Experimental statistics: Use of mobile operators data for tourism purposes, 3rd quarter 2025
Tourist roaming longer in both Slovenian and foreign mobile phone users
In the 3rd quarter, Slovenian mobile phone users while roaming spent more days abroad, made more transit trips and went on fewer same-day visits. Foreign mobile phone users were mostly in transit.
Key statistics for 3rd quarter 2025
Compared to the same period of 2024, Slovenian mobile phone users while roaming in foreign mobile networks:
Slovenian mobile phone users travelled to 172 different countries, the largest number to Croatia
In the 3rd quarter of 2025, Slovenian mobile phone users (hereinafter: users) travelled to 172 countries as multi-day visitors (tourists), as same-day visitors or as transit passengers. In each of the three months of the quarter, the largest number of Slovenian mobile phone users travelled to Croatia, followed by Italy, Austria and Germany.
The largest number of mobile phone users was recorded in August, even though the largest number of visits to Croatia and Italy occurred in July.
In August, more than 10,000 different Slovenian users were registered in 13 countries: in addition to four neighbouring countries and Germany, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia, Greece, France, Czechia, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Slovenian mobile phone users spent 14% more days abroad
In the observed quarter, Slovenian mobile phone users travelled as tourists (multi-day visitors) to 149 countries, where they spent together between July and September around 19 million days, which is 14% more than in the same period last year. They spent almost four fifths of those days (81% or 15.5 million) in four countries: Croatia, Austria, Germany, and Italy. The number of tourist days increased the most in Croatia – by 27%.
More same-day visits to Italy
Slovenian mobile phone users made the largest number of same-day visits (more than a million) to Croatia, 6% fewer than in the same period last year. Second is Austria with 816,000 same-day visits (no change from last year), followed by Italy with 518,000 same-day visits (+8%). Same-day visits to Hungary were much less numerous. Their number decreased by 1% to around 74,000.
Slovenian mobile phone users in the 3rd quarter of 2025 made more than 3 million same-day visits, 7% fewer than the previous year. Quarterly data on same-day visits also include non-touristic same-day visits (i.e. daily work migrations). 54% of same-day visits were half-day visits (6–12 hours), and 46% were same-day visits (12–18 hours).
8% more foreign users in Slovenian mobile phone networks
Mobile phone users from 142 countries visited Slovenia in the 3rd quarter of 2025 (hereinafter: foreign users). The largest number (10.8 million) was registered in August and the smallest (6.3 million) in September. Compared to the same period in 2024, July had 6% and August 7% more foreign users. There were additionally 10% more foreign users in September than in the same period last year.
The most frequent foreign users roaming in Slovenian mobile networks were from Germany (5.7 million or 22% of all foreign users), followed by those from Austria (3.8 million or 15% of all).
Among foreign users transit passengers are prevalent
Foreign users in the 3rd quarter again made the most transit trips because transit passengers (stayed in Slovenia for less than 6 hours) represented the highest share of all users from a particular country. Together they made 38 million transit trips or 10% more than in the same quarter a year ago.
More same-day visits by foreign users from neighbouring countries
Foreign users made 8.8 million same-day visits to Slovenia in the observed period, 29% more than in the 3rd quarter of last year. Austrian users were the most numerous (1.6 million), followed by users from Germany (around 983.000). In the same comparison, the number of Italian users went up by 8% to 843,000 and of same-day visits from Croatia up by 17% to around 686,000.
Tables with the latest data are available in the SiStat Database.
Compared to the same period of 2024, Slovenian mobile phone users while roaming in foreign mobile networks:
- Spent 14% more days as multi-day visitors (tourists),
- Made 8% more transit trips and
- Went on 7% fewer same-day visits, 2% fewer half-day and 12% fewer same-day ones.
- Spent 29% more days as multi-day visitors (tourists) in Slovenia,
- Made 10% more transit trips and
- Went on 32% more half-day visits and 24% more same-day ones.
Slovenian mobile phone users travelled to 172 different countries, the largest number to Croatia
In the 3rd quarter of 2025, Slovenian mobile phone users (hereinafter: users) travelled to 172 countries as multi-day visitors (tourists), as same-day visitors or as transit passengers. In each of the three months of the quarter, the largest number of Slovenian mobile phone users travelled to Croatia, followed by Italy, Austria and Germany.
The largest number of mobile phone users was recorded in August, even though the largest number of visits to Croatia and Italy occurred in July.
In August, more than 10,000 different Slovenian users were registered in 13 countries: in addition to four neighbouring countries and Germany, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Serbia, Greece, France, Czechia, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Slovenian mobile phone users spent 14% more days abroad
In the observed quarter, Slovenian mobile phone users travelled as tourists (multi-day visitors) to 149 countries, where they spent together between July and September around 19 million days, which is 14% more than in the same period last year. They spent almost four fifths of those days (81% or 15.5 million) in four countries: Croatia, Austria, Germany, and Italy. The number of tourist days increased the most in Croatia – by 27%.
More same-day visits to Italy
Slovenian mobile phone users made the largest number of same-day visits (more than a million) to Croatia, 6% fewer than in the same period last year. Second is Austria with 816,000 same-day visits (no change from last year), followed by Italy with 518,000 same-day visits (+8%). Same-day visits to Hungary were much less numerous. Their number decreased by 1% to around 74,000.
Slovenian mobile phone users in the 3rd quarter of 2025 made more than 3 million same-day visits, 7% fewer than the previous year. Quarterly data on same-day visits also include non-touristic same-day visits (i.e. daily work migrations). 54% of same-day visits were half-day visits (6–12 hours), and 46% were same-day visits (12–18 hours).
8% more foreign users in Slovenian mobile phone networks
Mobile phone users from 142 countries visited Slovenia in the 3rd quarter of 2025 (hereinafter: foreign users). The largest number (10.8 million) was registered in August and the smallest (6.3 million) in September. Compared to the same period in 2024, July had 6% and August 7% more foreign users. There were additionally 10% more foreign users in September than in the same period last year.
The most frequent foreign users roaming in Slovenian mobile networks were from Germany (5.7 million or 22% of all foreign users), followed by those from Austria (3.8 million or 15% of all).
Among foreign users transit passengers are prevalent
Foreign users in the 3rd quarter again made the most transit trips because transit passengers (stayed in Slovenia for less than 6 hours) represented the highest share of all users from a particular country. Together they made 38 million transit trips or 10% more than in the same quarter a year ago.
More same-day visits by foreign users from neighbouring countries
Foreign users made 8.8 million same-day visits to Slovenia in the observed period, 29% more than in the 3rd quarter of last year. Austrian users were the most numerous (1.6 million), followed by users from Germany (around 983.000). In the same comparison, the number of Italian users went up by 8% to 843,000 and of same-day visits from Croatia up by 17% to around 686,000.
Tables with the latest data are available in the SiStat Database.
Slovenian users of mobile telephony services by most frequently visited countries and types of users, Slovenia, August 2025
Slovenian mobile phone users abroad by most visited countries, August 2025
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METHODOLOGICAL NOTE
The data are published as experimental because the survey is new and because the measuring instrument, the methodology of data collection and the indicators are still being developed.
Some mobile operators still have problems with (correct) coding of users by countries. Data on users can include besides mobile phones also data on other smart devices. In addition, data can also include usage of mobile phone networks by devices that connect and exchange data with other devices (Internet of Things).
The usage of eSIM cards, which are offered by mobile phone operators in the EU, is counted to the country of the mobile phone operator that provides eSIM card service and not to the country from where foreign mobile phone users are actually coming.
As there are many methodological and definitional inconsistencies between the surveys, mobile operators’ statistics, which in this case are cited as experimental statistics, and statistics of other official surveys on tourism statistics, cannot be compared directly.
As part of the mobile operators' statistics, an individual is defined as a user of a mobile device roaming in a foreign network during the trip. In order to be recognized as a "traveller", they must therefore have an active mobile device, which is not a requirement in the case of other surveys.
Mobile operators' statistics also do not contain other details about individuals' trips (e.g. the reasons for travel) on the basis of which it is determined whether an individual visit is actually a "tourist" visit or not. It is highly possible that data on one-day visitors who travel between Slovenia and neighbouring countries included many of those that are otherwise not taken into account within tourism statistics (e.g. daily work migrants, truck drivers in transit, etc.).
Additional explanations are available in the methodological explanations.
Some mobile operators still have problems with (correct) coding of users by countries. Data on users can include besides mobile phones also data on other smart devices. In addition, data can also include usage of mobile phone networks by devices that connect and exchange data with other devices (Internet of Things).
The usage of eSIM cards, which are offered by mobile phone operators in the EU, is counted to the country of the mobile phone operator that provides eSIM card service and not to the country from where foreign mobile phone users are actually coming.
As there are many methodological and definitional inconsistencies between the surveys, mobile operators’ statistics, which in this case are cited as experimental statistics, and statistics of other official surveys on tourism statistics, cannot be compared directly.
As part of the mobile operators' statistics, an individual is defined as a user of a mobile device roaming in a foreign network during the trip. In order to be recognized as a "traveller", they must therefore have an active mobile device, which is not a requirement in the case of other surveys.
Mobile operators' statistics also do not contain other details about individuals' trips (e.g. the reasons for travel) on the basis of which it is determined whether an individual visit is actually a "tourist" visit or not. It is highly possible that data on one-day visitors who travel between Slovenia and neighbouring countries included many of those that are otherwise not taken into account within tourism statistics (e.g. daily work migrants, truck drivers in transit, etc.).
Additional explanations are available in the methodological explanations.
When making use of the data and information of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, always add: "Source: SURS". More: Copyright.
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