(source: TASR)
High Tatras, Liptov and Horehronie. These are some of the regions in Slovakia that launched the ski season in the first weekend of December and welcomed the enthusiasts of winter sports.
In the High Tatras, the ski slopes in Ždiar and Štrbské Pleso opened. At Štrbské Pleso, the first slopes in the lower part were put into operation, said the technical director for cableways, Jaroslav Sokol, for the TASR newswire. He added that skiers have a cablecar and two lifts available on the Turistická, Interski and Junior slopes, where there is currently 40 centimetres of snow and the conditions are very good.
Detailed travel guide to the Tatras introduces you to the whole region around the Tatra mountains, including attractions on the Polish side.
The season in the Tatras starts a week earlier than usual, the slopes prepared thanks to the amount of snow and sub-zero temperatures. They started with the artificial snowing of the slopes in the High Tatras on November 13. "When the weather permits, we will start snowing the upper parts again, Furkotka is covered with 45 percent of snow and Solisko with approximately 60 percent," Sokol explained. They plan to open the center in Tatranská Lomnica on December 16, snowing the entire line from Skalnaté pleso. The toboggan run from Hrebienok and several tracks for lovers of cross-country skiing are already in operation.
New features of the winter season include, for example, the new Tatra National Park visitor schedule with an extension of the season for ski alpinists, and a shortening of the winter closure. "This is positive news for tourists. They have a negative perception of the ban on animals in the high mountain environment. We believe that they will get used to this trend and understand its rationale," Lucia Blašková, director of the Regional Tourism Organisation of the High Tatras Region, told TASR.
She added that the ski bus operates in Štrbské Pleso. Additional routes, the same as in the last years, will be added from Christmas and run throughout the winter until Easter. "A shuttle connection between the Eurocamp and the Biela Voda parking lot is also planned in cooperation with the Prešov Region. We are bringing back the Tatrycard regional card, which includes free train transportation in the High Tatras. It can be obtained by guests staying at the facility or purchased online," added Blašková.
Ice Town in Horehronie soon
The Horehronie region, central Slovakia, has also already started the winter season. In addition to maintained ski and cross-country tracks, the Ice Town in the historical centre of Brezno with a large outdoor ice rink, markets with regional products, musical performances, ice skating bus, the Horehronie ski bus, horse racing and European biathlon championships attracts locals and visitors alike.
"We opened the winter season together with the Liptov region. Both regions are interconnected, their border represented by the Low Tatras peaks with the largest ski arena in Slovakia - Jasná Nízke Tatry. Our goal is common - to constantly increase the number of visitors to the regions, which leads to the motivation to create and provide quality tourism products and services," explained the executive director of the Regional Tourism Organisation Horehronie Region, Petra Ridzoňová Hlásniková.
The Ice town in Brezno will open its doors from December 15 to January 7. Skating will be available to the public every day from 14:30 to 20:00. There will be a skate rental shop for adults and children near the ice surface. It will also include aids for people to learn to skate. The atmosphere of the Ice Town will be provided by musical and theatrical performances.
Downhill in Jasná
People in the aforementioned Liptov region don't remember such a rich amount of snow in the past few days in many years, said Katarína Šarafínová from the Regional Tourism Organisation Liptov Region. The ski race started on 20 kilometres of maintained downhill tracks in Jasná. They are entering the season in the region with high expectations.
"The main attraction of a winter vacation in Liptov is, of course, skiing, but our advantage over other regions and destinations is that other winter activities and sports are also on offer. These include bathing in thermal waters, which Liptov is particularly rich in, " said Šarafínová. She added that neither do they forget folklore traditions. That is why, according to her, this winter they are betting on the beauty of Slovak costumes, which they presented during the opening ceremony at an altitude of over 2,000 metres above sea level.
The local tourism organisation expects to have the biggest impact on the season in Jasná, and on the World Cup in Liptov downhill skiing in January 2024. Elements of Liptov folklore are also part of the event in the form of trophies and gifts.
"We have high expectations for the winter season. We have a snow guarantee in Liptov for up to five months, from December to April, and many attractions are concentrated in a small area. In addition to local Slovaks, we would also like to welcome vacationers from Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary; but we are actively reaching out to the Baltic States, Romania and also Great Britain, from where two airlines already fly to Poprad," Šarafínová concluded.
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