1. International Danube Tourism Conference in Budapest, 30.11. bis 3.12.2010

A successful season regarding the Danube Tourism comes to an end

The Danube Tourist Commission in co-operation with the Hungarian National Tourist Office hosted the fourteenth annual Danube Shipping Conference and the fourth Danube Biking and Hiking Conference in Budapest, from November 30 until December 3. More than 200 international Danube tourism experts came to the event and spent the remains of the successful season.

On the occasion of the official opening, the president of the Tourist Commission, Prof. Gerhard Skoff announced a change the conferences’ names: „The established Danube Shipping Conference and Danube Hiking and Biking Conference will be merged into one event and renamed as 1st International Danube Tourism Conference. The subject of tourism cannot be divided. One is only successful when networks can be established. Therefore this conference should function as a platform for the entire tourism along the Danube, whether ashore, on water, by bike or by foot, whether in terms of culture, cuisine or adventure. Due to this variety and flexibility, the International Danube Tourism Conference will support and further develop tourism along the Danube“.

The Hungarian hosts convinced more than 200 international participants from the Danube countries by offering excellent organisation and a cordial hospitality on spot.

The president of the International Tourist Commission DIE DONAU Prof. Gerhard Skoff and the organiser of this event Secretary General of DIE DONAU Bettina Schuckert, are proud and delighted to present the high number of exclusive presentations about up to date topics such as the EU Danube Strategy, recycling, the water quality of the Danube, the EU Passenger rights on river cruises, Schengen and custom controls, as well as many ashore topics such as the presentations of the Liszt year 2011 in Hungary, the Danube city Bratislava and new developments regarding the beautiful Wachau region in Austria.

Particularly interesting were presentations about the additional offers for river cruise travellers, for example guided city tours by bike in Budapest or the combination of river cruises and wellness or the further development of the Danube cycling route (Euro Velo 6) and the strong focus of Danube hiking trails in Germany, Austria and Romania.
All those presentations provided useful information and inputs for developers of cruise ship journeys for creating future programs.

 With 40 top class experts, the 4th Hiking and Biking Conference was also very well visited.

After a successful season in 2010, nearly all participants are optimistic regarding the new year, not only because of the good booking situation.

 Since 2004 the Danube Shipping Conference—the premiere event for international river cruise tourism on the Danube—has provided a fitting occasion to honour those who have rendered extraordinary service to the Danube and the Danube Tourist Commission.

This year Prof. Skoff awarded the prestigious Pro Danubio prize to Dr. Eugen Scherer who is in charge of the Cultur & Science Department in the working group of the Danube countries (ARGE Donauländer) and Katalin Pintér, managing director of Gerbeaud in Budapest.

For further information please contact:
DIE DONAU – Danube Tourist Commission
Bettina Schuckert
Wiedner Hauptstraße 120-124/ 4. OG
1050 Vienna, Austria
Tel.: +43/650/ 728 33 73
b.schuckert@danube-river.org