Azerbaijan-Hungary tourism relations on rise

10 November 2016 14:01 (UTC+04:00)

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By Nigar Abbasova

Hungary’s three major travel companies are keen to enter the Azerbaijani market.

Hungarian Ambassador to Azerbaijan Imre Laszloczki told Trend that three leading travel companies, including 1000 ut, Robinson Tours, and Vedi Tour consider mutual revival of tourist relations between the two countries.

The Hungarian Economy Ministry and Culture and Tourism Ministry of Azerbaijan signed an agreement on cooperation in November 2014.

Moscow branch of the Hungarian Tourism Agency is currently responsible for tourism development with Azerbaijan. However, Hungarian companies showed interest to the Azerbaijani market after Hungarian Wizz Air launched operation of Baku-Budapest direct flights in March 2016.

The envoy said that the large presentation of the Vishegrad Four (V4) countries in Baku in April 2016 is among the factors that triggered the interest of Hungarian tourism organizations.

The V4 also known as Visegrad Group is an alliance of four Central European countries, including Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia.

The envoy mentioned that Azerbaijani tourism companies were earlier offering tours to Budapest and Lake Balaton region. However, combined tours to several countries, (such as Budapest-Vienna), and medical tours to Hungarian thermal water clinics are gaining popularity.

He mentioned that Azerbaijan is also turning into alluring destination for Hungarian travelers.

BLS International Services, a specialist provider for outsourcing of visa, passport and attestation services opened a visa centre in Baku in January 2016, on the initiative of the Hungarian embassy.

The decision to open the center was made by Hungary in order to strengthen relations between the two countries, establish direct relations between the citizens of Azerbaijan and Hungary, as well as develop tourist relations and meet the needs of the increased tourist and businessmen flow thanks to the direct flights of Wizz Air Company.

Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova