BUDAPEST-UTAZAS 2000.
BUDAPEST-UTAZAS 2000.
Space requirements for Hungarian company displays covered some 9,000 square feet, while 3,200 square feet were utilized by foreign enterprises. As at previous Utazas exhibitions an estimated 60 percent of the travel agencies and tour operators at Utazas 2000 concentrated promotion on destinations within Greece, with bookings being made at the show.
First day of the five-day event was reserved exclusively for the travel trade. Hall A of the Hungexpo Exhibition Center was reserved for international companies, outgoing agencies and country representations, and a second, the newly expended Hall B, for domestic tourism, concentrating on travel destinations in Hungary. There was a 30 percent growth over last year.
Greece remains the overwhelming top choice of holiday destination for Hungarians, with estimate that some 300,000 may avail themselves of a visit to Greece this year.
With restoration of coach and private car passages from Hungary through former Yugoslavia to Greece the total number of tourists is expected to increase dramatically.
There were two sizeable exhibitions from Greece at Utazas 2000, one of the HNTO and, the other, the region of central Macedonia.
Among the many agencies featuring Greece were Apollon Travel, Bella Tours, Beach Travel, Exotic Tours, Forgo Travel, Theo Tours, Great Tours, Personal Tours, Akropolis Tours, Nemeth Travel, Vivat Tours, Jorgos Travel, ITB Travel, Dia Zeus Travel, Helios Club Travel, Colossus Travel and Imperator Travel. Many offered discounts of between 10 and 20 percent for those buying tour packages during the show.
Held in conjunction with Utazas 2000 were the Budapest Boat Show, Sport and Leisure Fair, and the Hunting and Angling Show.
Foreign visitors to Utazas 2000 had an opportunity to avail themselves of entertainment during the Budapest Spring Festival, which was on at the same time. Such outstanding performances as the annual concerts of the Benko Dixieland Jazz Band and that of the unique 100 Gypsy Bandleaders were available along with a long catalog of opera, ballet and concerts. The Festival was begun 20 years ago to boost tourism in the spring while featuring emigre Hungarian and foreign artists.
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