Experimental statistics: Use of mobile operators data for tourism purposes, 4th quarter 2024
Slovenian mobile phone users as multi-day visitors spent abroad more days than in the same quarter of 2023
In the 4th quarter of 2024, Slovenian mobile phone users spent abroad as multi-day visitors almost 10 million days or 9% more than in the same quarter of 2023. In each month of the 4th quarter, more foreign mobile phone users roamed in Slovenian mobile networks than in the same quarter of 2023.
Key statistics
In the 4th quarter of 2024, in comparison to the same period of 2023, Slovenian mobile phone users while roaming in foreign mobile networks:
- Spent 9% more days as multi-day visitors (tourists),
- Made 1% more transit trips,
- 5% more same-day visits and
- About the same number of half-day visits.
In the same comparison, foreign mobile phone users while roaming in Slovenian mobile networks:
- Spent 1% fewer days as multi-day visitors (tourists) in Slovenia,
- Made 2% more transit trips and
- 9% more same-day visits, both half-day and same-day ones.
Slovenian mobile phone users travelled to 170 countries, Croatia remained the most visited country
In the last quarter of 2024, Slovenian mobile phone users (hereinafter: users) travelled to 170 countries as multi-day visitors (tourists), as same-day visitors or as transit passengers. In all three months, the largest number of Slovenian mobile phone users travelled to Croatia, followed by Italy, Austria and Germany, with the exception of December when Austria was second.
In October, besides three neighbouring countries, more than 10,000 different Slovenian users visited the following countries: Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia, Spain, France, Czechia, the Netherlands and Belgium. The number of Slovenian users who travelled to the stated countries increased the most in Spain (16%), followed by Belgium (12%), Serbia and Croatia (11% each), and France, the Netherlands and Italy (8% each). On the other hand, the number of users decreased in Bosnia and Herzegovina (by 6%) and in Germany (by 3%).
Slovenian mobile phone users as tourists spent abroad almost 10 million days
In the 4th quarter, mobile phone users travelled as tourists (multi-day visitors) to 159 countries, where they spent together between October and December 9.9 million days, which is 9% more than in the same period of 2023. They spent two thirds of those days (67% or 6.7 million) in four countries: Croatia, Germany, Austria and Italy.
In the whole year 2024, Slovenian users as multiday visitors roamed abroad for 46.7 million days, which is 4% more than the year before.
Slovenian users went on more same-day visits to neighbouring countries
Slovenian users most often travelled to neighbouring countries also as same-day visitors. The data on same-day visits also include non-touristic same-day visits (i.e. daily work migrations). They most often visited Austria (874,000 same-day visits or 7% more than in the same quarter of the previous year). The number of same-day visits to Croatia increased by 11% (more than 747,000) and to Italy by 4% (476,000). The number of same-day visits to Hungary was a lot lower (82,000) and it decreased by 2%.
To all neighbouring countries, the largest number of same-days visits was registered in October.
More foreign users of mobile phone services roamed in Slovenian mobile phone networks, the largest number from Austria and Italy
Mobile phone users from 138 countries visited Slovenia in the 4th quarter of 2024. Slovenian mobile operators registered the largest number of foreign mobile phone users in October (almost 4.3 million) and the lowest in November (3.2 million). In comparison with the same quarter of the previous year, in all three months of the last quarter there were more foreign users: in November 11%, in December 7% and in October 6% more.
In October the largest number of foreign mobile users came from Austria (725,000 or 17% of all foreign users), in November and in December from Italy (612,000 and 759,000), which in both months represented almost a fifth (19%) of all foreign users.
Foreign mobile phone users in Slovenia made in the last quarter more and in the whole year fewer transit trips
In all the countries from where most foreign users came, transit passengers (stayed in Slovenia for less than 6 hours) represented the highest share of all users from a particular country.
In the 4th quarter of the previous year, they made together 21.1 million transit trips or 2% more than in the same quarter of 2023. In the whole year 2024, they made almost 101 million transit trips or 2% fewer than in 2023.
Among all Italian mobile phone users in Slovenia in October, 92% were transit passengers. Among Austrian users the share of transit passengers was the highest in October and December (85%) and among users from Germany in December (91%).
More same-day visits of mobile phone users from neighbouring countries
Austrian mobile phone users made almost 1.1 million same-day visits to Slovenia in the 4th quarter of 2024 or 30% more than in the same quarter of 2023. Italian users made 642,000 same-day visits (1% more) and Croatian users 635,000 same-day visits (13% more). Only same-day visits of mobile users from Hungary decreased a little (221,000 or 3% fewer).
In 2024, mobile phone users from neighbouring countries made almost 10.3 million same-day visits to Slovenia (9% more than in the previous year). Of those, 56% of same-day visits were shorter ones, on which they stayed in Slovenia 6–12 hours, and 44% were longer ones (12–18 hours).
Tables with the latest data are available in the SiStat Database.
In the 4th quarter of 2024, in comparison to the same period of 2023, Slovenian mobile phone users while roaming in foreign mobile networks:
- Spent 9% more days as multi-day visitors (tourists),
- Made 1% more transit trips,
- 5% more same-day visits and
- About the same number of half-day visits.
In the same comparison, foreign mobile phone users while roaming in Slovenian mobile networks:
- Spent 1% fewer days as multi-day visitors (tourists) in Slovenia,
- Made 2% more transit trips and
- 9% more same-day visits, both half-day and same-day ones.
Slovenian mobile phone users travelled to 170 countries, Croatia remained the most visited country
In the last quarter of 2024, Slovenian mobile phone users (hereinafter: users) travelled to 170 countries as multi-day visitors (tourists), as same-day visitors or as transit passengers. In all three months, the largest number of Slovenian mobile phone users travelled to Croatia, followed by Italy, Austria and Germany, with the exception of December when Austria was second.
In October, besides three neighbouring countries, more than 10,000 different Slovenian users visited the following countries: Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia, Spain, France, Czechia, the Netherlands and Belgium. The number of Slovenian users who travelled to the stated countries increased the most in Spain (16%), followed by Belgium (12%), Serbia and Croatia (11% each), and France, the Netherlands and Italy (8% each). On the other hand, the number of users decreased in Bosnia and Herzegovina (by 6%) and in Germany (by 3%).
Slovenian mobile phone users as tourists spent abroad almost 10 million days
In the 4th quarter, mobile phone users travelled as tourists (multi-day visitors) to 159 countries, where they spent together between October and December 9.9 million days, which is 9% more than in the same period of 2023. They spent two thirds of those days (67% or 6.7 million) in four countries: Croatia, Germany, Austria and Italy.
In the whole year 2024, Slovenian users as multiday visitors roamed abroad for 46.7 million days, which is 4% more than the year before.
Slovenian users went on more same-day visits to neighbouring countries
Slovenian users most often travelled to neighbouring countries also as same-day visitors. The data on same-day visits also include non-touristic same-day visits (i.e. daily work migrations). They most often visited Austria (874,000 same-day visits or 7% more than in the same quarter of the previous year). The number of same-day visits to Croatia increased by 11% (more than 747,000) and to Italy by 4% (476,000). The number of same-day visits to Hungary was a lot lower (82,000) and it decreased by 2%.
To all neighbouring countries, the largest number of same-days visits was registered in October.
More foreign users of mobile phone services roamed in Slovenian mobile phone networks, the largest number from Austria and Italy
Mobile phone users from 138 countries visited Slovenia in the 4th quarter of 2024. Slovenian mobile operators registered the largest number of foreign mobile phone users in October (almost 4.3 million) and the lowest in November (3.2 million). In comparison with the same quarter of the previous year, in all three months of the last quarter there were more foreign users: in November 11%, in December 7% and in October 6% more.
In October the largest number of foreign mobile users came from Austria (725,000 or 17% of all foreign users), in November and in December from Italy (612,000 and 759,000), which in both months represented almost a fifth (19%) of all foreign users.
Foreign mobile phone users in Slovenia made in the last quarter more and in the whole year fewer transit trips
In all the countries from where most foreign users came, transit passengers (stayed in Slovenia for less than 6 hours) represented the highest share of all users from a particular country.
In the 4th quarter of the previous year, they made together 21.1 million transit trips or 2% more than in the same quarter of 2023. In the whole year 2024, they made almost 101 million transit trips or 2% fewer than in 2023.
Among all Italian mobile phone users in Slovenia in October, 92% were transit passengers. Among Austrian users the share of transit passengers was the highest in October and December (85%) and among users from Germany in December (91%).
More same-day visits of mobile phone users from neighbouring countries
Austrian mobile phone users made almost 1.1 million same-day visits to Slovenia in the 4th quarter of 2024 or 30% more than in the same quarter of 2023. Italian users made 642,000 same-day visits (1% more) and Croatian users 635,000 same-day visits (13% more). Only same-day visits of mobile users from Hungary decreased a little (221,000 or 3% fewer).
In 2024, mobile phone users from neighbouring countries made almost 10.3 million same-day visits to Slovenia (9% more than in the previous year). Of those, 56% of same-day visits were shorter ones, on which they stayed in Slovenia 6–12 hours, and 44% were longer ones (12–18 hours).
Tables with the latest data are available in the SiStat Database.
Slovenian users of mobile telephony services by most frequently visited countries and types of users, Slovenia, October 2024
Slovenian mobile phone users abroad by most visited countries, October 2024
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METHODOLOGICAL NOTE
The data are published as experimental because the survey is new and because the measuring instrument, the methodology of data collection and the indicators are still being developed.
Some mobile operators still have problems with (correct) coding of users by countries. Data on users can include besides mobile phones also data on other smart devices. In addition, data can also include usage of mobile phone networks by devices that connect and exchange data with other devices (Internet of Things).
The usage of eSIM cards, which are offered by mobile phone operators in the EU, is counted to the country of the mobile phone operator that provides eSIM card service and not to the country from where foreign mobile phone users are actually coming.
As there are many methodological and definitional inconsistencies between the surveys, mobile operators’ statistics, which in this case are cited as experimental statistics, and statistics of other official surveys on tourism statistics, cannot be compared directly.
As part of the mobile operators' statistics, an individual is defined as a user of a mobile device roaming in a foreign network during the trip. In order to be recognized as a "traveller", they must therefore have an active mobile device, which is not a requirement in the case of other surveys.
Mobile operators' statistics also do not contain other details about individuals' trips (e.g. the reasons for travel) on the basis of which it is determined whether an individual visit is actually a "tourist" visit or not. It is highly possible that data on one-day visitors who travel between Slovenia and neighbouring countries included many of those that are otherwise not taken into account within tourism statistics (e.g. daily work migrants, truck drivers in transit, etc.).
Additional explanations are available in the methodological explanations.
Some mobile operators still have problems with (correct) coding of users by countries. Data on users can include besides mobile phones also data on other smart devices. In addition, data can also include usage of mobile phone networks by devices that connect and exchange data with other devices (Internet of Things).
The usage of eSIM cards, which are offered by mobile phone operators in the EU, is counted to the country of the mobile phone operator that provides eSIM card service and not to the country from where foreign mobile phone users are actually coming.
As there are many methodological and definitional inconsistencies between the surveys, mobile operators’ statistics, which in this case are cited as experimental statistics, and statistics of other official surveys on tourism statistics, cannot be compared directly.
As part of the mobile operators' statistics, an individual is defined as a user of a mobile device roaming in a foreign network during the trip. In order to be recognized as a "traveller", they must therefore have an active mobile device, which is not a requirement in the case of other surveys.
Mobile operators' statistics also do not contain other details about individuals' trips (e.g. the reasons for travel) on the basis of which it is determined whether an individual visit is actually a "tourist" visit or not. It is highly possible that data on one-day visitors who travel between Slovenia and neighbouring countries included many of those that are otherwise not taken into account within tourism statistics (e.g. daily work migrants, truck drivers in transit, etc.).
Additional explanations are available in the methodological explanations.
When making use of the data and information of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, always add: "Source: SURS". More: Copyright.
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