News roundup - Monday, 19 August, until 3pm

Decrease in irregular migration in first seven months, Syrians standing out

LJUBLJANA - Slovenian police processed a total of 25,786 irregular migrants in the first seven months of 2024, a 4% decrease year-on-year. Syrians accounted for almost a third of all cases, with their number up more than tenfold. Afghan nationals follow, but their number is down by 30%. The number of recorded smuggling cases increased from 197 to 308, with 337 individuals caught smuggling 1,927 illegal migrants. Detention orders were issued for 316 smugglers. The number of asylum applications filed fell by 18% to 3,073.

Bled Castle increasingly popular with tourists

BLED - Bled Castle above the scenic Lake Bled is attracting more visitors again after the Covid-19 slump. The castle saw nearly 186,000 visitors in the first half of 2024, up 12% year-on-year, and some 240,000 by 1 August, said the Bled Culture Institute, which manages the castle. Some 16% of visitors were Slovenians, 13% were South Korean and 10% American, followed by visitors from Hungary, Italy, Germany, Croatia, the UK and Poland. Last year the castle saw 412,000 visitors, up from 300,000 in 2022, but still below the pre-pandemic figure of 570,000 in 2019.

Economy Ministry cautions against malicious e-mail about business award

LJUBLJANA - The Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport said that some individuals and companies had received a malicious e-mail from a fake e-mail account suggesting it had been sent by Minister Matjaž Han. The e-mail with an attachment says the addressees have won a business award. Relevant institutions have already been notified of the fake message circulating, the ministry said.

Agra to feature exhibitors from 35 countries, Bulgaria in focus

GORNJA RADGONA - Agra, the country's leading agricultural and food fair, will bring together 1,720 exhibitors from 35 countries on 70,000 square metres of indoor and outdoor areas in Gornja Radgona between 24 and 29 August with Bulgaria being the country in focus. With this year's 62nd edition, Agra will maintain its reputation as the largest and most important agri-food fair in this part of Europe, said Janez Erjavec, executive director of Pomurski Sejem, the company that organises it. added as he presented the fair last week.

Štajerska wines to be promoted at festival beneath city streets

MARIBOR - Wines from the northeastern region of Štajerska but also other parts of Slovenia will be promoted at the Vinag Wine Cellar in the city of Maribor on Saturday in what its organisers termed the first wine festival to be held below ground. Vinag Wine Cellar is one of the largest and oldest classic wine cellars in Europe. It was built in 1847 below the city centre on 15,000 square metres, comprising more than two kilometres of tunnels.