ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the aim of the author is to examine theoretical approaches to destination competitiveness in terms of sustainability and to evaluate the role of Slovakia as a destination in the international tourism market. The author addresses two research questions. RQ1: Why does Slovakia fail to succeed in the competition of the countries as a tourism destination in the international tourism market? and RQ2: Which are the key areas that should be of primary focus in order to enhance destination development? The chapter presents the latest data from the World Economic Forum, Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic and annual reports of Slovak destination management organisations. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and factor analysis. The research outcomes identify the competitive position of Slovakia within the ranking of countries included in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2019. The chapter concludes with the identification of the most competitive destinations in Slovakia choosing selected indicators from the conceptual and integrated models of destination competitiveness.
