| Abstract: | The article presents the results of geographic typology of tourist locations in Slovenia. The methods and the criteria selected are based on the available statistical data for tourism for the year 1987. Those data that best represent the tourist supply and demand in the tourist locations under discussion were selected. At the same time these are the data that allowed us to optimally define the extent and the importance of tourism as well as its prevalent types in effects, as manifested in individual locations. The following criteria were selected: the number of overnight stays, the average length of the tourists' stay, the intensity of tourist turnover (the number of overnight stays per resident in a particular tourist location), the sessonal distribution of overnight stays, the ethnic structure of the tourists, and the structure of the tourist sleeping facilities. 81 tourist locations in Slovenia were analyzed. Although only locations with over 10.000 overnight stays were considered, as many as 92 % of all overnight stays in Slovenia for that particular year were included in the study. The methodology of geographic typology consisted of two phases. In the first, the matrix which is attached to this article, was used to classify tourist locations into several groups according to the combination of the values of individual criteria. In the second phase, the number of these groups was reduced to individual types of tourist locations. In order to do that we considered the characteristics that these locations had in common and that, at the same time, reflected the prevalent types and effects of tourism in the locations studied. Seven basic types of tourist locations were identified for Slovenia: 1. spas: these are located atthermal and mineral water springs. Typical of spas are long average tourist stays and an even distribution of overnight stays throughout the year. 2. seaside resorts: these represent a very common point of destination for tourists, especially in the summer season, when the number of overnight stays is highest. 3. tourist locations in the country: these are locations in the Slovenia's mountains regions as well as various waterside locations. Typically, these locations offer recreational activities, either in winter only or throughout the year. 4. administrative and economic centerswith mostly business and transient tourism: these are larger towns for which tourism is just one of their activities. The average tourist stays are short and their distribution over the year even. 5. locations with typically transient tourism: these are locations along main highways, where tourists stop only temporarily on their way to the final point of destination. 6. non-touristic locations: these are locations with very small number of overnight stays, where tourism is of no great importance. 7. mountain lodges and huts. |
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