Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia from which pessimism and negativity are absent.
Global ‘Good Country Index’ ranks Slovakia among top fifth
The village of Špania Dolina in central Slovakia. (source: DUŠAN BEŇO)
Slovakia has been ranked 32nd in the latest Good Country Index, a privately run listing that evaluates countries based on how much they “contribute to the planet, and to the human species, through their policies and behaviours”. It considers factors like science and technology, culture, international peace, climate efforts, prosperity and health.
Slovakia performed best in climate protection and – somewhat improbably, given the ructions in the sector throughout 2024 – in culture, ranking among the top 25 countries. However, health care remains a weak spot, with Slovakia placing just 80th out of 174 nations. The country showed average performance in science, international peace, and prosperity.
While Slovakia’s ranking is respectable, neighbouring countries achieved better results in the index, which is a composite statistic of 35 data points, most of them generated by the United Nations.
Bratislava welcomed over 1 million tourists last year
Bratislava welcomed nearly 1.2 million tourists in 2024. (source: SME - Marko Erd)
Slovakia’s capital city experienced a strong rebound in tourism last year, recording nearly 1.2 million visitors. This marked a 3.2-percent increase compared to 2023 and brings the city to 85 percent of its record-breaking pre-pandemic numbers from 2019, according to the Bratislava Tourist Board (BTB).
Foreign tourists made up 67 percent of visitors, with the highest numbers coming from Germany, the UK, Czechia, Poland, and Austria. Notably, visits from China surged by 170 percent, while the USA and Hungary saw increases of 12 percent and 10 percent, respectively. In contrast, the number of Dutch tourists declined by 16 percent.
The busiest months for tourism were, unsurprisingly, June, July and August. However, the last quarter of 2024 also saw significant growth, with a 13-percent year-on-year increase, and November recorded an 18-percent rise. This was driven by increased interest in autumn travel, the city’s Christmas markets, cultural events, and conferences, which played a key role in boosting visitor numbers.
Biedronka to open first store in Slovakia on March 5
The first Biedronka store will open in Miloslavov on March 5. (source: Unsplash)
Polish low-cost supermarket chain Biedronka is set to open its first store in Slovakia on March 5 in Miloslavov, a commuter village 15 kilometres east of Bratislava. The company plans to expand across the country, starting with small and medium-sized towns before entering the capital. The initial phase will focus on regions near its new distribution centre in Voderady.
Biedronka will operate in three store formats and plans to offer Slovak brands alongside its Polish products. In the fresh food segment, 50% of items will come from Slovak suppliers, with a long-term goal of 40% Slovak products on its shelves. The chain will also introduce its own label, "Z našej zeme" (From our land), developed by its Slovak team.
While a loyalty programme is not planned initially, it is expected to launch within two years. Prices in Slovakia will differ from those in Poland due to market-specific factors, including tax policies and operational costs. Despite this, Biedronka aims to compete with Lidl by offering attractive prices and discounts.
Five feel-good stories published by The Slovak Spectator for you to enjoy:
Amidst a climate crisis, Slovakia is facing an odd problem: it has too much renewable energy.
Inspired by foreigners, this professor is leading a centre to improve Slovak-language education for foreigners.
Once home to free-roaming animals and a geyser, Levice’s park is set to be restored to its former glory.
Where to invest in 2025? Here are five tips to grow your savings.
Blended learning is taking off in Slovakia, giving students more choice.
Meme of the week
Caption: Andrej Danko has déjà vu when he sees this. The last time he saw so many lights was at a traffic light.
This meme, posted by satirical site Zomri on its Facebook page, shows a sea of lights at a recent anti-government protest and uses it to mock Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko’s late-night encounter with a traffic light pole last January. His position in the ruling coalition was weakened this week after he offered to forego all his party’s ministerial seats to resolve a governing crisis.
You can send me your tips for good news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: kseniia.husieva@spectator.sk. Thank you!
