New focus and marketing push expected to encourage the continuing growth of visitors from the Middle East to Hungary in 2014
Dubai,
29 May 2014 - Hungarian Tourism Ltd, the national body responsible for
the international promotion of destination Hungary, announced that it
will boost promotion of its unique health tourism products, Meetings,
Incentives, Conferencing and Exhibitions (MICE) travel packages and
facilities, the capital city Budapest, and Cultural Tourism within the
Middle East in 2014.
According to Mr. Gergely Horváth, CEO
of Hungarian Tourism Plc.: “The Middle East market has been a growing
and increasingly important source market of visitors to Hungary over the
last couple of years, and we see positive signs to suggest that this
trend will continue. We expect a further increase in visitors from the
region in 2014.”
The reasons attributed to the positive
outlook regarding increased visitor numbers to Hungary from the region
include: Hungarian Tourism’s proactive strategy of engagement with the
regional travel trade, airlines and agents, Hungary’s continuing success
in offering high-quality with value as a leisure and business
destination, variety of tourism products on offer, and Hungary’s rich
culture and traditions which are well received by many from the Middle
East.
As part of the tourism development
strategy, Hungarian Tourism will now focus its marketing efforts on
highlighting destination and niche markets that target specific consumer
segments. In 2014, tourism products for health tourism, MICE, the city
of Budapest and Hungary as a honeymoon destination will all be
highlighted with a focus on the excellent and comparative high-quality
experiences Hungary can provide within these niche travel segments.
For health tourism cosmetic procedures and
spas at the country’s numerous and highly qualified and specialized
clinics and hospitals will be promoted as too will Hungary’s famous
traditional medicinal water therapies. For MICE travel, Hungarian
Tourism will continue to promote the country as an ideal MICE
destination with focus on value-for-money, outstanding infrastructure
& services and warm Hungarian hospitality. Tourism focus on the city
of Budapest will highlight the capital’s historical landmarks and royal
castles, the city’s comparative value-for-money advantage compared to
other European countries, with particular focus on its up to 5,000 room
inventory of first class & luxury hotels and accommodations.
The tourism industry in Hungary continues
to promote and highlight historical attractions. Among those highlighted
by Mr. Gergely Horváth to be of particular interest to visitors from
the Middle East include; the “Danube Bend”, one of Hungary’s most
popular romantic destination for couples with breathtaking views of
Central Europe’s second longest river; “Andrássy Avenue”, which is home
to the flagship stores of luxury retail brands that tempt shoppers on
its tree-lined street; and Hévíz, which is Central Europe’s biggest
thermal lake. Strewn with water lilies and open all year round, Hévíz is
famous for its healing properties and for promoting general well-being.
As Hungary is a lesser known destination in the Middle East, the main
objective for the delegation’s mission to the Arabian Travel Market is
to generate awareness of the country’s attractions among GCC travel
agents and main target groups.Cultural Tourism in Hungary
Hungary has an enviable cultural heritage and many Hungarians have made a name for themselves across the centuries in the fields of science, music and medicine, including gaining a handful of Nobel prizes. In music they claim some of the greats, including international renowned pianist and composer Ferenc Liszt, Béla Bartók and Zoltán Kodály. Hungary has also given the world the ballpoint pen (invented by Láslo Biró in 1931), the helicopter (invented by Oszkár Asbóth in 1928), the BMW Diesel engine (invented by Ferenc Anisits in 1983), the binocular (invented by Joseph Petzval in 1840), the Pulitzer Prize (created by Joseph Pulitzer in 1917) and of course the Rubik’s Cube (invented by Ernő Rubik in 1976).
2014 is expected to be an especially ideal time to visit Hungary due to the numerous festivals or sport events planned for the coming year including the Budapest Spring Festival, the Sziget Music Festival and the Formula 1 Championship, plus smaller traditional festivals throughout the country, such as the Flower Festival in Debrecen and the unique Easter celebrations in the UNESCO listed village of Hollókő, which draws many visitors every year.
“Wellspring of Health” for beauty treatments and spa therapy options as well as alternative medicine
In 2014 health tourism is still the central focus of the marketing activities of the Hungarian Tourism Plc. Over one third of overnight stays are generated by health travel and the number of visitors at thermal baths is growing.
More than 1,000 hot springsas well as a modern medical infrastructure have made Hungary the world’s leading health destination. In addition, all of the large Hungarian thermal bath facilities have been renovated and expanded considerably in the last two years. The wide variety of treatments in pools of pure medicinal water, without chemical additives, but with all the valuable minerals and trace elements, is quite unique.
Entirely without side effects, they are beneficial for a large number of diseases ranging from rheumatic complaints to female and skin disorders. In addition, experienced medical specialists such as rheumatologists, neurologists, dermatologists and cardiologists as well as therapists work directly at the health resorts and spa hotels inHungary. They take the time to respond to the individual requirements of each and every guest. The high level of the treatments is guaranteed not least by the stringent training criteria for healthcare professions inHungary, for example four years of university education for physiotherapists and at least 600 hours of practical work in addition to theoretical training for massage therapists. Thanks to those general conditions, Hungarian thermal baths and spa hotels are an ideal and high-quality alternative to the medical options offered in their home countries for health-conscious people from all over the world.
Hungary for Honeymooners “Budapest? Yes I do!”
Honeymoon’s are often equated with romanticism and idyllic locations.
Which is wonderful but can sometimes be overdone, sterotypical and dare
we say it - even a little soppy. For honeymooners looking for something
fresh, new and stylish consider Hungary!Budapest is smaller than most popular European capitals; this is part of the reason why it's lovelier. Some say Budapest is just the right size for wandering. No skyscrapers, just castles, palaces, Roman and Turkish ruins and baths, Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Art Nouveau buildings. A huge part of the city is listed as a World Heritage Site, see for yourselves why!
Take a boat cruise on the Danube, visit a restaurant with views of the city, visit art galleries and museums for thousand-year-old culture and art masterpieces, explore the excellent café culture, try Hungarian dessert specialities at the confectionaries, enjoy traditional drinks and cuisine, take photos at historic sites, heal your soul and body in the medical thermal baths and you will have a honeymoon everyone will envy.
All larger hotels have honeymoon suites and organized packages from low-budget excursions to luxury trips. Whichever you choose, you won't regret it, because there's so much to do, see and experience in Budapest and Hungary, that there's no bad or boring combination of programs. And the best part is that Budapest brings great value for money compared to Western Europe.
While Budapest is a most for any honeymoon visit to Hungary there are a couple of day-trip ideas outside Budapest, worth considering. The royal palace of Gödöllő is 100% romantic; it was the summer residence of Queen Sisi and Franz Joseph, Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The Danube Bend is a breathtaking natural formation, with amazing views from several hilltops.
New films
Wes Anderson’s new comedy-drama, Grand Budapest Hotel opens in cinemas in March 2014 with an all-star cast including Ralph Fiennes, Willem Defoe, Jude Law and Tilda Swinton. Grand Budapest Hotel recounts the adventures of Gustave H, played by Ralph Fiennes the legendary concierge at a famous European hotel, and Zero Moustafa, the lobby boy who becomes his trusted friend. The film, set between World War I and World War II, involves the theft of a priceless Renaissance painting and the battle for an enormous family fortune. According to Historic Hotels Then and Now, the Corinithia Hotel Budapest is said to be the inspiration for the movie. Formerly known as the Grand Hotel Royal, and opened in 1896, it continued through the 1900s to be a popular spot for contemporary Hungarian writers and journalists. Interestingly, the first-ever screening of a movie in Budapest took place at this hotel and later on, half the building served as a cinema.
A paradise for hunters
Hungary's hunting history stretches back to the time of the Romans,
when the teeming wildlife of theprovinceofPannoniawas an important
source of food.Today hunting is a much-loved sport. The natural environment and well-organised hunts attract visitors toHungaryall year round to participate in this unforgettable experience.
There are red, fallow and roe deer, wild boar and mouflon, to mention just a few of the larger game species. Many hunting records have been broken here, and many a hunter has returned home from the Hungarian woods with a world-class trophy. Small game species thrive on the Great Plain and the flatlands, and these areas are popular for pheasant, rabbit and wild-duck hunting.
You can hunt inHungaryall year round, with each season having its own specialties. And of course this active recreation also provides an excellent opportunity to sample delicious local game recipes – another reason for trying out a Hungarian hunting holiday.
About the Hungarian Tourism Plc.
The
Hungarian Tourism Plc. is a state-owned company. Its mission as the
national tourism marketing organisation is to position Hungary as a
tourism destination internationally and domestically, which in effect is
equivalent to delivering the factual information required for making
travel decisions and to distinguishing the country from competitors.
Strengthening demand for tourism in Hungary by motivating incoming and
domestic tourism is an ongoing objective of the activities of the
Hungarian Tourism Plc., which is designed to support the development of
the industry.
Attaining
business objectives, i.e. increasing the number of guest nights and
tourist spending are primary goals in the pursuit of national tourism
marketing activities.
Our
communications with the travel trade puts emphasis on markets with a B2B
focus. These are markets that typically send groups of tourists
organised by travel agencies.
Traditional
markets with B2B focus: United States of America, Northern Europe,
Israel, Japan, China, Russia, Spain and the Ukraine.
New markets are being added to those with B2B focus. These new markets include the Arab Gulf region and Asia, particularly India, as well as South America, where the Hungarian Tourism Plc. increases its presence.
