It must be understood as an important economic sector and a tool for regional development. On December 1, 2011, Act No. 91/2010 Coll. on the Promotion of Tourism, as amended (hereinafter referred to as the “Tourism Promotion Act”), entered into force. The Act regulates the support of tourism in the Slovak Republic, the rights and obligations of natural and legal persons operating in tourism, the preparation of conceptual documents, and the financing of tourism development.
The support for coordination of destination management in tourism also arises from the Tourism Development Strategy of the Žilina Self-Governing Region for the years 2007–2013. The provisions of § 8 et seq. of the Tourism Promotion Act established the legal framework for the establishment, formation, and operation of regional tourism organizations.
A regional organization is a legal entity established under the Tourism Promotion Act that supports and creates conditions for tourism development within the region and protects the interests of its members. According to the Act, members of the regional organization include the higher territorial unit and at least one local tourism organization operating in its territory established under the same Act.