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