1. prof. Ing. Peter Pat us, PhD. Department of Tourism and Hospitality Faculty of Economy Matej Bel University Banska Bystrica 2013 Review of Situation Analysis

2. Zvolenská kotlina Region Region is located in the valley of river Hron Comprises Banská Bystrica- Slia c - Zvolen including their surroundings Region is limited by mountains Low Tatras- Great Fatra- Kremnick e hills- Slovensk e Rudohorie

4. Conditions of T ourism D evelopment Accessibility Road transport- highways and motorways in Bratislava direction (approx. 3 h) Railway transport- old-fashioned, slow and of low frequency Air transport- Slia c airport without regular connection at home and abroad

5. Natural C onditions Hiking- above- mentioned mountains Cycling (road & mountain biking) Water sports (Hron rafting) Cross-country skiing (Kremnick e hills, Low Tatras, Great Fatra) Alpine skiing (Kremnick e hills, Low Tatras, Great Fatra) Spa tourism (Slia c, Kov ac ov a ) Golf ( Slia c )

6. Cultural- historical monuments and events Cultural tourism- religious monuments, UNESCO monument in Hronsek, museums and galleries, castles, mining traditions- copper mining, Slovak National Uprising monuments, folklore and region´s traditions, tradition of Radva n fair

7. Unused potential of the region Slia c airport as a mean of foreign visitors transportation Missing highway connection from North to South (previous intended connection B-T-B-A: Baltic Sea- Tatras-Balaton-Adriatic Sea) geological tourism- S pania Dolina, Star e Hory, L ubietov a Gastronomy tourism- regional special i ties Decline of spa infrastructure- mostly spa Slia c

8. Decline of ski resort Tureck a - Kr iz na Missing cable connection between ski resorts Králiky and Skalka Missing exhibition site in the region for national and international fairs and exhibitions Missing cultural centre of the region for cultural, congress and exhibition events Unfinished network of cycling tracks Recreation nearby important cities- unfinished leisure and recreation complex in suburban areas of Zvolen and Bansk a Bystrica

9. Other problems of tourism development Quality of services Insufficient destionation marketing (image, destiantion brand) Missing tourism development strategy of the region Organizational insufficiencies in tourism Insufficient number of tourism investments Negative business environment in Slovakia