April 2002

With the election of a new government in Poland, a newly elected Minister responsible for Tourism and a new director for the Polish Tourist Organisation in Warsaw, the CECTA summit in Krakow is on the agenda for the autumn.

Delegates will be the Ministers responsible for Tourism together with representatives of the National Tourist Office from the six CECTA countries of Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Poland and Slovakia, selected media and key speakers.  The goal is to further the co-operation between the countries of Central Europe.

CONFERENCES – How to bring in business!
CECTA is joining forces with ITE plc to develop conferences that have a specific relevance to Central Europe with the key topic being “How to Bring in Business”, first used at the Prague MICE conference earlier this year.

Outline plans have been drawn up for the following How to Bring in Business Conferences

Spa Tourism                      Budapest
Eco Tourism                       Bratislava
Culture Tourism                 Warsaw

Working alongside ITE, with their unique knowledge and experience of  travel and tourism industry events, we have a partnership that will strengthen the marketing ties for the whole region and guarantee the success of the conferences.

Conferences are also being planned outside Central Europe to develop incoming business. The first is likely to be in Moscow in 2003.

GERMAN WORKSHOP 6 JUNE
For the first time the GTS 2002 Workshop will feature a CECTA stand with representatives from Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.  The Workshop on the 6^th June 2002 at the Royal Horticultural Halls, Westminster, Greycoat Street, London SW1 is open all day between 10 am and 7 pm.  For further information see www.gts2002.com where CECTA members and partners as well as other interested visitors can register.

SLOVAK DAY
CECTA will be attending the Slovak Evening at the Slovak Embassy, 25 Kensington Palace Gardens, London on 30 April.  CECTA members are invited so please put this in your diary now.  Gill Wilson and Terry Coates will be on the panel so come prepared with questions.   We promise a lively debate, together with a pleasant evening and good Slovakian hospitality. A unique opportunity for CECTA members to meet.

TRAVEL WEEKLY SUPPLEMENT
Plans are developing for a special supplement to coincide with the WTM this year.  If any members would like to take advertising please let us know at the earliest date.

DUBLIN
A high level governmental delegation from Slovakia recently visited Dublin to present the opportunities for inward investment. Gill Wilson was invited to present the benefits that Slovakia had gained from membership of CECTA.   She shared the stand with the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Transport and the Director of the Slovak Tourist Office. The meeting took place in the Mansion House and was hosted by the Lord Mayor of Dublin.
 

TRAVEL AND TOURISM IN CEE – Prague 21 & 22 May 2002
“Arrivals to Central and Eastern Europe are predicted to grow by an average of 4.6 per cent annually, increasing to 223 million in 2020" (WTO,2002)

Gill Wilson will be chairing and delivering a keynote presentation at the above conference highlighting the rapid prospect for growth and investment within the region which will require the implementation of new strategies and creation of new partnerships.  Further information on www.cecta.org

FIRST FROM ROMANIA
We are delighted to welcome our first member from Romania, Madison Travel.


OVERVIEW
Whilst at the turn of the year the travel industry was still suffering from the events of September 11 the travel picture for Central Europe is beginning to look more optimistic for 2003. The WTO at ITB sounded a note of optimism for the future and WTTC launched their most recent findings all indicating that the travel industry is bouncing back.

Central Europe is a safe haven and with such a diverse range of product offerings have been in a better position then most regions to cope with the global downturn in business. Never the less there is no room for complacency.  Central European countries marketing budgets still lag behind most of the major competitors – those countries who realise the economic impact that tourism has on their economies and employment. CECTA will continue make the case for the CECTA Governments to recognise the value of tourism, and the need to fund marketing activities to a higher level then we have seen in recent years.

Opportunities for tourism into the region from Eastern European countries are very exciting too.  Barriers to travel are slowly disappearing and this trend will accelerate, opening up opportunities for cross border travel the like of which has not been seen before.

CECTA recently had the opportunity of discussing the future of Russian tourism with the Russian Minister responsible for tourism and she painted a very optimistic picture.  She also looks forward to being able to ease the travel formalities for entering and leaving Russia, still a major barrier to opening up this market.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT!   

SPECIAL REPORT

CECTA has produced a Special Report for Central Europe outlining the importance of the UK market to the countries of Central Europe, particularly in the countdown to 2004 when the accession countries of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia are expected to join the European Union. It addresses the current difficult situation facing the travel and tourism industry and offers some solutions.

The reason for highlighting the UK in this first CECTA report is the concern, in some quarters, that because travel from the UK is primarily by air, the UK market is less likely to travel.

We must disprove this myth and CECTA will encourage the larger tour operators to take a serious look at this market and specialist tour operators to no longer see this as a niche market.

There is a Window of Opportunity for the countries of Central Europe to increase their market share whilst there is a reluctance to travel far afield to the USA and Far East. The relevant strength of the UK economy - the fastest growing economy in the G7 with low unemployment and low inflation - offers an ideal time to penetrate this market. But this won't last forever. If Central Europe wants to increase its share of the 35 million people that go on holiday from the UK, they must act now!

COUNTDOWN TO 2004

An educational programme is planned to ensure that the trade understands the full impact this will have on travel and tourism to these countries. Borders opening up will mean more freedom of travel, one currency, more investment opportunities and a greater desire for travellers to explore this region of the world.

2002 THE YEAR OF THE CZECH CUISINE - GOOD FOOD WILL MAKE YOU STAY

The CTA has set itself the goal to acquaint visitors to the renowned Czech cuisine and over 100 restaurants will carry a special logo identifying their participation in this project serving meals prepared to traditional recipes and customs. www.visitczechia.cz

ZAGAT KICKS OFF SECOND ANNUAL SURVEY OF EUROPE'S TOP RESTAURANTS

Recognising the need to highlight the quality of national cuisine on the international stage, ZAGAT SURVEYS, the leading restaurant guide in the USA is working in conjunction with CECTA to produce the first Zagat Survey for Central Europe - due to be published at the end of 2002. Dkarlin@zagat.com

EVERYBODY NEEDS A BIT OF TLC!

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Thursday Lunch Club - TLC a two monthly networking opportunity for the travel industry has been inspired by UK CECTA members - this is to be replicated in Prague, Budapest and Warsaw

2nd CENTRAL EUROPEAN TRAVEL CONFERENCE

CECTA, ITE and the CECTA Prague Business Group are spearheading the 2nd Central European Travel Conference at the Inter-Continental Hotel in Prague 6 February 2002, focusing on MICE - How to Bring in Business. International speakers will showcase this $280 billion market and demonstrate what needs to be done!

Delegates will have the opportunity to learn from vast industry experience. International speakers, like Tim Zagat, chairman New York Convention and Visitors Bureau will talk first hand about promoting opportunities and dispelling negative biases about destinations. MPI modules and SITE educational sessions will give practical help and advice - leading experts will have relevant statistics to help you evaluate and plan. For speaker list or to register to participate as a delegate please contact
lucy.fuller@ite-exhibitions.com

CECTA is now offering consultancy to all its members on a wide range of business subjects having gathered together a group of industry experts. CECTA welcomes John Elsom and his colleagues at Arts Interlink, Wendy Walker of Wendy Walker PR and Chris Carroll a Consultant in Business Development and Marketing Services.

Further information from info@cecta.org issued 12 November 2001

Outlook for Travel and Tourism from the UK to The CECTA Countries of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia

A great deal as been written about the impact on the travel and tourism industry since the September 11 events in the USA. This CECTA Special Report does not intend to repeat and go over ground that has already been covered. It is an attempt to set out the facts that need to be considered for marketing Central Europe in the UK and the strategies that need to be adopted.

The reason for highlighting the UK in this first CECTA report is the concern in some quarters that because travel from the UK is primarily by air the UK market is less likely to travel.

Whilst the world currently is filled with uncertainty it is obviously impossible to make accurate forecasts about the long-term future of the travel industry. This report will set out what is forecast for the immediate future and has taken into consideration material that has already been published.

GLOBAL FACTORS

In a report prepared for the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) there are three factors set out that are likely to affect global tourism.

1 The psychological state of travellers, particularly their confidence in the safety and security of air travel and their personal resolve "to get on with life".

2 The overall global security situation, including any ongoing military operations as well as security at home and in destination countries.

3 The state of the global economy and prospects for its revival.

ECONOMIC FACTORS

An extract from The Economist of 1 November highlights the strength of the UK economy against the rest of the world.

"America's GDP shrank in the third quarter at an annual rate of 0.4% the largest fall since the first quarter of 1991 which was the trough of the 91 recession. Analysts predict an even bigger decline in the fourth quarter meeting a classic definition of a recession. Consumer spending which accounts for two thirds of America's GDP rose by 1.2% at an annual rate in the third quarter, its slowest rate since 1993. The Dow has fallen by 2.9%over the past week; but the dollar is back to its pre - 11 September highs."

In the Euro zone the current account deficit narrowed to $37.4 billion the twelve months to August from $44.7 billion in the year to July. In France the INSEE monthly survey of 4500 firms showed business confidence remaining flat in October at its lowest level since 1996. Unemployment rose to 9.1% of the labour force.

Britain's economy remains one of the strongest among the rich countries. GDP grew at an annual rate of 2.2% in the third quarter.

The National Institute of Economics believes that the UK economy will be the fastest growing economy in the G7 this year whilst the economies of France and Germany are falling.

A policy brief from the Institute of International Economics also make the point that European Governments have been planning spending cutbacks to meet pre-planned budget targets. Such actions, the report goes on to say, are a serious mistake and a return to the economics of Herbert Hoover who exacerbated the Great Depression by trying to balance the budget in a massive downturn. Instead the targets of the Stability Pact should be temporarily set aside to allow the automatic stabilisers of fiscal policy to work.

THE UK TRAVEL MARKET

The UK travel market is an extremely affluent one and is number four in the world for outbound traffic accounting for $27.7billion in 1997 and forecast to grow at an ever dramatic pace.

SIZE OF MARKET - figures from ABTA

35 million go on holiday

Total value is £29 billion ($43.5 billion)

50% take a package holiday

Average spend is £500 per head ($740)

Value of package holiday market is £10 billion

In the short term, whilst this growth will be dramatically affected by the current global problems, it will be primarily by the downturn in longhaul air travel between Europe, America and the Far East.

The short haul destinations, though, show a very different picture.

The UK low fare carriers to European destinations are capitalising on the situation and are successfully attracting both the business and tourist traveller. It is now seen as more sensible, cost effective and with no loss of status to travel to a business meeting by Go in a one class cabin than in a scheduled carrier's highly priced club cabin. These low cost carriers continue to be heavy advertisers whilst the national scheduled carriers, such as British Airways, have virtually cut all their advertising budgets which does seem short sighted.

The low fare carriers in the UK are over booked to many European destinations, such as Prague, and short city breaks continue to be buoyant.

Nevertheless every survey that has been published since 11 September shows long haul travel destinations by air suffering a massive reduction in traffic.

So whilst the global picture for the travel industry is extremely depressing there are still opportunities for growth.

CECTA believes that Central Europe has the following opportunities to reposition itself and increase its overall share of the UK travel market

1 To present to the UK traveller a destination where borders are not a barrier to travel

2 To present a destination that, because of its low profile, is a safe haven for the UK tourist

3 To present a destination that offers a better alternative for business conferences and meetings

4 To highlight the Gateway Cities to Central Europe

However, Europe will become, in the short term, a very competitive travel market place. It is anticipated that European countries, because of the dramatic downturn in business from the Far East and the USA in 2002, will have an excess of hotel capacity for the first time in recent history. This will effect prices and competition will become fierce.

The travel plans for 2002 of the majority of UK travellers world-wide are at the moment on hold. The short break markets though is still very resilient

The biggest problem for the industry, though, is that there is very little research and thus knowledge into how people will respond at the turn of the year. But some assumptions can be made

1 The British will still want to go abroad for their holidays.

2 They are likely to travel into Europe rather then the USA and the Middle and Far East.

3 Tour operators who have relied almost exclusively on these destinations will be in trouble and will attempt to enter new markets.

CECTA has discussed these problems with tour operators, travel associations and the trade media and they all agree that whilst destinations nearer to home will be the more popular for 2002 traffic - the British will still want to travel outside the UK.

The National Tourist Offices of many countries, together with the trade associations have recognised this and have already announced plans to mount massive advertising and PR campaigns to get the market moving and motivate the consumer to book for next summer.

Hotel capacity across Europe will be at an all time low and the squeeze will be on prices as travellers from destinations such as Japan and America will stay within their own borders. Bargains galore for the trade and the traveller

THE OPPORTUNITY

The countries of Central Europe need to grasp the nettle and capitalise on the good promotional work and investment that has already gone into the UK market over a considerable period of time.

Central Europe, and in particular Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland are still virtually unknown to the British public compared to countries such as Italy, Spain, Portugal and France who have for years heavily invested in advertising and PR campaigns to woo the tourist and built their tourist infrastructure to accommodate their every need.

The countries of Central Europe are low profile and consequently seen as secure and with a safe environment and friendly. Probably perceived as the safest destinations on the continent if not in the world. The CECTA view is that the foregoing is a major opportunity.

This is the time for the CECTA countries to develop their own unique selling proposition. Combining this with the culture and the history of the region will give Central Europe a competitive edge over all other destinations.

Central Europe is still the last outpost in Europe where prices are relatively cheap and competitive. Central Europe is still the destination where the traveller can enjoy new experiences.

Within Central Europe there is also an Eco friendly environment that has not yet been fully exploited.

The CECTA countries have carried out little or no consumer research in the UK and CECTA is urging that this be corrected immediately. CECTA will make recommendations as to how this should be financed and managed. This needs to be qualitative in nature, and ongoing, monitoring trends within the travel trade, consumers attitudes and awareness levels.

Understanding customer needs is key to the countries of Central Europe developing relevant communications that will be better targeted.

The travel industry is also key to the future of travel to the region.

The packaging by the multi-national tour operators as well as the niche players is imperative. The development of new initiatives such as fly/drive holidays and travel through central Europe by train needs more emphasis.

The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia are accession countries that are now set to join the European Community by 2004.

This needs to be brought to the attention of the Travel Trade who will not appreciate the full impact that this will have. Now is the time for tour operators to prepare for the upsurge in travel that will result.

The countries of central Europe do not advertise to any great degree to the potential British traveller. Targeted advertising that is exciting and motivational is needed NOW!.

New PR initiatives are also essential. This we know will call for more resources, but the market place is competitive, the returns though will be equally rewarding.

SUMMARY

Central Europe has a one off opportunity to really penetrate the UK market with new marketing initiatives. The countries have already shown a great deal of enterprise by working in co-operation through the CECTA network across the whole region. By continuing to innovate and heightening the awareness of the product offerings of the whole region the possibilities are endless in growing this emerging travel destination.

The reports coming in from tour operators is that since 11 September the UK short break market has continued to grow with no signs of a down turn. The Christmas short breaks to destinations such as Vienna, Prague and even Cesky Krumlov are holding strong.

The major airlines are stubbornly holding the strategy of high yield business traffic but this is expected to change as reality sets in. The low fare airlines are growing by offering better value for money. Poland in particular suffers from having no low fare carrier from the UK with a reluctance to offer agents competitive rates. Central Europe also suffers from carriers who do not aggressively market Central Europe. Advertising is product related rather then the promotion of tours and fare offers aimed primarily at the business market.

All these issues need to be addressed, but the main conclusion is that the opportunity for Central Europe to gain a firmer foothold in the UK market is now, and before the traveller finalises their travel plans for 2002. Now is the time to market Central Europe. Now is the time to invest in the UK. The message

VISIT CENTRAL EUROPE

Further information info@cecta.org
Issued 12 November 2001

Central European Travel Association Partners With Zagat To Distribute Questionnaires To Volunteer Food Critics In 30 Major European Cities From Amsterdam to Zurich

New York, NY (November 8, 2001) - Following the release of its first ever guide to Europe's Best Restaurants, Zagat Survey, the leading provider of consumer-based dining, lodging and leisure guides, is preparing to launch its second annual survey of the continent's best eateries. Zagat is currently seeking avid local restaurant-goers to vote on their favorite and not-so-favorite European restaurants.

As part of its efforts to reach a broad European audience, Zagat Survey has partnered with the Central European Travel Association to distribute the 2002 European Top Restaurant questionnaire. This partnership coincides with the celebration of 2002 the year of Czech cuisine.

The new survey will include over 1,250 dining establishments covering 30 major European cities including Budapest, Prague, Warsaw, Vienna, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin. Participants who rate each establishment visited in the past year for the quality of its Food, Décor, Service, estimated cost of a meal, and comment on the restaurant will receive a free copy of the resulting guide.

Questionnaires are available simply by emailing your request, including your name and address, to: europe@zagat.com.

Started in 1979 by husband and wife attorneys Tim and Nina Zagat, Zagat Survey revolutionized the art of restaurant criticism by allowing consumers to share their dining experiences. Zagat continues to rely exclusively on 'in the know' surveyors as the basis for its content and the reason behind its guidebooks' enormous popularity. Zagat Restaurant Surveys are instantly familiar with their slender, pocket-sized format and burgundy covers.

About Zagat Survey: Zagat Survey is the world's leading provider of consumer survey-based dining, lodging and leisure information with over 200,000 current surveyors. Zagat offers restaurant content in book form, on the Internet at www.zagat.com, on Palm Pilot OS, on mobile phones and on TV/radio, as well as guides covering hotels, resorts, spas, nightclubs, and a host of other entertainment and shopping resources. For more information, visit www.zagat.com.

About the Central European Travel Association: CECTA is an umbrella organization at the heart of New Europe, bringing together the collective interests of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia the travel industry servicing them. The objective is to encourage people to visit the web site at www.visitcentraleurope.com to build sustainable traffic and help grow the global business and leisure market.

Contact: Contact: Diane B. Karlin (001.212.404.6455) Dkarlin@zagat.com

CORINTHIA HOTELS
    CORINTHIA TOWERS, PRAGUE
    CORINTHIA PANORAMA, PRAGUE

SLOVAKIA HOTEL ASSOCIATION

MALEV AIRTOURS

WARWICK INTERNATIONAL HOTELS
    HENRIETTE HOTEL, BERLIN
    GRAND HOTLE RUSSICHER HOF, WEIMAR, GERMANY
    ANDRASSY HOTEL, BUDAPEST

EUROPE ON RAIL, USA

In addition, you can now link to the USA sites of Czech Tourist Authority, Polish Tourist Oganisation and Hungarian National Tourist Office via their New York Offices

And we have had enquiries about membership from China, Russia, Bulgaria, Indonesia and Ukraine - so the word is spreading!

WELCOME TO KIMBERLY ZIEGLER
Kimberly, who is best known for her activities with ITE Exhibitions, has taken on an additional role and is acting as our first International Marketing Director.

MEMBERS' MEETING
Since our last newsletter, many of you, in the United Kingdom in particular, have asked for a members' meeting - this is being scheduled for September at the Hungarian National Tourist Office, London hosted by our President Mr Gabor Tarr - further details to follow - everyone will be welcome

CHAT ROOM
We have also been asked to look at a chat room facility on the site - so that we can all share ideas and experiences - we will launch this soon

MEMBERS' NEWS
Travel Weekly, our first media partner, have just re-launched their website www.travelweekly.co.uk. Of particular interest is their diary section, which lists conferences and events relevant to our industry - if you have anything to be included - let them know!

Page and Moy have just issued their Christmas collection to include cruising the Rhine, Christmas in Warsaw and Krakow, Historic Bohemia, Vienna and the Blue Danube and Prague www.page-moy.co.uk . The summer program will include Castles and Palaces of the Hapsburgs.

South Moravia has a new focus a new organisation and tourism committee. Liber Opistul is helping to mastermind this operating from his office in Brno. 

Details of other members' programmes can appear in newsletters. Just let us know please, we have no favouritism.

CECTA PRAGUE BUSINESS GROUP (CPBG)
We held our first CPBG meeting in Prague in June during the week of Visit Czechia. The initiative, inspired by the management team at the Prague Inter-continental Hotel is looking at how better to promote the MICE market (Meetings, Incentives, Conference & Events) to Prague and throughout the Czech Republic. Whilst not a new subject the formation of a business group working with both the private and public sector is. Representatives attending the first meeting were from The Czech Tourist Authority, CSA, CEDOK, AVIS, CSA AIRTOURS, NELAHOZEVES CASTLE and COT Business Magazine. The aim is to be innovative, take a positive stance combining the strengths of both the private and public sector and take an entrepreneurial approach to the world-wide marketing of the Czech Republic to the global MICE market.

Which leads nicely on to the 2nd Central European Travel Conference Wednesday 6th February 2002 in Prague, that precedes Holiday World 2002. The conference will focus on the MICE market and give the CPBG an ideal opportunity to air its views. Full details and how to sign up available shortly.

VISIT CZECHIA
The Prague incoming workshop in June was attended by cecta. These workshops are extremely important and very well organised across the whole of Central Europe. Buyers came from all the important markets with a strong contingent from Canada and the USA.

TRAVELMOLE.COM
Travel Mole have now 'locked down' TravelMole news. This means that only registered users who are logged on will be able to access the latest news on the travel and tourism industry. If you are logged on (you need only have logged on once on your computer as it is cookied), your name will be under the TravelMole logo at the top left of the home page and you will be able to read all our news. If it says 'Visitor, Register Now!' then you are not logged on and if you try to read a news story you will be taken to a log on prompt page. 
To log on, go to:
http://www.travelmole.com/login

FORTHCOMING EVENTS 

KRAKOW SUMMIT
The Summit, planned to take place in Krakow in August, has been rescheduled for Spring 2002. The Polish Tourist Organisation in Warsaw, who are eager to host the first summit, have asked for the delay to await the appointment of the new Minister responsible for tourism after their elections in September. We are indebted to the Polish Tourist Organisation for their support and enthusiasm to bring together for the first time the Ministers and the National Tourist Offices of the cecta countries. The revised date will be announced by the Polish Tourist Organsiation at The WTM in London in November.

TOURFILM, KARLOVY VARY
Cecta will be presenting at TourFilm, which takes place every year in September in Karlovy Vary. Terry Coates, who masterminded many of the successful TV campaigns for British Airways, will take the stage with David Winter from UK ad agency Foote Cone and Belding to show how today's TV ads compare with the past. The date is September 25 - 26. Details from Avant Promotions, Americka 42 , 120 00 Praha 2, Czech Republic

Gill Wilson will give a keynote presentation on Travel & Tourism in the new Millennium at a top level briefing to explore latest developments and strategies for profitable participation in the Tourism Industry markets of CEE on 18/19 October in Prague

MADI TRAVEL MARKET - 6-7 November - www.madi.cz/madi-fair.html


OTHER NEWS

CECTA CD

The cecta CD now incorporates Slovakia. Copies from info@cecta.org

ZAGAT SURVEYS
The Zagat Surveys on restaurants and hotels, better known to Americans then to Europeans, is continuing its research in the Central European Market. We will keep you updated on progress.

PRAGUE, HOTTEST HOTEL MARKET 
According to Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels recently released Digest Europe, Prague was the strongest performing hotel market in Europe during 2000. The city's quality hotels recorded a phenomenal 33.2% increase in room yield to CZK 3,186 - the "burgeoning leisure market can no longer be fully accommodated in the peak summer periods and the tourist season is being extended to November and starting in early March"

In Warsaw the hotel market is dominated by corporate demand, meaning strong mid-week occupancy levels but the weekend sees demand levels fall. The growth in supply of new hotel rooms is set to continue with Warsaw's increased regional importance as a gateway city. According to the Digest Europe there are currently 1,255 rooms under construction, due to enter the market by 2003 and increase existing supply levels by 16.8% over the next two years.

SCIENCE OPENS A NEW ERA IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY
We have been asked to help in the following research programme to see the benefits of matching vacation spots with characteristics that are the most favourable to a traveller - do environmental properties of each locality have specific effects on a human body?

Click for more information.

AWARDS
The Polish National Tourist Office in London has just been voted the travel industries best Tourist Office by the readers of the magazine Selling Short Breaks. Congratulations Poland. 

Look for increased advertising spend by Poland

CHINA WIDE WEB
Cecta met with representatives from the China Wide Web recently, a joint project undertaken by the China Business Network and China Telecom. This is where the travel trade need to be if it is to reach this developing and soon to be affluent travel market. Let us know if you are interested in pursing this market place.

MALEV- MANCHESTER - BUDAPEST
Congratulations on the new air route which started 2 July - and to the Danubius Thermal Hotel Margitsziget which is just re-opening - A Health and Fitness Paradise on Margaret Island in Budapest - special re-opening packages available - e-mail sales@danubiusgroup.com and remember to quote cecta!

Kindest regards - Terry Coates and Gill Wilson
Info@cecta.org

• Budapest Pocket Guide
• Commodore Corporate Travel
• CSA Air Tours, Prague
• Fregata Travel
• GO
• Le Royal Meridien Bristol Hotel, Warsaw
• Mastertours 
• Orbis Travel, Krakow
• Polska Spots Travel, UK
• Via Carpathia, Slovakia
• Zagat Surveys

WELCOME NEW AIR ROUTES!

• Birmingham - Prague CSA
• Manchester - Budapest Malev (1 July)

Another first for cecta. 

THE KRAKOW SUMMIT

Poland has agreed to be the host of our first summit in Krakow in the Autumn 2001. Delegates will include Ministers responsible for Tourism, Directors of National Tourist Offices and the UK steering committee. This conference will set out to develop a global marketing strategy for Central Europe. It will draw attention to the amazing growth in tourism that Central Europe is experiencing and the real potential of the region. Technology will be high on the agenda

cecta is indebted to the POLISH NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE in Warsaw for its support and in particular to Mr. TADEUZ DONOCIK Under Secretary for Trade in the Polish Government and Mr JERZY SZEGIDEWICZ the director of the Polish National Tourist office in London

More details of the summit at a later date but do give us your contributions so that this meeting is both constructive and fulfils its aim of building sustainable travel for the benefit of its members to Central Europe

We have been asked to look at many issues on your behalf including AIRPORT PASSENGER TAX in non EU countries and new VISA REGULATIONS

cecta presented to the POLISH TRAVEL INDUSTRY at the LE ROYAL MERIDIEN BRISTOL HOTEL, WARSAW as part of the hotel's 100 year celebration. It is heartening to see the support that Poland is giving to the development of Travel and Tourism. In a meeting with the PRESIDENT of the KRAKOW CITY COUNCIL we heard of the exciting plans the city has to develop its tourist infrastructure which includes a NEW CONFERENCE CENTRE on the banks of the Vistula river

And another.

WTTC & CECTA JOIN FORCES FOR REPORT

cecta and the World Travel and Tourism Council have reached an agreement to collaborate to produce a special report on THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM IN CENTRAL EUROPE. These special reports are at the heart of good policy making and business decisions. Co-operation between the countries ensures that projects of this type are more cost effective. 

And another. 

Look out for the first editorial supplement exclusively for Central Europe in TRAVEL WEEKLY and tell us what you think

Plans are well ahead for a Central Europe TRAVEL SUPPLEMENT in the UK edition of TRAVEL WEEKLY. Travel Weekly is preparing a media pack and will be in touch. The objective is to give the travel industry a better understanding of the region, the developments that are taking place and the attractiveness of Central Europe particularly for cross border travel

cecta attended the recent workshop WELCOME TO HUNGARY in Budapest. It was extremely well attended by the travel industry from across the world. The travel shows across Central Europe are becoming a must for anyone doing business in this part of the world. Highlights of the week were a visit to the Parliament and a banquet at the DANUBIUS owned HILTON HOTEL with its magnificent views of the Danube. 

Thank you to TRAVEL IQ who were very supportive of cecta with complete coverage of the International Conference in Prague along with COT and TTG Czech Rep. It was also great to see cecta given pride of place in the Travel IQ Calendar for February. And we must not forget the regular editorial support from TRAVEL BULLETIN with coverage of cecta activities in the current issue. This particular report will make a valuable contribution to the future development of travel in the cecta region. The contribution to GDP from TRAVEL AND TOURISM for the countries of Central Europe is estimated to rise from $208 billion to $537 billion in 2010 - a staggering figure 


ITB - BERLIN

Gill Wilson was a panellist at ITB in Berlin for the INCENTIVE TRAVEL session. There was a very lively debate and it was clear that not only is this segment of the travel market growing but that Central Europe is still lagging behind other countries.


ALAN GODSAVE

Alan Godsave recently appointed director Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia is spreading the good news about cecta and growing the membership. He will be meeting with the HUNGARIAN HOTEL ASSOCIATION, Lake Balaton on 4 May anybody else interested can make direct contact with him alangodsave@pronet.hu or tel 00 361 302 6933

ZAGAT hotel and restaurant guides are known around the world for their invaluable information on the best places to stay and dine. Zagat is joining with cecta to bring Central Europe more into focus. Cecta members will in the future be able to contribute directly to the guide and boost the culinary delights of all the countries of Central Europe for which they are so famous. More details soon!

Whilst on the subject of food it has occurred to us prompted, by Liam Lomasney from PAGE & MOY, that we should feature on the cecta website the best places for SUNDAY BRUNCH in Central Europe. Any suggestions will be welcome

CONFERENCE and INCENTIVE travel plays an important role across Central Europe and cecta recognises this. THE CENTRAL EUROPEAN TRAVEL CONFERENCE already announced for Prague the day prior to the opening of HOLIDAY WORLD 2002 will concentrate on this invaluable market and one that is growing fast. If you have ideas want to make a contribution or deliver a paper please contact us. The conference again will take place at the INTER-CONTINENTAL HOTEL and be in collaboration with ITE who stage and manage HOLIDAY WORLD in PRAGUE

The DUBLIN HOLIDAY WORLD EXPERIENCE this year saw for the first time a cecta stand that was such a success that Germany has agreed to return in 2002. The cecta site will be repositioned to a more central location.

The WTM is moving to EXCEL in London's DOCKLAND in 2002. REED EXHIBITIONS gave a presentation at the last cecta committee meeting and plans are well ahead to ensure that not only are the cecta countries together within the European framework but clearly branded Central Europe. We will keep you updated. 

We will be at the PRAGUE WORKSHOP on 11 June. Let us know if you would like a meeting. 

A reminder that the MADI TRAVEL MARKET takes place November 6 - 8 at a new venue the PRAGUE FAIRGROUND PVA LETNANY

DANUBIUS, THE RENOVATED THERMAL HOTEL IN BUDAPEST WILL RE-OPEN IN JUNE. 

$13.5 million has been invested in a major renovation of the hotel which is located on the Margit Island on the Danube river and is set to become the most modern Spa - Therapy - Activity hotel in Hungary. The renovations have increased the room capacity by 60 to a total of 267 guest-rooms and suites and new packages, aimed at the young guest include 'activities' and 'fitness' programmes

On 8-9 May the EUROPEAN COMMISSION REPRESENTATION in SCOTLAND is organising a series of events aimed at the promotion and enlargement of the EU - we will be there!

So, that is OUR news - but we want to know what is happening with YOU. We are particularly keen to know about new product. And is there any specific information you'd like to receive? 

Go on, e-mail us with your suggestions!

Kindest Regards - Terry Coates & Gill Wilson

Issued 25 April 2001

Issued 9 March 2001
Back to Top

The Inter-Continental Hotel, Prague 7 February 2001
Excerpts from opening remarks by Gill Wilson

Dramatic changes are taking place in global tourism. The size of the world-wide market is at an unprecedented level and forecast to grow at a rate never seen before. The way the traveller manages his or her travel is undergoing a revolutionary change with the introduction of on-line purchases. The traveller is becoming more discerning in choice and in expectations. Yet, what does not change,  is the desire for new experiences and new destinations.  Central Europe is perfectly placed to capitalise on these new trends and fashions. This conference has been created to examine the opportunities that this growth in global tourism offers the cecta countries and the travel industry serving Central Europe.

Marshall McCluhan, a professor at Toronto University, first coined the phrase the ‘global village’ in the 1960’s. A man before his time, before the Internet was even an embryonic idea. Today the global village is a reality and accepted universally, beyond the point of anything Marshall McCluhan dreamt of.   Businesses across the globe have taken on board the message that co-operation is the way forward.  Major alliances and mergers are common place and the travel industry is no exception. Travel groups are creating near monopolies; it is forecast that Europe will have only four or five companies dominating the low-cost package tour market over the next five years. The airlines have changed their marketing and business arrangements creating just a handful of major alliances. The hotel industry grows organically and has created global reservation systems.

Facing Central Europe is a highly competitive environment in an industry that is dominated by massive marketing communications campaigns to lure the traveller.  There is increased capacity by airlines to every corner of the world and International hotels rising from the ground in all the worlds’ major cities.

cecta, as an organisation, started in the United Kingdom has set out to bring together the countries and the travel industry interested in joining forces to ensure that Central Europe has a place on the Tourism Map  and that the world listens to what we have to say.  To that end, Gill Wilson cecta Chief Executive was delighted to announce two new appointments  – David Hammond as International Director and Alan Godsave as Regional Director.

She said “We are fortunate to have recruited David Hammond. He will be a tower of strength in guiding us into the next millennium.  His wealth of experience in the travel industry brings to cecta a new dimension.  David is an associate director of ITE (International Travel Exhibitions) and Treasurer of the Tourism Trade Fairs Association.  David has created for ITE a global spread of travel exhibitions and has been instrumental in bringing to Prague the First Central European Travel Conference”.

Alan Godsave more latterly with the World Travel and Tourism Council and based in Hungary will represent cecta as Regional Director for  Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic

Alan said “I felt that cecta is designed perfectly to meet the specific needs of Central Europe both in the short and long term. The balance of product development, industry interface and promotional activities is a powerful mix. Another plus is that cecta brings together both the public and private sector which is unique”. 

The recruitment of these two outstanding figures is a feather in our cap and a recognition that cecta will be a powerful force in the shaping of tourism in a part of Europe that has lagged behind most other regions said cecta chairman Terry Coates

By co-operation we can learn from each other and bring a focus to this region that in comparison to many other travel destinations has not had its fare share of investment and maybe has not put its story across with enough vigour.  This is going to change. The Governments of the countries of Central Europe have now put their heads above the parapet have promised more investment in tourism and acknowledged  the  positive social and economic impact tourism can have on their economies.

The objectives  of the conference were summed up by Terry Coates, Chairman, by highlighting the calls to action that everyone attending the conference commended. The need for a Summit Meeting of the Heads of all the National Tourist Authorities in Central Europe to develop a global strategy for marketing communications.  To explore how the new technologies can be harnessed, and to explore the benefits of co-operation.  The real benefit would be what follows and how the world of travel perceives the new dynamism that is flowing across Central Europe and it’s determination to become a leader in the field of  travel and tourism.

Issued 7 February 2001

If the year 2000 was a landmark for cecta, with a growth in numbers and stature,  the year 2001 has already got off to a great start.

Slovakia became a member of cecta in the last few weeks -  a prelude to the country joining the European Travel Commission.  Whilst Slovakia has no direct international flights it is easily accessible from Vienna, Prague, Budapest and Krakow by air - and road and rail from Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. It is not always realised that Bratislava the Slovakian Capital is just 30 minutes drive from Vienna Airport and Austrian Airlines have convenient daily flights.

Slovakia matches all the other countries of cecta with incredible and inspiring natural beauty.  Spectacular mountains, lakes and green lowlands. Not forgetting unique historic buildings, castles and churches a witnesses to past centuries.  

Click on to http://www.slovakiatourism.sk/ for more.

cecta was at the ABTA convention in Kos and at the Madi Travel Fair in Prague last year. The message that came through from everyone attending these events was that of the emerging alliances being created across the world and the impact the internet is having on the industry. cecta intends to stay in the forefront of these developments and strengthen and grow its own alliances to ensure that the Central European brand goes from strength to strength.

Diary February 7^th and plan, if you can, to be at the Inter-Continental Hotel  in Prague for the Central European Travel Conference  followed on the 8^th by the opening of Holiday World 2001.  Click for further conference details. 

This first ever international conference focused on Central Europe will explore and debate the dramatic changes that are taking place in the global travel market and how this will impact on Central Europe. The speakers will be outstanding figures from the worlds of tourism, travel marketing and the new fields of technology and e commerce.

The conference will include open forums and interviews and look for ways the countries of Central Europe can better work together to prepare for the changing patterns and trends that are taking place across the world.

Speakers will show how the global approach to marketing is the only way forward and highlight the economic impact tourism will have on the countries soon to join the EU.

Delegates will have the opportunity to actively participate in all the discussions. This will be a unique opportunity for everyone with an interest in Central Europe to make a contribution to the development of cross border traffic throughout the region and to contribute ideas for the future growth of the region.

Central Europe has lagged behind the leading countries of the world in investment in marketing and subsequently suffered a lack of exposure so vital when marketing travel.   This is the chance for you to have your say.

News is coming in that an historic alliance between Poland and the Czech Rep will also be sealed in Prague at Holiday World when ministers from the two countries will meet and agree formally to the joint promotion of tourism between the two countries. We will keep you updated on this exciting new development.

We have previously mentioned that at the Dublin Holiday World this week, the countries of Central Europe for the first time will exhibit at the same location. This demonstrates the synergy between the countries and makes it simpler for the trade and consumers to get information on Central Europe at one location. The cecta stand will get a VIP visit from the Irish Prime Minister Mr Bertie Ahern.

Avis have entered into new business arrangements in Hungary,  evidence that the demand for car rental is growing fast,  Alamo has also recently joined cecta.  From literally nowhere the Fly/Drive market is now a reality and expanding fast. You heard it first here.   Rail/Drive is now firmly on the agenda

One of the next initiatives for cecta  will be the promotion and packaging of products that take in cross border travel such as river cruises, castles and chateaux, Fly/Drive holidays, country by country touring, city tours, historical holidays.   There has been minimum co-operation in the past between the national tourist offices to encourage these inter-country products but this is about to change.

Advertising budgets are being put together and the websites are being developed. We will keep you updated.

Cultural tourism is rapidly becoming of major interest to academic institutions and cecta will encourage this trend.  Discussion have already taken place with  University of North London  who are launching in February the Institute for Culture and Tourism.

Wednesday 7 February 2001, Hotel Inter-Continental Prague
Central European Countries Travel Association (cecta) and
International Travel Exhibitions (ITE) organisers of the
10^th Holiday World Exhibition, Prague, 8-11 February 2001

At a press conference at the Madi Travel Market to launch the first Central
European Travel Conference scheduled for February 7^th 2001 at the Inter-Continental Hotel, Prague, an impressive list of speakers and panellists was unveiled.  James Provan, MEP, President European Parliament Tourism Group will be joined by representatives of  Government,  the Travel Industry, Marketing, Technology and E-Business. The conference would  focus predominately on opportunities for Travel and Tourism within the following three markets – to, from and within the cecta region. 

When cecta was launched in November last year, the goal was to bring together the countries of Central Europe and the travel industry serving them to initially establish a brand identity for Central Europe.  The objectives were to collectively market the region of Central Europe in co-operation and collaboration and to  encourage people to VISIT CENTRAL EUROPE. The Central European Travel Conference is a further stepping stone in fulfilling the goal and objectives to include the sharing of information and opening the minds of the travel industry to the potential for travel for the region.  It brings together leading figures in the field of international tourism, marketing and technology to address the challenge that faces Central Europe, the competitive environment and the collective opportunities that will enable the market to grow more rapidly.

This one day conference, including speakers, open forums and interviews, will explore ways the countries of Central Europe can work together and prepare for the dramatic changes that are taking place in  global tourism.  It will address the changing patterns that are occurring in travel trends world-wide and explore the factors that are having a major impact on the way the industry conducts its business.

The airlines, hotels, tour operators, rail companies, car hire companies are forming major alliances.  Consumers and the industry are harnessing the new technologies and consumers are becoming more discerning in their purchasing habits. This conference will look at all of these challenges and the opportunities facing Central Europe.  The conference will,  in particular,  look at the economic and social benefits that derive from the expansion of tourism into and within the Central European Countries.

Speakers will explore the global approach to marketing,  the way the internet is developing new markets and how the need for countries to collaborate has never been greater. The economic impact of  travel and tourism for the countries soon to join The European community will also be explored  and openly debated, as will be the social implications of Tourism.

Speakers include: View full details
James Provan, President European Parliament Tourism Group
Professor Dr Armin Godau, President Institute of Tourism in Europe
Bill Muirhead, Partner M&C Saatchi
Karla Urbanova, Regional Director, International Federation of Women’s Travel Organisations
Hanns Peter Nerger, President, Berlin Tourismus Marketing GmbH
Chris Carroll, CEO e-trading-company
Vladimir Stetina, Director, International Hotel & Restaurant Association
Daniella Wagner, Vice President, World Travel & Tourism Council
Janez Pergar Vice President, World Association of Travel Agencies
Chip Schenck, Vice President, Globopolis.com
David Hammond, Director International Travel Exhibitions
Terry Coates, Chairman & Gill Wilson, CEO, cecta
Geoffrey Gray-Forton, Chairman, Meetings World (1969) Associates, will be the Moderator

The conference will be a forum for debate and offer the opportunity for delegates to actively contribute. Essential to those working in and serving the travel industry, looking  to further develop their existing business and essential to those organisations considering entering the Central European Market place.  With the subjects being discussed high on the agenda of business in the 21^st century anyone with an interest in the expansion of business in Central Europe should consider this a must be there  event.  The conference, being a first to focus on Central Europe, is expected to generate global media attention.

cecta and ITE are indebted to Inter-Continental Hotels, CSA and the Czech Tourist Authority for their support and partnership in staging this event and welcomed TTG Czech Republic as a media partner.                             

cecta news update 24th October 2000

cecta held its first workshop in conjunction with Manchester Airport where the exhibitors included the NTO’s of Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany and Poland together with CSA, Lot Polish Airlines, Malev, Danubius, Peter Deilmann Cruises, Holiday Autos and the Vienna Tourist Board.  We launched our first CD ROM showing the geographical location of the countries in relation to each other, promoting the countries attractions and illustrating the reason why the countries are marketing the region collectively. The CD-ROM will be made available to the travel trade.   There were 50 who enjoyed an excellent lunch and hospitality and the convivial business atmosphere was a huge success.

"I really do think that you had EXACTLY the right people there for tour operators." 
Ian Ackland, Cities Brand Manager, Cresta

"I made some great contacts and have already started to reap some reward in terms of the intelligence I am trying to gather." 
Kate Lawson, Port Authority New York

"The event was very good allowing us to have semi-private discussions with visitors and helped us promote Czech Airlines and the Czech Republic."
Jiri Pazderak, Director Northern UK, CSA

Diana Moore of Travelplan was the lucky winner of a weekend break for two in a Danubius hotel of her choice for correctly completing a quiz  identifying how many scheduled flights per week there were from Manchester Airport to/from the cecta countries (306) and during a ‘blind ‘ wine tasting identifying a selection of wines from the region.

cecta at Manchester Airport

cecta continues to seek cooperation with associations that have an interest in Central Europe. Gill Wilson and Terry Coates were guests of the Danube Tourist Commission’s 10th Danube Travel Mart in Bratislava this month. 

Meetings were held with the Chairman, Gerhard Skoff and General Secretary Ursula Deutsch to consider how cecta and the commission could collaborate in the future and a further meeting is being planned in Vienna next month.  

Meetings were also held with Mrs Ivana Magatova, Director of the Slovak National Tourist Board with a view to Slovakia joining cecta in the near future.      

October was also the month Germany celebrated reunification and cecta attended a reception at the German Embassy in London to celebrate the occasion.

Research on Central Europe tourism has been under valued and in short supply.  David Richardson is the author of a comprehensive research document Travel and Tourism in CEE Countries.  This is a publication that anyone in the travel industry looking to develop their business in Central Europe should study. Unique case studies illustrate how companies already operating in these markets have overcome problems and offers invaluable guidance to prospective new entrants. It will help any tour operator considering moving into the region to make a decision about which markets to target and could offer a competitive edge. It is available in hard copy and on disc and cecta have negotiated a considerably reduced rate for its members. The RRP is £450, but for cecta members disc format (Word) £120, printed version 225 pagesA4 (limited availability) £240 including VAT & p&p.. For further information contact info@cecta.org

We will have a stand at the Madi Travel Market in Prague, 7-9 November - another first for cecta.  During this event, a press conference to announce the speakers at the first Central European Countries Travel Conference will take place in the Conference Hall B at 11.am on Tuesday 7^th.   We will also present the agenda for this first ever conference devoted exclusively to The Central European Travel Market.  In attendance will be Mr Karl Neijdl,  Director Czech Tourist Authority, David Hammond & Kimberley Ziegler ITE,  Geoffrey Gray-Forton Meetings World Associates and Terry Coates & Gill Wilson cecta.

Details of the conference can be found on here.

We are indebted to CSA the official carrier for the event and to Madi Travel Mart for offering cecta this opportunity.       

LOT Polish Airlines, with code-share partner British Airways, is launching a Gatwick-Warsaw service on October 30.  Two centre short breaks to Warsaw and Krakow are now available from Gatwick as LOT offers the option to return from Krakow to Gatwick.

Hungarian group Danubius Hotels has taken over a group of nine spa hotels in the Czech resort of Marianske Lazne, and operators are expected to launch spa packages for 2001.

Hopefully we will meet up with many of you at the World Travel Market.  cecta will be represented on the stands of our member countries – Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and Poland – see you there!

Contact us for more details.

Back to Top

12 October 2000

cecta and Manchester Airport joined forces today, 12 October, to stage the first Travel Agents' fair in the UK for Central Europe It took place in the Colin Warbrick Suite, Terminal 2, Manchester Airport. The key objective was to promote the ease of accessibility from the gateway airport of Manchester to other gateway cities in Central Europe that serve Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and Poland. Manchester Airport can boast over 300 incoming and outgoing flights every week to the region and this number is expected to increase as the market growth accelerates. With the fly drive market to Central Europe also rapidly expanding along with rail travel within the region Manchester Airport has become a vital marketing partner for cecta in helping to grow this emerging travel market.

Central Europe is the fastest growing market for travel in the world according to the World Travel Organisation and the alliance of the five key countries of Austria Czech Rep Germany Hungary and Poland under the cecta umbrella has brought a new inpetus to the marketing of the region in the UK. The cecta plan was to bring an innovative approach to these meet the trade shows. They are both investigative - to discover the needs of the travel agent -and educational - to help the travel agent better understand the region. Travel across the region using air, road and rail links has never been easier and hotel accommodation at every level is plentiful.

cecta unveiled, for the first time, a CD-ROM showing how the cecta countries are classically and uniquely linked through geography, culture, music and the arts. This CD-ROM marked another milestone in the development of cecta. With membership growing, a website delivering a growing number of visitors and a trade advertising campaign planned, cecta is fulfilling its goal of raising the profile of Central Europe and building travel to the region.

Exhibitors included Austrian NTO, Czech Tourist Authority, German NTO, Hungarian NTO, Polish NTO, CSA, Lot, Malev, Manchester Airport, Holiday Autos, Vienna National Tourist Board, Peter Deilmann Cruises, Danubius Hotels and cecta.

Contact us for more details.

Back to Top

In July of this year some 17,000 readers of the Guardian and Observer, with a score of 91% voted the Czech Republic their favourite European Country. In the same poll and with a score of 90% they voted Prague into 9th place amongst their favourite cities worldwide. Only one other European city was even mentioned in the top ten, giving some idea of the overwhelming strength of both Prague and the Czech Republic as a holiday choice for the average member of the British public.

As if to confirm the public’s choice, travel agents and tour operators, readers of the specialist travel trade magazines, Selling Long Haul and Selling Short Breaks voted the Czech Tourist Authority “The best UK based Central and Eastern European Tourist Office”.

So now you have it, both the UK holidaymaker and his travel agent think the Czech Republic and Prague in particular is a great place to have a holiday. So whether you play darts or not, it is easy to see why you score a double top with a visit to the Czech Republic and Prague.

Contact us for more details.

Back to Top

The organisers of the Holiday World travel exhibition in Prague announced today that they will join together with cecta, the Central European Countries Travel Association to organise an international conference on travel to, from and within in Central Europe. The conference will be positioned to take place one day prior to Holiday World on Wednesday, February 7th, 2001 at the Inter-Continental Prague.

According to cecta chairman, Terry Coates, “Any travel industry professional responsible for the Central European region, will find this conference invaluable.”  Coates is convinced “This is a region about which many industry professionals are still learning—statistics are often sparse and the dynamic nature of the region means constant change and opportunity.”

Current cecta member countries include: Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and Poland, but may expand in the future.

Confirmed speakers from the industry include Professor Allan Beaver, Vice President CIMTIG (Chartered Institute of Marketing Travel Industry Group), Professor Dr. Armin Godau, Managing Director ITE (Institut zur Forderungund Integration des Tourismus in Europa), Geoffrey Gray-Forton, Chairman MWA (Meetings World (1969) Associates), Bill Muirhead, Partner, M&C and Saatchi Janez Pergar, Vice President, WATA (World Association of Travel Agencies), Vladimir Stetina, Director, IH&RA (International Hotel & Restaurant Association) and Daniella Wagner, Vice President, Corporate Affairs, WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council).

cecta Chief Executive, Gill Wilson indicated that the timing is right for this event. “Since the founding of cecta, we have noticed an ever-increasing interest in the concept of borderless travel within the Central European region.”  The conference will be a forum to explore this, the impact of e-commerce and e-trading, marketing and many other aspects of travel and tourism from and within the region.

For further information, please contact 
Gill Wilson on +44 1844 338332.

• cecta was established in 1999 to encourage borderless tourism within the Central European region. Current members include: Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary and Poland.
  

• cecta can be contacted via Gill Wilson and Terry Coates in the UK Secretariat tel: +44 1844 338332 fax: +44 1844 338003 
  or e-mail: gill.wilson@cecta.org
  

• Holiday World will take place from February 8-11, 2001 at the Prague Exhibition Grounds. The first two days of the event will be open to trade only. For more information, please contact Kimberly Ziegler ITE Travel Exhibitions in London on +44 207 5965051 
  or via e-mail kimberly.ziegler@ite-exhibitions.com .
  

• Holiday World, Central Europe’s Premier Tourism Industry Event, targets the leading emerging economies in the region including: Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
  

• Holiday World is a 7-year member of the prestigious European Tourism Trade Fairs Association (E.T.T.F.A.) This association is committed to high-quality standards for tourism industry events throughout Europe.

Back to Top

The country members of cecta, together with key travel writers, took off last month for their second visit to each other’s  countries and this time went to Austria, Czech Republic and Germany. The trip was an outstanding success.  Once again, it demonstrated that cecta is an alliance with a determination to explore every opportunity to develop travel to Central Europe and open up the minds of travellers and media to the uniqueness of the region.

The first destination was Prague, flying courtesy of CSA and staying in the luxurious Inter-Continental Hotel where the spectacular view from the roof top restaurant overlooking the whole of this magical city was an absolute delight.    To ensure we used the 24-hour stay productively Dagmar Gillespie, Director of UK & Ireland, Czech Tourist Authority, had planned an itinerary ensuring we saw every inch of this wondrous city including the spectacular Musical Krizik Fountain where the water literally dances to the sounds of some of the world’s greatest composers, Bach, Chopin, Beethoven

Meetings took place with Mr Karel Nedjl,  Director of the Czech Tourist Authority in Prague, together with key members of his management team with specific responsibility for the regions.  A commitment to continue to strengthen the relationships with the countries of Central Europe was agreed and discussions also took place on how to expand the activities of cecta.  Mr. Nedjl  agreed to host the first Central Europe International Travel Conference in Prague on 7 February 2001 organised in conjunction with ITE, Meetings (1969) World Associates and cecta.    The conference will serve the industry as a forum for discussion of travel to, from and within Central Europe.  This will be the first year of the conference, but it is the aim of the organisers to establish the event as crucial for those interested in the Central European tourism industry.

From Prague the group travelled by train to Berlin following the river Elbe and past the city of Dresden. This was a new experience for most of the group and a realisation that rail travel within Central Europe is so undervalued. 

Marketing co-operation is the key to the success of Berlin Tourism Marketing led by Mr Hanns-Peter Nerger.  Whilst everyone was aware that Berlin had come alive since the fall of the Berlin wall and the integration of the city,  there has been a greater awakening since  Berlin has regained its capital city status and it has witnessed a massive surge in tourist traffic. The city had nine million registered overnight stays in 1999.   Combining investment from both the private and public sector the Berlin Tourism Marketing leads the way with strategic alliances.  Berlin has joined with other cities across Central Europe and is capitalising on Berlin’s unique gateway opportunities for air travel together with a new central rail station.  Berlin is forging alliances that reflect the cecta philosophy of marketing the region where borders are not a barrier to travel. 

Jeanette Schuchmann of the German National Tourist Office entertained us to an evening visit to the ‘backyards’ of Berlin highlighting both the cosmopolitan and student atmosphere of this eclectic city where innovation has no bounds. 

The last destination was Vienna generously hosted by Austrian Airlines, the Vienna Tourist Office,  Oskar Hinteregger of the Austrian National Tourist Office Tourist office and K+K Palais Hotel. Vienna, the home of the Vienna boys choir, the Spanish riding school, the Schonbrunn Palace and the magic of the Ringstrasse.  We were some of the first visitors to the new House of Music museum where the history of music is displayed with amazing interactive devices and a concert matinee with the Malat Schrammeln at Emperor’s Breakfast Pavilion was  a wonderful finale to a week that had opened with Prague and taken us across the Czech Republic to Berlin by rail and on to Vienna by air.  Once again endorsing that borders are not barriers to travelling in Central Europe.

cecta thanks the UK Directors of the NTO’s of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany together with CSA, Austrian Airlines, Inter Continental Prague, Astron Hotel Berlin, K&K Palais Hotel Vienna, Vienna National Tourist Office, Berlin Tourism Marketing and most especially the ground handling companies and the superb guides who filled our minds with an amazing selection of unusual and fascinating aspects of their cities so often undiscovered by tourists.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES:

OCTOBER

Thursday 12 October
cecta fair Manchester Airport
Plans for the first cecta fair are now well in hand and all cecta members are welcome.  The definition of fair (Oxford English Dictionary) comes from the Latin feria meaning holiday and is  ‘a periodical gathering of buyers and sellers,.  We hope to encapsulate that holiday feeling, where there will be an element of fun during the educational process.  The event will be open in the morning and run through to a buffet lunch.  The Directors of each of the National Tourist Offices will be in attendance, as will the key airline operators.

The aim is to pass on product knowledge about the cecta countries and to provide a platform for all cecta members to sell their product to the British retail trade as a ‘preferred cecta countries operator’

If you have any ideas or suggestions and want to be actively involved please let us know. Being the first fair in which the five countries have joined together we want to make it productive and a good use of your time.

16 – 18 October
10^th Danube Travel Mart, Bratislava, Slovakia
The Danube Travel Mart is a specialized tourist trade fair staged once every two years by the Danube Tourist Commission and its members, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Romania, Bulgaria, Ukraine and Casinos Austria AG, in one of the member states.

At the event tourism service providers from the Danube regions of the member states have the opportunity to present their products and services to international buyers from major European and overseas incoming markets. Tour operators and travel agents are invited to attend the travel mart as buyers.

This year the tenth Danube Travel Mart will be held October 16-18 directly on the Danube at the foot of Bratislava castle:

PKO–Park of Culture and Leisure
Nábrezie Ar. Gen. Svobodu 3
SK-81 515 Bratislava

Slovakia and Slovak tourism organizations attribute great importance to this year’s anniversary travel mart. The official opening of the Danube Travel Mart on the evening of October 16 will be held in Bratislava castle in the presence of the President of the Slovak Republic, Rudolf Schuster. This is an honor which is usually reserved for state visits.

Danube Travel Mart activities extend beyond the one and a half day trade fair, and are complemented by varied supplementary programs in which the host country and the venue of the next Travel Mart have an opportunity to present themselves. A special press program is organized for journalists. Travel Marts also include pre and post convention tours of the Danube regions of members.

Since 1996 service providers, buyers, and journalists have also been able to take part in a Danube Symposium, “The Danube - A River’s Lure”, which is held preceding the Travel Mart. At the symposium topics of special interest such as border formalities in Danube ports, or tourism services and products, successes and problems are presented and discussed.

The next Danube Symposium will be held on October 16, 2000 in Bratislava, and focus on the Schengen Agreement and cycling tourism.

A home page for Danube Travel Mart will be available in English on www.danube-river.org at the end of the week -in the meantime, should you require any additional information, please e-mail ursula.deutsch@oewwien.via.at

7 – 9 NOVEMBER
MADI TRAVEL MARKET
7^th International Travel Trade Fair

Exhibition Grounds, Prague, Czech Republic

The MADI Fair is the largest ‘trade only’ event in travel industry of the emerging markets of Central & Eastern Europe.  For its 7^th annual event as many as 500 exhibitors from 36 countries and thousands of trade visitors are expected.  MADI Travel Market presents a wide spectrum of tourism products and tourism products and services offered in many important destinations of the world.

There will be a programme of activities during the event.  Last year it included sightseeing tours, Workshop of Czech Regions, a concert and a gala evening.  This year a similar programme is being prepared and as a part of the MADI Fitness & Spas sector there will probably be an excursion to Czech spas.

For foreign visitors the following is offered:

Discount  on air tickets by the official carrier CSA  (75% from 1-year tariff).  The discounted price corresponds approx with the tourist group rates but individual participants are entitled to apply for them as well as their spouses.

Welcome Desk of the MADI fair is in operation in the Arrival  Hall of the Prague International airport the day before the first day of the fair.  Trade visitors may register there, obtain a badge, catalogue, maps of Prague and seek assistance with transfers to hotel etc (which cost approx 4$ with a Cecaz minivan)

There is specially priced accommodation in 4* & 3* hotels near the exhibition grounds.

MADI Agentura the organizers of the event is an advertising agency specializing in services to professionals in tourism and includes

MADI Travel Trade Market – international trade fair of professionals in tourism, the largest ‘trade only event in Central and Eastern Europe

Tourism  Courier – bulletin of business contacts and information monthly (Czech only)

Czech Travel News – the magazine for destination Czech Republic bi monthly (English Language) Databases of travel market, catalogues, direct mailing, workshops,  presentations….

WORLD TRAVEL MARKET 
13 – 16 November
We are reminded by Reed exhibitions that this year is their 21^st anniversary and there are two extra special events as follows:

WORLD TRAVEL MARKET ‘TRIBUTE 21’ NOMINATIONS
18 August Deadline

The deadline for World Travel Market’s Tribute 21 nominations, is Friday 18 August. WTM is seeking 21 men and women who represent the highest achievements within the international travel and tourism industry, as part of their 21^st birthday celebrations.

Fiona Jeffery, exhibition director said: ”We are searching for those people with flair and vision whose significant and personal contribution has played a major part in the development of today's international travel and tourism industry.

“They may be the unsung heroes who have kept a low profile. But they may also be those pioneers who with courage and determination have created a product or a concept that has changed the ‘face’ of the industry as we know it today.

“So much has happened in the past 21 years and Tribute 21 is the public recognition of exceptional brilliance and enterprise. We are looking for 21 people who, collectively and individually, can represent the very best in the global industry, by playing a part in our 21^st opening ceremony on Monday 13 November.”

Last year, World Travel Market attracted 4,992 exhibiting companies and organisations from 165 countries and 33,000 visitors.

Organisers are asking for nominations from exhibitors, visitors and trade associations - in particular those who have remained loyal to the event over many years – to find those key people to represent the achievements of thousands.

The final Tribute 21 line-up will be featured in a special 21^st Birthday film to be shown during the opening ceremony celebrations on Monday 13 November. They will also receive a hand-crafted Swarowski crystal commemorative recognition award. A spectacular 21^st Birthday party is also planned for Wednesday 15 November.

Nomination forms for Tribute 21 should be completed and faxed to Karsalie Hervey on fax +44 (0) 1580 201869 as soon as possible.

Final selection of the Tribute 21 individuals will be made by World Travel Market’s Advisory Council in September. The 21 selected representatives will be invited to the opening ceremony, attended by Government Ministers, Ambassadors and industry VIP’s.

For further information, telephone 
Jane Larcombe +44 (0) 1892 785071

ATTENTION ALL PARTYGOERS!

Due to the phenomenal success of last year’s spectacular debut party, we’re planning something even bigger and better for this year. If you thought that last year's party was something special, then book now for November's special celebrations! This extravaganza is a "must" during World Travel Market week.

Join us in the magnificent Christmas Marquee in Battersea Park, London for World Travel Market’s 21^st Birthday Party on Wednesday 15 November 2000. This promises to be an exclusive night for industry partygoers and the perfect opportunity to entertain your clients and network.

The evening will begin at 7.30pm with a welcome reception, dinner, dancing, divas…a window into another world!  You can reserve tables of 10 or individual places. The price is £1,500 per table or £150 per head. Prices include VAT.

Spaces are inevitably limited. First priority is being given to last year's guests, WTM participants and industry partners.

Remember, due to the overwhelming success of last year’s party, tickets are expected to sell quickly. So book early.

Put this date in your diary now! Wednesday 15 November 2000.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available!

For further information on this unmissable night, email us at bookings@wtmparty.com

25 - 28 JANUARY
HOLIDAY WORLD 2001 DUBLIN
At the next  Holiday Show in Dublin there will be, for the first time, a Central Europe section. Thanks to everyone’s co-operation the countries will come together under the cecta umbrella bringing a new focus to the region and creating more interest for the public and the travel trade.

Further details: eileen@bizex.ie

7 FEBRUARY 2001
The First Central European Travel Conference, Prague 
cecta has joined with ITE the organisers of Holiday World Exhibition, Prague to launch the first industry forum for Central Europe on the day preceding the exhibition. Speakers will come from across the travel industry and from within, as well as outside, Central Europe.  Put the 7 February date in your diary NOW!

8-11 FEBRUARY  2001
HOLIDAY WORLD
  Central Europe’s Premier Tourism Industry Event
This year, Holiday World will celebrate its 10^th anniversary targeting the Central European travel market. Bookings for Central Europe’s Premier Tourism Industry Event are again exceeding organiser expectations for the region including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia and Poland.

Holiday World will be open to trade only on February 8 & 9 with the weekend days open also to public visitors. At Holiday World 2000, exhibitors welcomed over 12,000 trade participants and nearly 40,000 public visitors making this event the largest travel industry event in Central Europe.

As a member of the European Tourism Trade Fairs Association (ETTFA), Holiday World is among the leading exhibitions in Europe and offers a standard of quality endorsed by this prestigious organisation.

Exhibitors interested in promoting their products and services for inbound and outbound travel focusing on this region are encouraged to reserve their stand while space remains available.  Discounted flights (75AD) and accommodation are available to all participants. Please contact Kimberly Ziegler on the numbers listed below for further information.

ITE Travel Exhibitions organise MITT Moscow (28-31/03/01), Holiday World Prague (08-11/02/01), EMITT Istanbul (22-25/02/01), UITT Kiev (4-7/04/01), GULF Jeddah (19-22/09/01) and ITM Bombay (2-4/11/01). For further information, please contact us on travel@ite-exhibitions.com  
or T: +44 207 596 5051 F: +44 207 596 5102.

OTHER NEWS:

Observer and Guardian Travel Awards (17 July 2000)
Central Europe did remarkably well in the recent travel awards held in Boston. The Czech Republic came top for the first time climbing five places. Austria, Hungary, Germany and Poland also did extremely well. With Austria taking seventh place and overall the five cecta countries in the top eighteen destinations. 

17000 readers of the UK Guardian and Observer newspapers cast their votes choosing these countries as their favourite destinations a reflection on the growing popularity of Central European and not just for the capital cities.

CZECH TRAVEL NEWS
The latest issue of Czech Travel News - the magazine for the Czech Republic and Central Europe 3/2000 is out now.   It is focused on Baroque monuments in Bohemia, Moravia, Bavaria, and Austria. The most interesting landmarks are also interconnected in several itineraries. As a special supplement Accommodation in Prague is published together with a copy of the magazine. It contains circa 250 facilities within Prague and its outskirts. News on MADI Travel Market 2000 is not missing as well. For details of subscription see www.madi.cz or contact the publisher directly at madi@madi.cz

The next issue of CTN 4/2000 is being prepared and will cover Spas, fitness, wellness, outdoor activities and Health and Beauty.  The copies will be available at the end of August. The issue will list of the spas not only in the Czech Republic but surrounding spa countries of Hungary, Austria and  Germany.  This special issue will serve as a supporting tool for promotion of MADI Fitness & Spa - special feature of November MADI show

WELCOME
The Polish National Tourist office has a new director. We would like to welcome Mr Jerzy Szegidwicz. to London and to wish him every success in his new appointment. We would also like to take the opportunity to thank Mr Jermanowski for his support for cecta.  Mr. Jermanowski was one of the architects in the creation of cecta and will always be remembered for this. We wish him success  on his return to Poland  

AMBER TRAIL
We are researching the origins of the Amber trail.  It started from the North of  Visla in Poland passed through Moravia to Vienna and to Adria we are reliably advised.   Can anyone give us more details?  Trails such as this and the silk trail have real potential for development of the regions of Central Europe and would be of interest to the media and travellers alike.

AUSTRIA TREND HOTELS & RESORTS – ‘Service to Feel Well’
Austrian Trend Hotels have taken over their 15^th property in Vienna, the Hotel Scholss, Wilhelminenberg.  ‘In an absolutely quiet location you will find the Hotel Schloss (90 guest rooms)  the former castle of Graf Lascy (1781) surround by the Vienna Woods and vineyards which was renovated and designed as a hotel in 1998.  Not only is the gorgeous view of the City of Vienna with all it’s impressive sights, you could also experience a jog or stroll in the park, a game of mini-golf, the extended terrace and the variety of stylish and functional banqueting and function rooms including our sumptuous ’power-breakfast-buffet in our Wintergarden Schloss-Restaurant’

Further details: Simon.Posch@austria-trend.at

ATYPUS
Atypus are offering a 50% discount on their normal price on their special Brown Bear Watching Tour to Slovakia in the autumn.  There are only a few areas where you can see these fascinating creatures in Europe and their four day tour includes a nice mountain hotel with excellent cuisine, ground transport, guide and bear expert.

Further information: atypus@sky.cz

AND NEWS FROM LEGENDA IN HUNGARY:
Our sightseeing program is in 24 languages: English, German, Italian, French, Dutch, Spanish, Japanese, Swedish, Finnish, Danish, Korean, Hebrew, Russian, Greek, Thai, Chinese, Croatian, Turkish, Polish, Czech, Slovanian, Portugese, Arabic and Hungarian (headset system).

NEW!  From now also our brochures are in 24 languages available. E.g. in Czech and Polish, see the attachments.

From the 1st of July we have raised the number of our sightseeing boat cruises so the departure times in July and in August are every day at:

Duna Bella: 11:00, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30, 17:30
Danube Legend: 20:15, 21:00, 22:00

We are planning a new service from September on the 22:00 o'clock night boats.  Beside the normal program (Danube Legend) we will serve cheese balls and "Tokaji" wine as a special surprise for our guests.

Further details from legenda@matavnet.hu

And last, but by no means least – news of a special deal from czechocar for all cecta members – check out their site to find out more…. http://chat.euneco.cz/czechocar/cecta

We would welcome your comments, ideas and suggestions on content for future newsletters - remember, this is your site - communication is two way - we welcome your input.

Why not e-mail us?

Back to Top

  WELCOME! To cecta's first newsletter 

Membership of cecta is now past the 50 mark with Austrian Airlines the latest member. The Vienna hub is key to Austrian Airlines' role in the development of travel to Central Europe. With the leisure market now becoming a significant part of their business Austrian Airlines joining and involving themselves directly, we find extremely encouraging.

Southern Moravia, a region of The Czech Republic, gets very little attention on the international travel circuit. That is soon to change. The region has turned to cecta to seek advice and guidance on how to market the region more aggressively in the future. Whilst there is a wealth of experience in the region, by joining with cecta and harnessing the specialist knowledge of the cecta membership, the development of tourism will be put on a faster track. 

cecta set out initially to bring more synergy to the marketing of Central Europe in the UK and Ireland. In a very short time, we have become a global organisation, much sooner than our founder members and we expected. The advantage of globalisation is the cost effectiveness of delivering a global brand. With the cecta website rapidly becoming the portal for the Central European countries travel industry, this is being achieved.

Nevertheless, the UK continues to be high on our priority list and a template for other countries' marketing strategies. Plans are well advanced for a UK media visit to Berlin, Vienna and Prague at the end of June. Representatives from all five countries of cecta will join the media to hammer home the point that Central Europe is a region without boundaries for world travellers. 

At Holiday World 2001 in Dublin, countries and the companies servicing Central Europe will have an opportunity to exhibit in the same area within an umbrella facility for the first time. We will create a more dynamic representation that will raise the profile of the region and make it easier for visitors to find everything for Central Europe focused in one area. The same plans are being made for the World Travel Market in November 2000 and whilst this might take a little more time to achieve, with space at a premium at Earls Court, the aim is the same.

cecta is also planning a workshop in conjunction with Manchester Airport in the autumn. Working in co-operation with the airport authority, guests will include tour operators and the retail trade. cecta members will include the airlines, national tourist offices and service providers. Dates and times to be announced shortly.

David Richardson, a journalist who many members will know, recently published a dissertation on Central and Eastern Europe. This is being made available to members at a special discount price. We commend this document to you. It is packed with statistics and should be on the shelf of any one involved in tourism to the region. Click here to see more.

COT the Czech travel trade magazine, who have been a supporter of cecta from the outset, will soon be available on line by clicking www.cecta.org and clicking on the COT hyperlink. The magazine is packed with information on the Czech Republic and is in both English and Czech. The editor is Fred Rookes who will be delighted to receive any editorial contributions.

Whilst on the subject of trade publications remember that they all welcome editorial contributions. Let us know if we can help. In the UK both TTG and Travel Weekly run regular features and we need these to contain more information of interest to the retail trade. Target them when supplements are scheduled.

Ambitious plans are now being made for Prague 2001. cecta is joining with ITE and Meetings World (1969) Associates to create, for the first time, the CECTA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. This will be a big step forward for the region. A conference that is of a global magnitude, to debate the marketing and promotion of all categories of travel and tourism to, from and within the cecta countries. This conference will launch Holiday 2001 and will include speakers from the world's leading personalities in travel and related industries.

A clarion call from CSA, LOT and MALEV to the UK legislators to reduce the departure tax to their countries and come into line with the EU destination, has not fallen on deaf ears. This problem needs to be fixed to ensure that all the cecta countries can compete with other EU destinations. cecta will take up this cause. Do let us know if you have any comments and suggestions as we need your support.

www.cecta.org is constantly being updated and special offers are regularly being made available. We are getting an unprecedented amount of hits, exceeding all our expectations. We would encourage you to visit www.cecta.org frequently. Tip of the month: look at some of the special offers from Holiday Autos.

Central Europe is the fastest growing travel destination in the world according to the latest WTO figures. cecta is the focus and the catalyst for cooperation between the countries and the travel trade. You are all taking an active role in growing one of the most exciting travel destinations in the world.

cecta continues to grow and develop opportunities for its members and create new business initiatives. Last week we had an enquiry from China International Travel Services, one of China's earliest travel agencies headquartered in Beijing - you see the cecta message is spreading world-wide!

We would welcome your comments, ideas and suggestions on content for future newsletters - remember, this is your site - communication is two way - we welcome your input.

Why not e-mail us?

Back to Top

Days before I met Gill Wilson and Terry Coates, Mr. Hinteregger from the Austrian National Tourist office in London informed me about the cecta, he told me to visit the homepage and informed me about the following meeting with two proponents of cecta. 

I visited the homepage, I read about the cecta and I was impressed about this new and interest association. Because there new options are opened, new possibilities for a good and professionell collaborations between the serveral organisations.

Europe is a continent full of history and the only thing, what we have to do, is to make this history real and living and understandable for all our visitors. It should be pure, real and true. It is not necessary to make imitations, here in Europe exists so many true and real historical monuments and documents. Europe is history, past, present and furture. And we all of us are demanded to conservate, to show and to prepare our history now for the future and the future generations of the whole world. We just able to learn from our history now.

And one of the best example for an European way of this is the Spanish Riding School in Vienna and its museum. The Lipizzaner Museum, which is a member of Via Imperialis, shows the past, documents this in a present way and prepare and conservate for the future. 

And the cecta gives all of us the possibility to work professional together, to come together, to exchange our expierences, to help each other, to make the people interesst in visiting Europe, to recognize that we are different and special, but we are living on one continent, EUROPE. 

Back to Top

cecta, the Central European Countries Travel Association, was set up to communicate, educate and create a viable brand image for Central Europe. cecta already has a membership of over fifty organisations representative of the travel industry across Central Europe. It includes the National Tourist Offices of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany Hungary and Poland, national airlines, hotel groups, tour operators, car rental companies, cruise lines, media companies, museums, historical sites, golf courses, exhibition organisers and travel associations. 

cecta is developing a single brand visit central europe to grow the market as a single destination. It has websites www.cecta.org for the trade and is developing www.visitcentraleurope.com for the consumer ensuring that Central Europe is ready to compete in the global travel market place. Members have hyperlinks to their own websites directly from their logo and if they are an e-commerce site - bookings can be made on-line instantly.

cecta brings a new focus and vision to the marketing of Central Europe and plans to demonstrate that borders are not barriers to travel. A quick glance at the map will show how close many of the capital cities are. Vienna is only a short drive from Prague, for example, and easily accessible by rail, as is the Hungarian border. Study the historical and political background then it is easier to see why the countries have combined forces under the umbrella of cecta. cecta has exploited a willingness, reflected by its membership, to co-operate and pool ideas, build consumer confidence in the region and sustainable tourism.

Recent meetings in Vienna gained further support for the cecta initiative. Simon Posch, Director of Sales & Marketing for Austria Trend Hotels and Resorts said 'As Austria's leading hotel group, it is of great importance to be present in all global markets and cecta is another step to the global presence of our hotel group. I highly appreciate the idea of bringing the five central European countries and their tourism organisations and industry together to promote the region and the wonderful things they have to offer worldwide. Focussing on the overseas, and particularly the Far East markets, will offer a better chance to reach potential clients and guests. cecta not only offers us additional distribution and promotional channels, but a greater chance of being able to compete as a central European destination within this fast growing industry.' Daniela Duft of the The Vienna Tourist Board, and Barbara Wutte of Via Imperialis (promoting castles and palaces) together with the Lipizzaner Museum (exhibiting the history of the Spanish Riding School and the magnificent Lipizzan horses) also praised the cecta initiative and applauded the opportunities for exploiting joint activities with other members. Wutte said 'cecta gives all of us the possibility to work together professionally and share our experiences. We need to capture people's interest to visit us, make them recognise that we are different and special, but living on one continent Europe where the history is past, present and future'.

Meetings in the Town of Mikulov in southern Moravia, Czech Republic, just a short drive from Vienna and discussions with the Mayor Ing. Stanislav Mach was further endorsement of the value of cecta in bringing together those involved in the building of the whole of the travel infrastructure for Central Europe. The new highway linking Austria with the Baltic coast in Poland passes through the region and will have a major impact on the economy of Southern Movavia. The Mayor welcomes this development and is preparing for the influx of tourists to his very beautiful eight hundred-year-old historic town bringing much needed investment and employment. Tomas Zejda of Euro Travel Center in Mikulov said "Our region was formally mostly based on agriculture and it has got into difficulties. Tourism seems one of the possible ways to increase the economy of the region and we are confident that tourists will enjoy their journeys through the wine producing Palava area and the unspoilt landscape of river valleys, woods, lakes and historic towns and castles." Borek Seehak of Atypus, another new member, sees cecta helping promote their range of wildlife, outdoor activity and cultural/historical programmes. Across the whole of the travel industry of Central Europe the message is co-operation. The objective is to harness the resources, redefine the geographic boundaries of Central Europe and grow this market as a single destination. cecta has a mission to awaken the world to the wonderland that is Central Europe. We only ask that others join us on this journey and click on to www.visitcentraleurope.com and www.cecta.org

Issued 11 April 2000

Back to Top