Sports and Tourism Minister Rudolf Huliak. (source: TASR)
The eVisitor website – a government-run guest registration system for tourists – was originally proposed in 2023 by the technocratic government of Ľudovít Ódor. Its main aim is to help tackle illegal accommodation, which many hotel operators see as a major issue.
Although the site is still far from being launched, Sports and Tourism Minister Rudolf Huliak has made bold claims about its potential. According to Index magazine, Huliak said the system “will fully replace Booking”, the well-known online platform for lodging reservations. Huliak took office earlier this year after Prime Minister Robert Fico reshuffled the cabinet to resolve a coalition dispute.
However, both the ministry and representatives of the hotel industry have since contradicted his statements. Index reports that they not only denied his claim about replacing Booking but had to correct several of the minister’s other remarks as well.
What is eVisitor?
The eVisitor system is designed to allow digital check-in and check-out for guests staying in hotels, guesthouses, private homes, and flats. Its goal is to improve the collection of local and state taxes on accommodation – some of which go unpaid when providers do not register guests.
Several EU countries already use similar systems. Croatia, for example, introduced one in 2016.
A key question remains: how will the state ensure that accommodation providers actually use it? Huliak originally claimed it would rely on what he called “positive motivation”. However, the ministry later clarified this, citing an EU regulation that came into effect last year. The rule requires online platforms to share data with national systems like eVisitor.
Not meant for guests
Marek Harbuľák, general manager of the Slovak Association of Hotels and Restaurants, told Index that eVisitor is not designed for direct use by guests.
“It’s a government tool for cities and municipalities to manage and collect accommodation tax and coordinate tourism development or marketing campaigns,” he said. He added that, in theory, smaller providers could use it for handling bookings, but this would require extra features not currently planned.
The ministry has also stated that replacing platforms like Booking is not the intention.
Huliak has also said accommodation providers will be promoted by the Slovakia Travel agency. In reality, the agency currently promotes Slovakia as a destination overall, including specific regions – not individual hotels or guesthouses.
When the Ódor government introduced the eVisitor concept in 2023, the aim was to launch it within two years. However, following the change of government after the September 2023 elections, no feasibility study was carried out and no procurement process began. As a result, the project is now on hold.
