

Reference periodUp

Year 2021

Institutional mandateUp
6.1  Legal acts and other agreements

The reporting obligation is laid down in Act no. 540/2001 Coll. on state statistics as amended (§ 18, paragraph 3) and cannot be refused (§ 18, paragraph 8). The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic is responsible for the protection of confidential data obtained and guarantees their use exclusively for statistical purposes. The statistical surveys are part of the Program of State Statistical Surveys issued for a three-year period in the Collection of Laws of the Slovak Republic.

European legal acts:

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

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/1681  link

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1051/2011  link

Methodological manual for tourism statistics— link

6.2  Data sharing

Statistical information from SOSR's surveys is a source for fulfilling the obligations of the Slovak Republic resulting from the requirements of the European statistical system, the requirements of international institutions, to ensure the needs of the information system of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. Statistical information are regularly provided to international and national organizations (Eurostat, National Bank of SR, OECD, OSN) or irregularly to other users.

Confidentiality Up
7.1  Confidentiality - policy

The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic is responsible for the protection of confidential data obtained and guarantees their use exclusively for statistical purposes. In accordance with the Act on State Statistics No. 540/2001 Coll. §2g and §30, the SOSR may not publish confidential statistical data, but only information resulting from the aggregation of confidential statistical data, which does not allow direct or indirect identification of the reporting unit.
The Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic has introduced principles and procedures for the protection of confidential data in internal directives and instructions. The directive on the protection of confidential statistical data regulates the method of management and implementation of activities related to ensuring the protection of confidential statistical data in the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. The internal methodological instruction of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic regulates specific methods and parameter values used in the protection of confidential statistical data of individual statistical surveys and data sets.

7.2  Confidentiality - data treatment

SOSR ensures the protection of confidential statistical data in the disseminated aggregated data.

Release policyUp
8.1  Release calendar

The First Release Calendar contains the timetable for the first publication of selected indicators in the next 4 months. The calendar is updated monthly. The Catalogue of Publications contains basic information about published publications, publication dates and language versions. All publications are available on the Internet portal of the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. The edition program is available on the website of the SOSR.

8.2  Release calendar access

The First Release Calendar is available on the website of the SOSR here:
First Release Calendar
The SOSR's web portal and the online database Datacube of the SOSR are updated in accordance with the Principles of the policy of publication and provision of statistical information.

8.3  User access

The First release Calendar contains timetable of the first release of selected indicators. Data will be published in the given day at 9 o´clock on the Internet website of the SO SR (www.statistics.sk) in the part Information reports Catalogue of the SO SR and there will be also at the disposal at the spokesperson of the SO SR (phone number: +421 2 5023 6553). You will also find notice for amendments of dates on the Internet website of the SO SR.

10  Accessibility and clarityUp
10.1  News release

Data in Press releases are published in the terms of the First Release Calendar on the web portal of the SOSR.Data in Press releases are published in the terms of the First Release Calendar on the web portal of the SOSR.

10.2  Publications

Since 2021 Publication on domestic and outbound tourism is replaced by detailed tables in database DATAcube and by Information report available on the SO SR website. 

10.3  On-line database

DataCube

10.4  Micro-data access

Users are provided with aggregated data, microdata are not published.

10.5  Other

International and national organizations have also defined their own specific data requirements, which are provided mainly for OECD, UN, UNWTO, ministries, associations and others.

10.6  Documentation on methodology

Statistical questionnaires including methodological guidelines and explanations of variables and methodological explanations within the Glossary of the statistical terms are published on the web portal of the SOSR. Each publication contains methodical explanations and a contact for the information service of the SOSR

10.7  Quality documentation

Following internal project documentation exists for the compilation of statistical outputs:
• technical projects 
• methodological guidelines for applying mathematical-statistical methods for statistical surveys
• methodological guidelines for quality indicators of statistical outputs and statistical processes.

11  Quality managementUp
11.1  Quality assurance

The Quality policy is defined and publicly accessible in the Quality Declaration and Quality Policy documents. The Quality Declaration expresses the basic ideas and commitments of the President and top management of the SOSR for the Quality Policy as well as increasing efficiency and effectiveness of the integrated management system of the SOSR.
Quality Declaration
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 confidentiality of statistical data and by minimising burden on interested parties using effectively existing resources with the aim to support 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 the part of EU.
Quality policy
The Quality manual describes the documented procedures of the quality system that are used for implementation and continuous improvement of the quality management system in SOSR. It contains a description of the quality management system and the fulfillment of requirements ISO 9001 standards. Application of the manual in practice ensures that all activities that have an impact on the quality of the products created are planned, managed, reviewed, evaluated and meet requirements.
Quality manual
The European Statistics Code of Practice is the basis of the common quality framework of the European Statistical System. It is a self-regulatory tool and it is based on 16 Principles covering the institutional environment, statistical processes and statistical outputs. A set of indicators of best practices and standards for each of the Principles provides guidelines and benchmarks for reviewing the implementation of the Code of Practice, thus increasing transparency within the European Statistical System.
European Statistics Code of Practise

11.2  Quality assessment

Coverage, reference period, data collection, control and data processing are in line with the Eurostat methodological guidelines.SOSR creates technical projects describing data collection and its evaluation, including a description of statistical controls. The data collection process is ensured by the regional office of the SOSR in Banska Bystrica. Data validation is done during the data collection, processing and validation of relevant data by the SOSR experts. SOSR also performs internal methodical audits. Evaluation of statistical surveys and methodical audits including the analysis of the results are integrated into the existing quality management system.

12  Relevance Up
12.1  User needs

The requirement to conduct consultations with users of statistical information is stipulated in the Act on State Statistics itself. Consultations during the preparation of state statistical surveys take place within the framework of the preparation of the Program of State Statistical Surveys (PSSZ). PSSZ is a generally binding legal regulation compiled by the SOSR in collaboration with ministries, other central authorities and state organizations and contains statistical surveys organized and carried out by the SOSR, ministries, other central authorities and state organizations. SOSR publishes the Program of state statistical surveys by decree in the Collection of Laws of the Slovak Republic. The Coordinating Council for State Statistics ensures the fulfilment of the tasks of the SOSR. Key users of specific statistical products are listed in the Marketing Plan, e.g. international organizations - Eurostat, OECD, UN and national institutions, e.g. National Bank of Slovakia, etc.

12.2  User satisfaction

Since the 2009, SOSR carries out satisfaction surveys of customers with their products and services at two-year intervals. The goal of surveys is to determine customer satisfaction with the products and services of the SOSR, to obtain information about users, their interest and opinion on provision and quality of statistical products and services. The facts obtained are a valuable resource for the direction of other activities of the SOSR. One of the main goals defined in the Development Strategy. The goal of the SOSR until 2022 is to systematically increase the value of the institution and its recognition
at the national and international level. The office also monitors the fulfilment of the stated goal with the help of indicators of the credibility of the SOSR and the rate of use of the information provided by the public.
SOSR conducts credibility surveys through an external independent organization once every 2 years, with the intention of ensuring the objectivity and indisputability of the results from public view.
Credibility survey
Satisfaction survey

12.3  Completeness

Time series of indicators in accordance with the regulation are available from 2003 in Datacube.

13  Accuracy and reliabilityUp
13.1  Overall accuracy

Overall accuracy is considered very good. SOSR makes great efforts to prevent the occurrence of errors in the data and performs data verification to detect the errors. 

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

The technical project of data processing includes a description of all logical data controls at the microdata level performed during data collection. Data collection is organised by the office of the SOSR in Banska Bystrica. Automatic validation checks during data collection and informative checks are incorporated with the aim to follow logical checks, reducing the rate of partial  anomalies and outliers. The purpose of this process is to minimize errors already in the data collection itself and subsequently during data processing.

Response rate for 3.quarter 2021 is 76,9%.

14  Timeliness and punctualityUp
14.1  Timeliness

Data dissemination in the public database Datacube is in accordance with the set up deadlines.
Data are disseminated 6 months after the end of the reference period (until the end of the month of June).

14.2  Punctuality

Publication deadlines were met.

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

The time series are comparable from the reference year  2003-2012 and data since 2013. Break in time-series between years 2012 and 2013 is caused by methodological changes in the processing of data (collection of data was newly realized within Labour Force Survey).

15.3  Coherence - cross domain

The data are part of the tourism statistics outup series 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

SOSR regularly monitors the cost and burden of reporting units. As part of the optimization of statistical surveys, it takes measures aimed at reducing their burden.
The cost and burden measurement at the level of European Statistical Products is in competence of the Resources Directors Group within Eurostat.

17  Data revisionUp
17.1  Data revision - policy

The Revision policy regulates the general rules and procedures applied in revisions at the SOSR. The same revision policy applies to national and international users. In accordance with the Revision policy, the reason of the revision is always indicated.
The Revisions policy as well as the Revisions calendar is available to users on the web portal of the SOSR.
Policy and calendar of revisions of the SOSR

SOSR distinguishes the following revisions:
from the content point of view
-incorporation of better quality data based on a more complete source, including replacing imputations with collected data,
-correction of data as a result of updating seasonal factors and changing the base period,
- data modification based on more accurate methodology (in concepts, definitions and classifications) and changes in statistical methods,
- performing corrections in source data and calculations.
In terms of time, SOSR divides the revisions into
- ordinary revisions are revisions without significant modifications of the methodologies. These are usually more significant data corrections, including large values obtained from new sources. They are carried out periodically on precisely set up dates, to update monthly and quarterly data, until the next publication of the data.
-annual revisions are revisions that are made when all monthly and quarterly data are available and more detailed results from annual surveys are already available.
- extraordinary and major revisions are revisions of definitive data due to significant methodological changes resulting from revision of methodologies, changes in procedures and statistical-mathematical calculation methods or data corrections. An extraordinary revision may result (e.g. by changing the definition) in break in time series data comparability.

17.2  Data revision - practice

 main source of information for routine revisions are new or revised data from reporting units.

18  Statistical processingUp
18.1  Source data

The number of 2 050 households per quarter for the reference year 2021. The sampling design is a stratified two-stage probability sampling of dwelling units, using the Census of Population 2011 as the basis. 

18.2  Frequency of data collection

Quarterly.

18.3  Data collection

Data collection is provided by the Section of Industrial Data Collection and Processing and Field Surveys in Banska Bystrica. Since January 2021 the survey is collected separately from LFS. The questionnaire is reported by a respondent, who travelled and stayed in the surveyed time period for personal or business purposes outside his/her usual environment. Other respondents specify their reasons for not travelling. 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

The data entry, data completeness and statistical control are organised by specialised regional office of the SOSR.
SOSR distinguishes between two levels of data checks:
1/ Formal checks, which are realised in the process of data entry automatically; (compatible with Validation level 0 and 1)
2/ Informal checks aim of which is to control the complexity and relations among the variables ((compatible with Validation level from 2 to 5).

According to the importance there are classified 2 basic types of checks:
I – Informative checks- this check gives the additional information, which is important for the following process of corrections. It informs also about some inconsistencies in the state of fulfilment of the questionnaire, about item non-response, exceeding stated limits etc.
Z – Check of great importance - it is mostly check indicating the exact error and it must be always corrected or explained.
Most of the errors are directly consulted with the reporting units by our regional offices.

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

Item 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 by mathematical-statistical methods grossed-up for the entire population of people 15 years old or over.


19  CommentUp