TRAVEL 2009 Budapest 32nd International Tourism Exhibition

Hungary’s biggest tourism show, Central Europe’s leading tourism fair.

Special guest: Greece
Promising destination: Japan
Seeded inland topic: Cultural tourism

Representatives of almost 40 countries, Greek guests of honour, a considerable array of domestic exhibitors, special Japanese trips and representatives from the small regions of Europe await the public.

This year the region's most influential tourism fair opens its gates for the 32nd time. On this occasion, 800 companies will offer a rich selection of convenient trips, adventure tours, special destinations and regions that are ideal for families on a total exhibition area of about 16,000 square metres including the 1st European Leader Expo and other programmes being held at the same time.

In recent years tourism in winter has also grown, but for the most popular sectors of the industry this spring fair is still the trigger that attracts the attention of experts and prospective tourists alike.

Hungary in Pavilion G
Compared to the beginnings, domestic tourism has been built up to a large scale, which has played a major role in the success of the show throughout its history. A further rise in demand for holidays within Hungary is to be expected and the domestic firms cramming Pavilion G can bank on great interest. The highlighted domestic theme, in harmony with the Hungarian Tourist Office's campaign, is cultural tourism. Hungary has an abundance of places to make a "cultural pilgrimage" to. Many of these are still waiting to be discovered and the Travel Show offers great opportunities to do just this.

Guest of honour Greece
Foreign exhibitors will again be in the biggest pavilion. This year's guest of honour is Greece, which most unusually will build a Greek village at the show. There will be Greek theatre, Greek music and Greek dancing, as well as appetisers from their delightful Mediterranean cuisine. Hellas, highly popular among Hungarian tourists, will surprise visitors with very special offers.

Japan: the promising destination
Japan has prepared special events. At the ceremonial opening at their stand, a two-minute performance by Hungary's first ensemble of Japanese drummers will be followed by the "KAGAMIBIRAKI", that is to say the breaking of a cask of Sake with wooden hammers. In addition there will also be displays of Japanese arts that are much admired also in Europe such as origami and bonsai, and the traditions of tea drinking and making will naturally be presented too.

1st European LEADER EXPO
The 1st European LEADER EXPO - which is at the same time the third such Hungarian event - will be a meeting of villages. This year, as the guests of the small regions of Hungary, villages from 18 countries will bring their "hampers" for the Hungarian public to taste. 200 exhibitors will show at the Expo on 3,500 square metres in Pavilions D and F.

Trade events
Two conferences will be held for tourism experts during the show. Professional forums will discuss online marketing on 26 February and 2009 regulations for travel agencies on 27 February. The 4th Trend Publication Competition will be staged, organised by the trade paper Turizmus Trend.

Concessions, prize competitions, events - for children, too
In the hustle and bustle of the fair it's worth taking a detour to the stage for the exciting performances every day. Greek dancers, Japanese drummers and Hungarian regions will all show their best. And valuable trips will be drawn on stage every day at the www.gulliver.hu auction show (list of travels attached!).

During the TRAVEL Show most companies will be making concessionary offers. This is not just true for domestic holidays but also for foreign travel operators in the Fair Centre's biggest pavilion. For every entrance ticket there is a raffle ticket and the lucky visitor could even win an exclusive trip to Greece.
Children can test their skills on the forest cable obstacle course and mobile climbing wall, and in the play area, thanks to Challenge Forever Kft, while Juventus Radio is arranging child care at the Juventus Playhouse in the Eastern Forum.

Opening ceremony
The Show will be opened on 26 February at 10.30 am by István Gyenesei, Minister of Local Government. At the opening ceremony the Hungarian National Tourist Office's Quality Award will be presented to hotel managers who achieved success in last year's competition.

The organisers provide a 50% discount on return tickets for domestic MÁV rail and Volánbusz coach services. Special trains will run every hour from Budapest's Nyugati Railway Station to the Main Entrance (Kőbánya Teher Station) and back. The journey takes 10 minutes.
 

Between 26 February and 1 March several express trains will stop at Kőbánya Felső railway station. This is no surprise as the TRAVEL Show and the 1st European LEADER Expo being held concurrently with it are reason enough for the railway company MÁV-Start and HUNGEXPO to provide this convenient solution for visitors from around the country.
 

Date:
Trade day: 26 February 2009
Public days: 27 February - 1 March 2009
 
Opening hours:
26 February 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
27 February - 1 March 10 a.m. - 6 p.m
 
Construction period:
21-25 February 2009
 
Dismantling period:
2-4 March 2009
 
Venue:
HUNGEXPO Budapest Fair Center
H-1101 Budapest, Albertirsai út 10. (Expo tér 1.)
Pavilion A, G and D
 
Exhibitor's pass:
3000 HUF