The coordinated tourism cooperation of the four countries of the Visegrád Group (V4) has operated successfully for fifteen years, the Minister of State for Cultural and Academic Diplomacy at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said on Tuesday in Gödöllő.

István Íjgyártó highlighted that the joint promotions of the V4 countries outside Europe and on overseas markets multiply the opportunities of the four countries as tourists coming from more remote parts of the world typically go on tours involving several countries, and they are more inclined to visit the Central European region as a whole than individual countries.

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This year Hungary – as the country holding the presidency of the Visegrád cooperation – hosted the annual summit of tourism leaders.

Mr Íjgyártó also pointed out that travel motivations and customs keep changing, and with more disposable income new social groups are joining tourism which requires a flexible approach. He added that at the meeting they took account of these new challenges and opportunities. The Ministry of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they had reviewed the new directions, methods and tourism products with which the V4 can best respond to changing market needs.

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He added that they discussed how to explore the opportunities inherent in the increasing popularity of pilgrimage tourism, and agreed that appropriate tourism products must be developed for the second wave of Chinese tourists. According to Peter Durcek, State Secretary of the Slovak Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development, the common marketing and presentation policy is working well which proves that the V4 tourism cooperation is successful. David Koppitz, head of the Czech delegation said it is imperative to improve not only statistical percentages, but also the quality of tourism, and to develop by virtue of this cooperation a common fleet of solutions.

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Ewa Pawlak-Lewandowska, head of the Tourism Division of the Polish Ministry of Sports and Tourism described the exchange with her V4 colleagues as useful. The division head drew attention to the fact that 2018 is especially important for Poland as it is celebrating the 100th anniversary of regaining its independence.

(MTI)