World Travel market
50,000 people visited the WTM in London this year proving once again that the Travel and Tourism industry is still as dynamic as ever. The Central European countries were as usual well represented and doing great business. One point we noticed this year was that stands were designed to be more functional which was very helpful when meeting people.

It has been suggested that cecta members who do not exhibit themselves would find it helpful if cecta had its own stand. We will be glad to hear from you about how you would feel about this.


Chartered Institute of Travel Journalists 2005 conference
The good news is that the conference planned for may 2005 is now taking shape under the guidance of Ashley Gibbons. Ashley reports that the institute now has 350 members and he is expecting a good turnout for the event in Bratislava.

The emphasis of this long weekend event will be of an educational nature, a get to know Central Europe, with plenty of excursions to neighbouring countries. The idea is for the delegates to fan out across Central Europe using Bratislava for the core activities.

As a prelude to the event in Bratislava, "Destination Slovakia" will be held at the Slovak Embassy in London in March 2005. A follow up to the successful event held at the Czech Embassy in 2004 when we had standing room only.

Details from Ashley Gibbons ashley@williamjack.co.uk



Golf business forum 2005
Golf tourism is being galvanised across the whole of Central and Eastern Europe by the development of new venues and courses. Along with this is the emergence of leisure centres and resorts that are adding golf courses to their facilities. The development of real estate as an integral part of these developments is also adding a further interest. Golf is now becoming a serious business in the whole region.

The Golf Business Forum scheduled for Prague in June 2005 will address all these issues and more. This is a KPMG initiative and cecta in partnership with KPMG will play an active part in helping to manage this event. Gill Wilson cecta CEO will be the moderator for the conference. Let is know if you need to know more. info@cecta.org



Cecta and CHS Tour Services Austria and Czech Republic
Educational May 12-15 2005

This unique educational was unveiled at the WTM. Primarily for Tour Operators and sponsored by CHS Tour Services the long weekend will include guided walks in Innsbruck, cable car rides, visits to the Olympic Ski Jumps, quad biking River rafting, and bike tours. Plenty of time to relax and time for shopping. The tour will include a full day and dinner in Prague on Saturday night.

To sign up email info@cecta.org or Ken Bailey at enquiry@chstour.com



Russia beckons
Cecta has recognised for some time that Russia is becoming a developing market for travel into Central Europe and with that in mind we have come to an agreement with the largest Exhibition Company in Siberia. Two travel exhibitions are planned for 2005. Toursib April 13/15 2005. And Sibfect October 2005.

Cecta has negotiated for all cecta members to have a discount of 10% off all stand space, which is a considerable saving. Cecta will also work with the organisers to ensure cecta members get all the consideration they need to fulfil their commercial needs.

The April exhibition has 5000sq metres of space and last years show attracted 7500 visitors, with a high percentage from the Russian travel trade.

Contact Olga Brazhnikova for more information brazhnik@sibfair.ru



China
China is, as we all know, a booming and fascinating new market for the Travel Industry. Did you know that the forecast for outbound travel for 2004 is now 30 million departures? Not all of these travelers will reach Central Europe but it should be enough to make the Beijing International Travel exhibition worth attending and exhibiting at. For more www.bittm.com



Central Europe 2005?
The cities and towns across Central Europe will be the main focus for cecta along with culture tourism in 2005. Whilst the capital cities are now known the world over, many of the smaller towns and cities, although less known, abound with treasures for the visitor to feast his eyes on.

Let us know if you have a favourite town or city and can give us a few gems that the world’s media might like to hear about and pass on to their readers, or that tour operators should be setting their sights on.

Towns like Karlovy Vary and Ceske Krumlov in the Czech Republic, Sopron close to Lake Balaton and Szeged in Hungary, Szcezen and the towns along the Baltic coast in Poland. Better known, Dresden a short train ride from Prague alongside the beautiful river Elbe, and the towns along the banks of the Danube, to name but a few. We need to open the eyes of the world to the wonders of the countries of Central Europe.

terry.coates@cecta.org

gill.wilson@cecta.org

+44 (0) 1296 730847

The World Travel Market opens on November 8th in London and marks another milestone for cecta. We are six years old, having been launched at WTM in 1998 when we had a great deal of optimism and belief for the future of travel and tourism across the countries of Central Europe: an optimism shared at the time by many, but not by all.

2004 has seen unprecedented growth in travel and tourism to all the countries of Central Europe and our optimism, along with many others, was well founded.

The year will be remembered for the many historic changes and developments that have taken place in the region and that have contributed to firmly placing Central Europe as a major destination on the world Travel and Tourism map. Since their accession to the EU the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia in particular have seen dramatic increases in their numbers of visitors. The improvements in the countries tourism infrastructure, the massive increase in capacity being offered by the airlines, and the revolutionary low fares on offer have seen growth in some areas as high as fifty percent over the previous year.

And this is only the start. Rural tourism across Central Europe is only just beginning to develo p.Whilstthecapitalcitieshavecapitalised on the opportunities, the rural areas have been slow to awaken to the potential of tourism, and the lack of investment in the regions means they often lag behind the sophistication of the major city centres. This will change and we expect that 2005 will see as revolutionary a change in the growth of travel to the rural parts of Central Europe as the cities experienced in 2004.

Already we are seeing the carriers flying to destinations that were virtually unknown to most a year ago. The first task is for the regions to raise their awareness levels as to what is on offer.

Opportunities abound; Poland’s Baltic Coast, Hungary’s Lake Balaton, the Tatra Mountains and the resort towns of the Czech Republic.

Austria is teeing up with more emphasis on golf tourism, which at long last the specialist operators have woken up to.

Germany is also looking at niche markets with for example a new initiative focussed on the Gay Market. A new website has been created www.gaygermany.co.uk. The marketing is in conjunction with Lufthansa and the cities of Frankfurt, Cologne, Munich, Hamburg and Berlin.

Cecta will set its goals for 2005 to bring more awareness to the travel trade and the media as to what is on offer to expand year round tourism throughout the whole region. We will also continue to emphasis to governments how the economic benefits of tourism can be fully realised with the right level of investment from both the public and private sector.

Cecta tour operators’ educational 2005.
This unique long weekend package is now planned for 12/15 May 2005. The weekend will include the Innsbruck region of Austria and the city of Prague. The full itinerary will be available on the Austrian stand at WTM, where Ken Bailey from CHS tour services will be available with all the details and will be delighted to meet anyone who would like to join this cecta familiarisation trip.

Farewell
We say farewell this year to Mr. Gabor Tarr the Director for the UK of the Hungarian National Tourist Office and his wife Magdi and welcome to London Mr.Balazs Szucs.

Gabor Tarr has made a massive contribution to the growth of tourism to Hungary. Tireless in his determination and boundless in his enthusiasm he will be greatly missed by everyone in the UK travel industry. Cecta, in particular, owe Gabor and Magdi a great deal of gratitude for the support they have given to the development of cecta and the commitment he has made in his role as cecta president.

We wish them both a very happy retirement.

International Luxury Travel Market Cannes
7th- 9th December 2004.
The exhibitor list for this year’s show is truly impressive. Now in its third year it is becoming the most impressive and from a travel industry business point of view for many a not to miss event. Unique in that every visitor and every exhibitor has pre-planned appointments. Cecta will be there, fully supporting this event.

Beijing International Travel and Tourism Market
20th-23rd April 2004.
Global tourism took on a new look when the industry noticed that China was now a market for outbound travel. The potential appears to be unlimited. The forecast for 2004 is for 30million departures. The total foreign currency savings are reported to be US$ 90 billion.

Rising Star exhibitions are the organisers of the first China Travel and Tourism show and expect visitors numbers to top 30,000. If this is a market you are interested in click onto www.bittm.com

New Member
We welcome this month EU travel a new member from the Czech Republic. They can be contacted at info@czechtravelservice.cz or www.czechtravelservice.cz

cecta will continue its partnership with WTTC in Central Europe to assist in promulgating the message the manifesto has to deliver. The need, as we have said before, is to "put money into travel infrastructure, technology and training and to dismantle barriers to successful growth for the travel and tourism sector across all member states".

The goal - to harness the latent potential that exists across all the countries of Central Europe for the dramatic growth in tourism that is very much achievable.

Destination Czech Republic - Destination Central Europe
In partnership with the Czech National Tourist Agency, the Guild of Travel writers and CSA Czech Airlines a media event and reception was held at the Czech Embassy in London on 16th September. This was a first for Central Europe, giving us the opportunity to remind the travel media of the potential for all the cecta countries and in particular to giving prominence to the regions of the Czech Republic.

All the presentations were outstanding and we had a full house with standing room only, again endorsing the interest there is in the UK for travel and tourism in Central Europe.

The undoubted star of the evening was William Lobkowicz who gave a fascinating incite into the History of the Lobkowicz family and his endeavours in restoring the family castles to their past splendours and restoring many great works of art to their rightful place. A piece of information that certainly took us all by surprise was that Beethoven composed his Eroica at a Lobkowicz castle and was sponsored by the Lobokowicz family whilst he was working on this masterpiece.

Enjoy Slovakia
Enjoy Slovakia have a fam trip planned for October and there are still vacancies. This long weekend tour commences October 28th departing Slovakia Monday 1st November. Starting in Bratislava the weekend will include the High Tatras, The Tatra national park and more, not least an evening listening to gypsy music. Full details and booking forms can be obtained from Marek Farkas at marek@enjoyslovakia.sk or 00421 336409026.

There is a limited number of media places but be quick. This will be a very exciting weekend in Slovakia covering every aspect of Slovakia’s tourism potential.


Austria & Czech Republic
We shall shortly be announcing a fam trip to take in Austria and the Czech Republic for next March. The long weekend will take in Innsbruck and Prague, include river rafting, guided walking tours, a bike tour all optional of course and a visit to the city of Prague. Details will be announced at the WTM but let us know soon if this is of interest.

Golf Business Forum
The second Golf Business Forum is being scheduled to take place next year in Prague – further details in the next newsletter.

Whilst on the subject of golf in Central Europe, this is becoming a new destination for many golf tour operators. Austria in particular has with 140 courses seen an upsurge in this market. The London office of the Austrian National tourist office are putting a great deal of marketing effort to bring this too the attention of the leading operators, and host a golf event every year in the UK for the media and leading operators.

Change of address
The London office of the Polish National tourist office has been relocated. Now located at Westec House West Gate London W5 1YY. Telephone 08700 675 012.

Destination Central Europe
The evening of Thursday September 16th is a date for everyone’s diary. The first of, what we hope will be, a series of meet the media evenings will take place at the Czech Embassy in London at 6.30pm and is titled “Destination Czech Republic” Everyone is invited.

Whilst speeches will be kept brief the key speaker will be Prince William Lobkowicz, a quite exceptional person. William is, by birth, an American but who traces his Bohemian ancestors back to the 14th Century.

William has a wealth of knowledge of the Czech Republic; its history and cultural heritage. Owner of the now restored Nelahozeves Castle on the outskirts of Prague, which contains the largest private collection of art in Europe and is the birthplace of Antonin Dvorak, William’s family can claim, uniquely, six centuries of patronage of the arts.

Nelahozeves Castle also plays host each year to the Dvorak Music Festival.

This is an evening you must not miss. The event is hosted by the Czech Tourist Authority, the Chartered Institute of Journalists Travel Writers, Czech Airlines and cecta.

Please let us know if you will attend gill.wilson@cecta.org

Exhibitions
A correction to the July news letter. The Daily Telegraph Destinations Holiday and Travel Show is the correct title. E-mail Destinations@eco.co.uk www.destinationsshow.com This show is organised by Clarion events and takes place in London at the Earls Court Exhibition centre. 3 – 6 February 2005 and in Birmingham NEC 4 - 6 of March 2005.

The 25th World Travel Market this year will feature for the first time a zone dedicated to training, qualifications and professional development. This is to be organised by the Institute of Travel and Tourism and the UK City and Guilds. More information about this year’s World Travel market can be found on www.reedtravelexhibitions.com

The International Luxury Travel Market show held in Cannes in December goes from strength to strength. This year over 700 buyers will be hosted to the event and cecta will be there too. Details of exhibitors www.Iltm.net/exlist.htm

Rail Travel
The days of manual ticketing are fast disappearing with the introduction of E- Ticketing by all the airlines. Now rail travel is following suit. Rail Europe will cease, in the near future, to allow UK agents who currently hold ticket stock to issue manual tickets. This will be a problem if an agent is not locked into the rail Europe reservations system and a problem booking Eastern and Central European travel. Deutsche Bahn, though, can come to your rescue for most destinations across Central and Eastern Europe. One example of the comprehensive network into Central Europe is the three times daily Berlin Warsaw Express and four times daily to Poznan Sales@deutsche-bahn.co.uk

Boom Times
In the July issue of cecta news we wrote about boom times for travel to Central European countries. With the announcement that Easy Jet is now to serve Bratislava, Budapest, Krakow and Warsaw and that Germany is served by seven UK airports, maybe we just understated what is happening. An easy access to most carriers operating into Central Europe is via www.cecta.org just a click away.

Cultural Calendar
Bratislava will again stage it’s own spectacular Music festival from the 19th September to 8th October this Autumn,

This year promises to be again a very special occasion with outstanding performance and at prices that are just unbelievable. Performing this year will be The Slovak Symphony orchestra, The St Petersburg Philharmonic, The Czech Philharmonic, and the Moscow Philharmonic orchestras along with soloists of world renown.

The opening concert features Dvorak’s Te Deum and the closing concert on the 24 October Igor Stravinski’s Rite of Spring.

Full details

Golf Conference
The success of the Central and Eastern European Golf conference in Budapest this year has guaranteed this as annual event. Next year’s conference is expected to take place in Prague and we will ensure that dates and venue will be published as soon as these are fixed.

Cecta change of address:
Cecta
Barn Farm
Milcombe
Banbury
Oxfordshire
OX 15 4RU

Tel +44 (0)1295 724404
Fax +44 (0)1295 720089

Boom Times
Each and every country in Central Europe is seeing a dramatic and upward change this summer in its tourism figures. The question now being asked is - how come? We, the National Tourist Offices of all the countries and WTTC had forecast this and it is the fruition of a great deal of hard work, dedication and some shrewd and well-focussed marketing over the past few years.

The headline in Travel Weekly UK, the last week of June, read “NEW CAPITALS OF CULTURE”. And then went on to say that the traditional short break cities were being hit hard by the cities of the Countries of Central Europe, from Berlin to Budapest, from Vienna, Bratislava and Warsaw to Prague.

Central Europe, with improved communications and facilities to match the best in the world and offering genuine value for money, is going to grow at a faster pace than most of its competitors over the next few years. 2004 is just the beginning.

Exhibitions
What exhibitions to attend and to exhibit at? Trade or consumer shows? Not easy questions to answer.

Cecta has formed alliances with several shows where we believe there is a target market for Central Europe.

The Daily Telegraph Destinations Holiday and Travel Show, scheduled for London Earls Court 3-6 February 2005. This is a consumer show in the UK that attracts over 37,000 visitors, 68% who are in the affluent and discerning AB socio economic group. Destinations@eco.co.uk

The International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes in December, an exclusive trade show that every year goes from strength to strength www.iltm.net

The Beijing International Travel and Tourism Market that will be held for the first on the 20–23 April 2005. There will be, as at the WTM, an exclusive hall for the countries of Central Europe. www.bittm.com

Golf tourism
This is a niche market for Central Europe but continues to grow at an ever increasing rate as golf courses and facilities match those in more popular golfing destinations.

As a recent release from the Austrian National Tourist Office highlighted, with “Forget the Skiing and the Strudel Austria now offers seriously good golf “ and was recently nominated by IAGTO “ Undiscovered Golf destination of the Year” more info on www.austria.info.uk

The Czech Republic is now also offering packaged golf tours through CSA Airtours.

Remember there are also thriving golf courses in Poland, Hungary and Slovakia and no shortage of courses in Germany not often thought of as a golfing destination.

Cultural Calendar.
Having had requests as to where to find this on the cecta site it can be found on www.cecta.org/news/calendar.htm

CHS Tours
CHS Tour, a founder member of cecta based in Brighton in the UK, is a specialist agency for Austria and the rest of Central Europe. At their suggestion we have opened a new category on the cecta website Ski Operators. Their subsidiary Hourmont Total Ski (a student ski product) is the first to be listed. Let us know if you are a cecta member if you want to be listed here also.

Cecta with CHS tours will also develop an agents’ educational in the foreseeable future. Please let us know if you would like to participate. This would be along the lines of the previous educational last autumn when we visited three countries over a long weekend. CHS Tours will manage and host the whole programme so you can be guaranteed to have both an enjoyable and business orientated trip.

Destination Central Europe - Meet the press
In the last newsletter we announced that cecta and the Chartered Institute of Journalists Travel Writers’ are planning a series of “meet the press events” for cecta members.

These events will now be billed as “Destination Central Europe”.

The first event “Destination Czech Republic” is scheduled in the evening of September 16th at the Czech Embassy in London and will be hosted by the Czech National Tourist Office.

The event is planned to be a serious networking opportunity for cecta members and the press. Speeches will be limited and key speakers will really know their subject and be experts in their own right on all matters that are important to the growth of tourism.

This, to our knowledge, is the first time the Travel Writers’ own association has taken the initiative to organise such an event. All we ask is that you be there, and your guests will also be welcome. Time 18 00 for 18 30. Please email cecta if you plan to attend.

Rail Travel
Rudolf Richter who headed up the Deutsche Bahn operation in the UK and previously was director of the German National Tourist office in the UK headed for retirement this month. Rudolf was a great supporter of cecta and we wish him well in his retirement.

The Deutsche Bahn operation in the UK is still the best one stop shop for train reservations for journeys throughout the countries of Central Europe for UK members. They can be reached via www.cecta.org or sales@deutsche-bahn.co.uk

New member
We would like to welcome Kompas travel a new UK member of cecta. Information on Kompas travel can be found on www.cecta.org and www.kompas-online.net

New address for cecta
Please note the new address for cecta:

Cecta
Barn Farm
Milcombe
Banbury
Oxfordshire
OX15 4RU

Tel: +44 (0)1295 724404
Fax +44 (0)1295 720089

e-mail: info@cecta.org

We announced, at the Slovak Tourist Day held in London in May, that the Chartered Institute of Journalists Travel Writers’ would hold their annual press forum in Bratislava in the spring of 2005.

The goals:

• To bring into focus the whole of Central Europe as a travel destination in the eyes of the world’s media.
• To raise the profile and the uniqueness of the region’s tourist attractions.

We will have the chance to present the culture, arts, music, history and lifestyle on the spot. Writers will be able to feel, touch and smell the very atmosphere of Central Europe and behold its rich tapestry.

Every member of cecta can and we hope will play a role. As we unroll the programme we will keep you all updated.

To start with, a series of conferences are planned in London during the latter part of the year. The first one will be in the Czech Embassy in September and is already taking shape with the help of the Iveta Shoppova at the Czech Tourist Authority.

Ashley Gibbins, the secretary of the Travel Writer’s Guild the driving force behind this initiative, has the following objective. To bring to the institute’s members a new and better understanding of Central Europe and at the same time to educate us as to how we deal with the media and how we present ourselves and our products to achieve the results we need.

This partnership with cecta takes a new approach to media working relationships.

Golf Business Forum - Budapest
There are 37 million registered golfers in Europe and they take 1.3 million golfing holidays, spending a staggering 2.8 Billion Euro’s annually.

This was the message delivered at the first Interactive European Golf Forum held in Budapest last month. But how can Central Europe capitalize on this?

Central and Eastern Europe is the fastest growing region in the world for tourism both in investment and growth. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland is currently where the greatest potential lies and golf needs to be an important part of the tourism framework. Each and every speaker emphasised that revolution rather then evolution is the key to future success and following traditional routes will not suffice to get the growth levels that are forecast. Innovation is the name of the game.

For over forty years, golf was banned in Hungary by the communist regimes. This was brought home with dramatic effect at the opening ceremony, by Daniel Kovari, just 11 years old from Hungary. He had not experienced his parents’ lack of freedom, he was free to make his own choices. This was particularly apt as he is now off to America with a handicap of 14 to join the David Leadbetter Golf Academy to be a future role model for the youth of Hungary.

A lighter moment of the conference was when Mathieu Hoeberigs from the Tourist Unit of the European Commission revealed a new interpretation of the word “crumpet”. The CReation of User friendly Mobile services PErsonalised for Tourism.

The conference set new guide lines for Central and Eastern European tourism. It was not just about golf but leveraging how countries can capitalise on the development of venues and how value can be added to existing facilities.

Gill Wilson, in summarising the conference. said to all the delegates “Central Europe is in catch-up mode and the pace of change is gathering speed. Golf will be an integral part of tourism in the future but there needs to be a strategic plan with co-operation with all the CEE countries to offer the right facilities for not only people to learn the game, golf ranges, simulators, academies, 9 hole courses but to eventually compete at championship level and offer integrated tourism product along the resort concepts”.

Twenty-seven countries and three continents were represented with over 150 delegates in what will now become an annual event in Central Europe. Organised by KPMG, sponsored by, amongst many others, the Hungarian National Tourist Office and moderated by Gill Wilson this was a launching pad for the future development of Golf Tourism across Central and Eastern Europe.

The speaker list for this conference read like a Who’s Who of the golfing world. Speakers, with a vast experience in research, planning, development and tourism attended from Europe, USA and Africa.

Speaker list and presentations can be found at www.golfbusinessforum.com

Cultural Calendar 2004
The Salzburg Festival is yet to come, and on a corner of Lake Constance in Bregenth in Austria 600 people will listen in the open air to Beethoven.

Bayreuth in Germany will see another sell out.

In Prague, Bratislava and Warsaw throughout this summer, from Opera to jazz concerts, music is everywhere.

More visitors then ever before and many for the first time have been drawn to the cities, towns and villages of Central Europe to experience and join in the festivities. This summer records will be broken for all time highs in tourism to the countries of the “New Europe” . The good news is that there is more to come.

Throughout the autumn and winter months there is no shortage of events. Check the websites of the countries National Tourist Offices where there is a wealth of information.

Austria www.austria.info

Czech Republic www.czechtourism.com

Germany www.germany-tourism.de

Hungary www.hungarytourism.hu

Poland www.visitpoland.org

Slovakia www.slovaktourism.sk

Prague - net hotel rates
Katerina.benesova@airtours.cz has a great list of net rates for hotels in Prague for this summer. Remember you heard it here first. A detailed list is available from www.cecta.org/resource_centre/csa_pricing04.htm

Diary Dates
The British Polish Chamber of Commerce will welcome all cecta members to their meeting at the Polish Embassy in London at 47 Portland Place on June 29. The evening is titled Opportunities in the Tourism Sector for Operators and Investors. The evening will conclude with a cocktail reception. Enquiries to manager@bpcc.org.pl

New member
We welcome Slovenske Aerolinie (Slovak Airlines) to cecta membership. Slovak airlines operates regular services between Bratislava and London, Warsaw, Paris, Brussels, Moscow, Tel Aviv, and Athens. Details of schedules are to be found on www.sll.sk

Our best wishes to you all – and remember, if there is any product or service you would like to promote, just let us know. Terry & Gill

Welcome to the EU
Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia

It is difficult for cecta to add to the amazing media coverage that the accession countries of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland & Slovakia in Central Europe have been receiving over the past weeks on joining the European Union.

The BBC coverage on the Breakfast Show and on BBC News 24 throughout the week leading up to accession was one of the special highlights. A journey by boat down the Danube from Vienna to Budapest gave viewers, around the world, a real insight into the sheer magic of the region. Marek Farkas from Enjoy Slovakia was quick off the mark and was invited on board the BBC boat for a live interview. He was able to extol the virtues of the region and the delights that awaited the traveller to Slovakia against a backdrop of Bratislava Castle in all its splendour.

Gill Wilson was interviewed on BBC TV at Luton Airport, here in the UK, which along with Stansted, Gatwick and Heathrow all now have daily services to the key cities across Central Europe and at fares that were not dreamt of in the recent past. Add to that the services from Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh by CSA it is a most exciting time for the travel and tourism industry never hitherto seen or may we suggest envisaged. Cecta is proud to have played a modest role in bringing this to fruition since our foundation in 1999.

The media, at last, painted a positive image of Central Europe, promoted the opportunities that abound and the ease of travel and low fare offerings now available to the travelling public.

Golf Business Forum Budapest 27–28 May
This event, organised by KPMG, is ‘a must be’ to attend for anyone with an interest in the development of Golf Tourism world wide, but particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. It will gather golf industry leaders, real estate developers, banks and investors, European Union officials, operators of golf clubs, architects and designers as well as tourism authorities for the premiere event of the year. It will provide a unique opportunity to discuss common concerns and to explore concrete business opportunities.

Gill Wilson will be moderating the conference highlighting

• The first ever interactive golf conference
• A focus on the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe.
• The impact of golf on tourism
• Case studies
• Presentations on Investment, Finance, Development and Design.
• Presentations by international development companies and financial institutions.
• Critical analysis from representatives heading up the world's leading golf corporations from the Robert Trent Jones II and Gary Player
• Speakers from WTTC, Fancourt Hotel & Country Club Estate, Portuguese Tourism Board, European Golf Design, EU Tourism Unit, KPMG, Czech Golf Association, Hungarian Golf Federation, Golf & Land Design, Ernst & Young, RCI, Golf Research Group, Russian Golf Association, Swan Golf Design, Hartl Life Resort, Sports Marketing Surveys, ERA, Interval International, WATG, EDAW, ADPM Consult, AIG Capital, Birdland, EBRD & Cecta
• Post conference golf tournament at Pannonia Golf & Country Club
• Due to Cecta's strategic involvement in the conference, members are entitled to a discount registration fee of 33%.

www.golfbusinessforum.com or register@golfbusinessforum.com

Mice Conference Monaco 2004
Cecta has become a partner in the MICE Executive Conference scheduled for Monaco in October and organised by NASEBA. This conference offers a wide range of activities including one to one scheduled business meetings along with outstanding business forums and educational sessions.

More information is available on the organisers web site www.naseba.com and on the cecta news page

Cecta members receive a 15% discount on the registration fee for this conference.

Classic Gardens of Germany
The London office of the German National Tourist Office are planning to publish in June a 20 page brochure on the Classic Gardens of Germany with a forward by H.E. the German Ambassador to London Thomas Matussek. Jeannette Schumann who is producing this at the GNTO in London promises a very interesting read and with plenty of surprises.

Diary Date
Slovak Tourist Day – 20 May - London

The Ambassador of the Slovak Republic
in conjunction with
the Slovak Tourist Board
request the pleasure of your company for
Slovak Tourist Day
and
Bratislava, Capital of the Slovak Republic
a presentation followed by a buffet reception
at the Slovak Embassy, 25 Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QY
on Thursday 20 May 2004 at 6.30 for 7.00 p.m.
Raffle during the evening:
Top Prize – one week relaxation
holiday for 2 in Piestany,
compliments of Slovak Health Spa Piestany and Austrian Airlines

RSVP
T.: 020-7313 6493 Fax: 020-7727 3667
E-mail: obeo@btconnect.com

Michal Vrabel, Commercial Counsellor, will be returning to Slovakia after this event. Michal has been a good friend and tireless in his endeavours for Slovakia during his time at the Slovak Embassy and we wish him well in the future.

Cultural Calendar
The Cultural Calendar we put together for Central Europe is available on the cecta web site. We will update this for the autumn and publish in June. The cultural activities during the autumn and winter months are always outstanding and very attractive to the short stay off-season markets and we would like to bring these to the fore in everyone’s minds.

Please let us have any events that you would particularly like highlighted.

River cruises
Whilst viewing the BBC boat leisurely cruising down the Danube from Vienna we were reminded of the offerings from Peter Deilmann River and Ocean cruises. Described as floating hotels, this is still a unique way to explore Central Europe. Check out Peter Deilmann cruises on the www.cecta.org website for more details.

Guild of Travel and Tourism
Cecta members are offered reduced rates for most of the Guild of Travel and Tourism’s luncheons and events throughout 2004. The 26 May Luncheon is at the House of Lords with Lord Taylor as the guest speaker. All events take place in London and the programme for this year includes wine tasting in June a summer barbecue with the Skal club and Travel Bulletin awards in September.

Further information available from nigel.bishop@traveltourismguild.com or phone 020 7583 6333.

Chartered Institute of Journalists Travel Writers
Cecta and the Chartered Institute of Journalists have entered into a partnership to organise a Travel Journalists International Conference in Bratislava in the spring of 2005. Ashley Gibbons, secretary of the travel group, will make an official announcement at the Slovak Embassy 20th May.

Leading up to this event the partnership will hold a series of press events in the UK to bring about amongst the leading travel writers in the UK a better understanding of Central Europe and the structures that drive the travel industry. At WTM in November 2004 the cecta press luncheon will be equally driven by both parties to ensure a focused event and to ensure that cecta members benefit from the event and are actively involved.

This unique partnership is a first for cecta and a first for the Chartered Institute’s Travel Group, which has over 250 members.

We look forward to your comments and suggestions.

cecta has become a partner of the MICE Executive conference that will be held in Monaco 3rd to the 5th of October 2004. and cecta members receive a 15% discount on the registration fee.

This is an ideal opportunity for networking and for one to one meetings.
Registration details and further information can be found on www.naseba.com.

Read more about MICE (MS Word | 4MB)
 

The Beijing International Travel
and Tourism market 20-23 April 2005
The China outbound travel market is projected to grow to 100 million by 2020 and BITTM to be staged in Beijing will be a unique opportunity for Central Europe to claim a share of this dynamic travel market of the future.

Dedicated exclusively to business to business BITTM provides the essential link between the rapid development of the Chinese travel and tourism industry and the dynamic needs of the global industry.

Cecta is pleased to announce that it has formed an alliance with the exhibition organisers Rising Star Exhibitions Ltd based in the UK to ensure that Central Europe is presented in the very best environment and that an integrated approach to the Chinese market is achieved.

The outcome will be the creation of a Central European marketing focus for the China Travel market.

A Central European Pavilion to ensure that the Central European tourism industry can create an impact that dramatically demonstrates to the China Travel trade the attractions of the whole region of Central Europe and the products on offer. It should include history, culture, artistic heritage and outdoor pursuits which are second to none combined with a service industry that can offer quality and service.

Cecta with Rising Star exhibitions will stage a series of conferences and seminars and press events that all exhibitors from Central Europe can take part in, contribute and play an active role. Every event will be motivational, educational, and programmed to ensure that a synergistic image is projected for the whole region.

BITTM is going to be a new learning process for the global travel industry and the travel industry of Central Europe need to be there.

Cecta and BITTM have recognised this in this new alliance and will bring to the Beijing International Travel and tourism Market a new vision to bring to the China travel trade a better understanding and appreciation of the total offerings available in Central Europe.

For further information, brochure and space booking forms email terry.coates@cecta.org

International Golf Business forum 27 – 28 May 2004
The golf business forum for those interested in the golf industry is a must. Gill Wilson cecta CEO will chair this two day conference in Budapest at the Intercontinental Hotel where a very impressive list of speakers have been lined up by KPMG the main sponsor and organiser of the conference.

The conference will cover a wide range of activities. Golf club operation, development and investment. The EU funding unit will be there along with developers, bankers and tourist authorities. Emerging markets will be the major focus. Need to know more. www.golfbusinessforum.com or info@golfbusinessforum.com or 0036 (1) 887-7400

Airways
Gill and Terry took part in two travel conferences recently. The first in Berlin at ITB and the second in Budapest at the annual Travel and tourism conference at the Hilton West End hotel. The subject we debated and discussed was the rise, and the impact, that the new low cost carriers were having on both the leisure and business travel markets in Central Europe.

There now seems complete agreement that it is all positive and that the low cost carriers are growing the market, and whilst initially competing against the full service airlines they are now competing amongst each other too. Competition is healthy for the travel industry and good for the customer.

SkyEurope have now announced services from June 14th into and out of Warsaw www.skyeurope.com competing with Airpolonia who have added flights to Gdansk www.airpolonia.com.pl. Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa have also announced services into Bratislava and with SkyEurope adding more services out of Budapest the whole region is awakening to the pure thrill of air travel, some for the very first time. May 1st is bringing with it a revolution in the travel and tourism industry the like of which we have never seen before.

Wines of Central Europe
Central Europe as we all know is renowned for fine wines. The Hungarian National tourist office made this clear when they hosted a luncheon at the House of Lords recently when the deputy speaker of the Hungarian Parliament was present.

The highlight of the day was the opportunity to sample the finest wines from the best Hungarian vineyards. A selection from the famous Tokaj wines, a Chateau Vincent, extra Brut to challenge the best Champagne, and a virgin vintage Chardonnay tickled the palates of all the guests and was a reminder that Wine from Central Europe can compete with the best in the world.

New cecta member
Cecta welcomes Perfect Tour based in Romania. Specialising in a wide range of activities from Summer camps, Dracula’s Castle wine tours and Medical travel. Perfect Travel can be contacted at info@perfect-tour.ro
More details on www.cecta.org

Cultural Calendar
The February newsletter kicked started the cecta Cultural Calendar with highlights of music festivals and other events across the region. We were over whelmed by the positive response we received. And thanks to many members getting back to us have made amendments and added website addresses.

All can be viewed on www.cecta.org. click on news.

The UK’s Travel Weekly gave prominence to the Calendar cecta put together but cheekily claimed authorship of it, but have since apologised! And the London Evening Standard is to use the calendar in their pullout travel supplement on 9 March.

"Enjoy Slovakia" recently penned an article on Bratislava for the London Evening Standard. We will now add this to www.cecta.org and if any one would like to offer the same for their city this would be extremely helpful.

Making information available and exchanging information is still the cecta remit.

Travel Channel
Cecta and the Travel Channel have formed an alliance to develop programmes for this satellite TV travel channel for Central Europe. The Travel Channel broadcasts to over 80 countries and up to 68 million people throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

The first programme being planned will highlight the cultural tourism offerings of Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest with Peter Deilmann Danube cruises supplying the link and playing host to the TV crew.

The programme length will be a minimum of 23 minutes and appears over a three-year period with 36 showings. The goal is to have this up and running by the Autumn, the snag is that we have to raise sponsorship in time for this and that may not be as easy. We would like to hear from any one with ideas on funding or offers of sponsorship.

This type of TV exposure is exactly what is needed for the promotion of travel and tourism in Central Europe. Reaching into people’s homes and showing the Music, Romance and the Historical and Cultural Heritage in reality that awaits the traveller to Central Europe.

Slovakia
Austrian Airlines, operating from London Gatwick, will serve Bratislava daily with very convenient timings from May 1st. Details www.austrianairlines.com

The launch of these services will be dramatic with a major advertising campaign in the greater London area. Austrian Airlines will also be serving Bratislava from Paris and Brussels. The competition for traffic to Slovakia is getting very competitive with Lufthansa starting service also this spring from Germany.

Austrian Airlines have a spare slot on their first press trip. Call Evelyn Harrop 0207 766 0315 or email evelyn.harrop@aua.com

Contact for Austrian Airlines in Bratislava is Heinrich Vystoupil email heinrich.vystoupil@aua.com

Diary
Wednesday 24 March is the date for the Travel and Tourism conference to be held at the Budapest West End Hilton. KPMG and Budapest’s leading daily English language newspaper Budapest Business Journal sponsor this conference. Terry Coates will be the moderator for the panel discussion on Low Fare Airlines.

Incidentally, in the last newsletter, we spoke about open skies for the countries joining the EU. We had an interesting comment from Maurice Flanagan CEO of Emirates when we mentioned open skies. Maurice said “The EU does not have an open skies policy just an incestuous one. Some members do their best to keep out airlines such as Emirates on whatever spurious ground they think will appeal to the commission”. Food for thought!

Monday 14 March cecta will attend ITB and Gill Wilson will be taking part in the Incentive Travel Seminar programme.

Thursday 27 May and Friday 28 May are the dates for the first Central European Golf Business Forum to be held at the Budapest Intercontinental Hotel. The organisers KPMG have invited Gill Wilson to chair this two day event which will be breaking new ground in an industry that is making great strides in Central Europe.

New Member
Cecta welcomes Alain Goetschel, General Manager of the Szent Orban Erdei Hotel in Hungary. www.szentorban.hu. Alain can be reached on gm@szentorban. Details of the hotel can be found on www.cecta.org click on to members.

Looking at the events on offer it is truly overwhelming, and the following is an attempt to pinpoint a few of the highlights and add the websites where virtually every event can be located.

Austria
www.austria.info
www.austria.info/uk

Salzburg Festival 24 July - 31 August
www.salzburgfestival.at

This internationally acclaimed festival, staged in Mozart's birthplace, will this year offer a feast of the world's greatest composers, Janacek vying with Gershwin together with the Berlin and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestras. And more, much more.


Vienna
www.vienna.info

The Liechtenstein Museum - Visit Web Site
The Liechtenstein is the largest private art collection in the world spanning the Renaissance to Austrian Romanticism and is opening 29th March.

Whilst Vienna is alive to the Music and the Arts, throughout the year from 28th June to 11th July the Vienna Jazz Festival takes place offering another musical side to Vienna.

Czech Republic
www.czechtourism.com

March through May the Prague State Opera and the National Theatre stage Opera and Ballet with outstanding international productions.

Prague Writers’ Festival dedicated to Joseph Roth in the spirit of enlarging the EU takes place on 21 March
www.pwf.pragonet.cz

From early May into June the 59th Prague International Spring festival opens with, as always, the international music competition. www.festival.cz

From the opening of Bedrich Smetana's "My Country" the 59th Festival featuring the BBC Symphony, the Prague Symphony and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestras will demonstrate that Prague is alive with the arts and not just an architectural fantasy.

Hungary
www.hungarytourism.hu

Budapest, like so many of the cities of Central Europe, is a cultural heritage in its own right. The State Opera house a monument to Hungary's musical heritage.

The Spring Festival, Music, Opera and Ballet with events every day of the week during March and April

Budapest will stage the World International Dance Festival 20 - 29 April.

Remembering also that Budapest is the Spa City of the World.

In addition, www.hungarywelcomesbritain.com offers information about a myriad of events for the UK market this year.

Germany
www.germany-tourism.co.uk

Music festivals in Germany are renowned year round from the Alps to the Baltic.

Baden Baden Year Round Festival www.festpielhaus.de

Bayreuth Monument to a Genius
http://www.bayreuther-festspiele.de/

Berlin with three Opera houses www.deutsche-opera-berlin.de

Dresden Music Festival.
Classical concerts and Ballet reclaiming, for the city on the Elbe, its role as a city for cultural tourism and a wonderful musical heritage.

Lake Contance
International Bodensee Festival, in May. Music, Ballet, Arts and Film along the shores of lake Constance.

Cologne
Music Festival of the 20th Century where all the chic people go 7 April - 9 May

Poland
www.pot.gov.pl
www.visitpoland.org
www.destinationwarsaw.com

Warsaw
XIV Mozart Festival. Opera orchestral and chamber music recitals take place in June

Summer jazz days.
Contemporary Jazz outdoor concerts in the Castle square June, July and August

Warsaw Book Fair the second largest in the world 20 - 23 May

Gdansk
Bydgoszcz Opera Festival 24 April - 9 May

The Gdansk Musical Summer 18 June - 22 August a festival with classical concerts in all the ancient monuments of Gdansk.

Warsaw
Beethoven Easter Festival with soloists and Orchestras from around the world 4 - 12 April

Film Festival in Miedzedroye, on the Baltic coast, in July.

Slovakia
www.slovakiatourism.sk

Banska Bystrica
44th Musical Spring of Classical Music.

International Festival of choral singing www.banskabystrica.sk in April

Bratislava
6 June is the opening weekend of Culture of Summer Festival lasting throughout the summer.

The Bratislava Music Festival centred around the Opera House and the Philharmonic hall with international soloists from around the world during September

The Bratislava Jazz days during October

Download Bratislava Facts (MS Word | 70kb)

This is just a small sample and if any member feels that there are events that need promoting let us know.

Central Europe needs to trumpet its offerings in the field of Music and the arts. The message needs to be delivered to both the trade and the travel industry. Travel writers in particular need to better understand what is on offer and hopefully we may hear from some of you.

Central Europe takes off
The question being asked constantly is what difference will joining the EU have on travel to the countries of Central Europe? cecta believes the question has now been answered by the air lines schedules for this summer and the fares on offer.

Of special note is SkyEurope with a network from Budapest and Bratislava. Airpolonia with services from Poland. The soon to be launched Whiz Air out of Poland. British Airways increasing frequency to Budapest and Prague and adding Gatwick. Malev adding Stansted to Budapest. CSA now operating to Prague from London Heathrow, London Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh. Across Europe the carriers have their eye on Central Europe.

The destination of the moment and the destination that we in cecta are delighted to see is at last appreciated for its growth potential and where healthy competition will be good for the consumer and good for the travel trade. It has been a long time coming and all who have strived for this moment are to be congratulated.

Exploring Slovakia
www.sunshinestates.net

Are offering advice in a wide range of legal matters, including tax planning, structuring, documentation, leasing, financing, management and construction arrangement. Less than 30% down payments for foreign single investors to purchase a property in Slovakia.

London Chamber of Commerce
The London Chamber of Commerce will be holding a seminar on EU enlargement at London Chamber of Commerce on 25 February from 9.30 to 1.30. The seminar is supported by the European Commission and includes a networking lunch. They are able to register one person per company and anybody interested should contact Mette Lorentzen mlorentzen@londonchamber.co.uk
 

The changing scene….

We are now rapidly approaching 2004 the year all the cecta countries will be members of the European Union and the year that travel to and from the whole region will take on a new shape, particularly the air transport industry.

SkyEurope www.skyeurope.com led the way with services from Vienna Bratislava and Budapest to London Stansted and Paris putting firstly Slovakia on the map and then revolutionising the fare structures from Budapest and bringing to the region much needed competition. Air Berlin is expanding services into other destinations and Ryanair and Easyjet have their eyes set on Central European destinations in the accession countries.

AirPolonia www.airpolonia.com started their services the second week of December from Poland serving Katovice, Poznam and Warsaw to London Stansted. This was such a news event in Poland that TV crews travelled on the first flight.

This is only the beginning, other carriers are lining up to enter the fray and in 2004 there will be a host of new low fare airlines. Cecta will do its best to keep members abreast of developments. We expect the established carriers on these routes to be preparing to take on the new comers. Malev have already announced a £46 (ex taxes) return fare Budapest to London Stansted from 13 February 2004 www.hungarianairlines.co.uk

Things are certainly changing, and with Austrian Airlines planning to start services to Bratislava and the Emirates starting service to Vienna as their gateway into Central Europe next year a 25% increase in traffic is not an unrealistic forecast.

Most interesting is the mix of traffic that the new carriers are attracting. This is, they claim, mostly new business, increasing the overall size of the market rather then making inroads into the existing traffic. This is all good news for the travel and tourism industry. With the low cost carriers promoting destinations and low fares rather then the airline’s own product the countries and cities are getting a much needed boost to raise awareness levels helping to place them more firmly on the shopping list of the prospective traveller. Central Europe is making news.

Another marketing initiative taken by London Stansted airport is also interesting. Traditionally connecting passengers were known as interlining and transfer passengers. London Stansted have developed a new service “changing planes”. Passengers, who have point to point tickets, with more than one carrier and have booked direct will find it easier to make their own connections by logging on to www.baa.com/changingplanesatstansted

Slovakia
The hotel industry in Slovakia held a very interesting conference at the Holiday Inn in Bratislava in November and Gill Wilson was invited to address the conference and speak about the challenges that faced the travel industry after the country joined the EU. This was a well-attended conference and demonstrated that Slovakia really does appreciate the need to address their branding and the needs of their customers. All agreed though that the years ahead are going to be the most exciting in their history and that co-operation is the name of the game.

Whilst on co-operation we also held a well-attended cecta members meeting whilst we were in the country. In particular we were delighted to have in attendance the Deputy Mayoress of Bratislava who promised her help, and Ivana Magatova Director of the Slovak National tourist office who said that the setting up of a cecta chapter is a positive step forward for Slovak tourism.

The cecta chapter in Slovakia will convene again early in 2004 with the objective of taking an active and co-operative role in the development of the Slovak Travel and tourism industry.

International Luxury Travel Market
Travel is not all low fares and low cost, and this was well illustrated at the show in Cannes www.iltm.net this year. An unprecedented number of exhibitors and buyers from across the world were in attendance. Central Europe was well represented with exhibitors and buyers plus cecta in attendance. The Czech tourist office had their own stand showing product from Prague including Prague Castle and Karlovy Vary. A massive increase in both buyers and exhibitors on the previous year ensures that this is now established as a major event in the Travel industry calendar.

Whilst yields are down across the board throughout the travel industry the Luxury end of the market seems to be able to sustain itself. Whilst in total numbers being a relatively small percentage of the overall travel market in revenue terms it represents 20% of the total market.

Cultural Calendar
The culture calendar will be high on our agenda for 2004. Already Bratislava has given us a list of all their events and we shall persue all other sources to ensure this is part of our agenda for next year. Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary Poland and Slovakia are the culture centre of the world and we need to broadcast this more widely. Interestingly the whole concept has aroused a great deal of interest and we have had many offers of help not least from CNBC and the TV Travel Channel. More news on this in the New Year.

ITB
Cecta will again be in attendance at the Berlin show and Gill Wilson will be a panellist during the seminar programme. Hopefully we will have the opportunity to meet many of our members there.

New Members
May we welcome new members to cecta this month. Polorbis and AirPolonia.

And last, but not least, may we send you our sincere best wishes for a Very Happy and Peaceful Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

Terry & Gill

World Travel Market, London
At the World Travel Market held in London last week cecta, and representatives from the National Tourist Offices of Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Germany, Poland and Slovakia were delighted to welcome members, guests and media to their fourth annual luncheon event sponsored by SkyEurope and London Stansted airport. Cecta announced that its aim for 2004 is to create a better awareness and understanding of the musical and artistic heritage of Central Europe and help restore Central Europe's unique past by declaring;

A Celebration of the musical
and artistic heritage of Central Europe
The cecta mission for 2004 is to work towards restoring Central Europe to its rightful place in the eyes of the travelling public and the travel trade as the region of the world that has an unique artistic and musical heritage that cannot be equalled. It is second to none.

The first action will be the production of a calendar of all major events that will be created in conjunction with all the tourist offices of Central Europe. The calendar will be placed on the cecta website and marketed to the travel industry worldwide.

We were heartened that everyone not only supported the