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Maiden charter to Hungary to take off from Moscow. And not just one

21:52, 18 февраля 2013

This spring, as many as two direct charter flights are to be launched to Hungary's famous thermal health resort Heviz on a regular basis. Among the flights' charterers are Russian tour operator Vedi Tour Group and Hungarian company Robinzon Tours; the service will be operated by Yakutia Airlines. There is far fewer information on the second carrier. For all we know, the other charter is consolidated by De Vizu Company. However, the novelty of the season has been assessed quite warily by other market players interviewed by RATA-news. For the time being, they don't judge Hungarian resorts to be of that great demand with Russian mass-market customers.

"Our weekly service from Moscow to Sarmellek will take off on April 14 on a Boeing-737 aircraft with 132 seats", announced the Director General of Vedi Tour Group Ms. Irina Fedina. For those seeking leisure and treatment at Hungary's resorts, she adds, the new flight will make life much easier by cutting down the cost and duration of travel.

As of today, Russian tourists have to reach the desired resorts via Budapest, Vienna or Bratislava. In this case, an average hotel transfer takes 2.5 hours. While the Heviz-Balaton Airport, Ms. Fedina goes on, is located literally in the swim – just 14 km away from the famous Heviz; 22 and 43 km from thermal resorts Zalakaros and Tapolca respectively. The furthermost spas, namely Sarvar and Bukfurdo, lie 80 and 100 km from Sarmellek Airport. Among other advantages, the terminal provides an opportunity to get to health resorts of near-by Austria and Slovenia in up to two hours.

To implement these ambitious plans, the tour operator hopes for support from Russians, who, Ms. Irina Fedina claims, are taking more and more interest in medical programs. To illustrate this statement, she refers to global statistics that shows a 30-percent growth of the demand for health-oriented travel itineraries in 2012. "We are ready to offer one- and two-week packages, as well as tours combining treatment with a city break in Vienna", Mrs. Fedina concludes.

It should be noted that Russian tour operators have been longing for turning Heviz into a mass destination capable of competing with Carlsbad of the Czech Republic. Two years ago a possibility of launching a regular charter flight to Heviz was looked into by Russian tour operators Jet Travel and VSK Tour. However, explains Jet Travel's Deputy Director Mr. Maxim Pristavko, the idea had to be abandoned: "Even though there was substantive support from the spa resort's authorities at the time, we arrived at conclusion that the destination hadn't yet grown as high as to have its own charter".

Director General of Pannon-tour Company Mr. Yuri Rogov is sure that Hungary is badly missing a low-cost air carrier today. He reminds that after the bankruptcy of Malev Hungarian Airlines in the beginning of 2012, Aeroflot has become an actual monopolist on the destination. As a result, the expert says, Hungary, mainly its sightseeing sector, has lost some 10-15% of the tourist flow. "Aeroflot's fares to Budapest are quite pricey – around €350 return; while Hungarian healthcare rates are rather attractive to Russians. A good many of them even choose Hungary for more serious medical intervention", Mr. Rogov continues, adding that even if the charter is to be filled, it's going to take a lot of effort. Those heading abroad for medical treatment don't always want to abridge their freedom with strict schedule.

In the eyes of the Head of DVM-tour Mr. Vladislav Salatov, the Heviz charter could only be filled up during the peak season in April-May. "The thing is that the resort's hotel base is quite limited and not all hoteliers wish to completely abandon themselves to the Russian market", he points out. At that, Mr. Salatov sees the presence of another charter as quite a threat to healthy competition on the destination.

Deputy Director of Sales at De Vizu Company Ms. Natalia Khomchenko reveals that their charter flight is already on sale. The first of weekly services is also scheduled to depart for Hungary on April 14 and to continue commuting up until the end of this year. Before the month is out, a special offer is in place for these tours. A one-week package to Heviz goes for as little as €379 per person including the airfare. Ms. Khomchenko refused to disclose the carrier's name having mentioned that negotiations are still underway.

In fact, official statistical figures for 2012 bear evidence of the increase in the number of arrivals to Hungary from Russia. As of today, Russian tourists are second in terms of accommodation and first in terms of the growth rate of the number of overnights at the country's balneo hotels. Last year, Russians spent 201 thousand overnights in Hungary, which is 16% more compared to 2011. Budapest remains the most popular destination. Russian tourists stayed there for almost 332 thousand nights, having added 23% to the 2011's figures.

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