Danube Press Service June 2010
created at 19.04.2010
Ladies and Gentlemen, dear friends of the Danube!
There are many news in the DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION and we take the opportunity of communicating this in our brandnew Danube Press Service for the month of June. By the end of July you will receive our next press release in the usual way again.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us; we will be more than happy to assist you in any questions regarding the Danube river – from its tiny origin to the mouth of the river.
Thank you for the kind attention you give to this information and I remain with summer greetings
Bettina Schuckert
40 years DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION
These days the DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION is celebrating its 40 years anniversary. Over 100 international guests attended the celebrations which took place in the magnificent Palais Daun-Kinsky in Vienna. Dr. Erhard Busek who witnessed the development of the Danube region, gave an interesting and very much acclaimed speech. From the days of the iron curtain up to the new strategy of the European Union for the Danube region, DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION was and is a competent partner for all questions regarding the river and its river banks.
New generation in the DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION
After 26 years working as a Secretary General in the Commission, Mrs. Ursula Deutsch retired recently, followed by Mrs. Bettina Schuckert who took over with June 1st. Also in future, the DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION will continue to work for the Danube region and offer continuity and friendship to its partners. Regarding the EU strategy for the Danube region it is more than necessary to argue with joined efforts and with one strong vote.
New office address for the DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION
Only a few days back, the DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION moved to its new premises. Even the e-mail addresses have been changed. Within the next weeks, new phone numbers will operate. Our motto: cast off and full steam ahead! DIE DONAU is ready to be at the disposal of all members and will show the utmost effort.
New homepage of the DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION
By mid-may the facelift of www.danube-river.org was presented. New items make the site more dynamic and attractive. The new look gives a modern and friendly impression. Wonderful photos and useful information invite visitors to explore this region. The Danube has a lot to offer.
40 years of DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION
On May 22, 1970 DIE DONAU – DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION was founded in Vienna by the representatives of the eight adjoining countries, like Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Romania, Bulgaria and the Soviet Union.
Undeterred by barbed wire and checkpoints the founders of the DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION showed courage and foresight in addition to an earnest belief in a common future for the region’s tourism. Despite of many challenges in the past 40 years (i.e. iron curtain, Balkan conflicts) the partners succeeded to continually keeping “their Danube” on the move and steer into safe waters. Membership, solidarity, community thinking and team spirit contributed to a solid basis, necessary for future and long-lasting cooperation, as well as for the development of the Danube as a tourist destination.
Fifteen years ago, DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION was established as a registered association according to Austrian law. This status offered the possibility of engaging in national and international partnership, for example with the working group Donauländer, EU Corridor VII, International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, Road of Emperors and Kings and the Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe. Since 1998 the DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION also engaged in marketing the Main-Danube Canal, as well as the Tisza/Sava region. The focus of activities of DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION lies in promoting the river and around 70 km river banks north- and southwards as a tourist destination. Already the founders considered the Danube as a connecting link and started to position the region as a tourist attraction. The ambition was and still is tourist promotion of the region, to create new jobs and to bring prosperity to the various places along the river.
In the year 2004 ninety cruise ships, carrying over 150.000 passengers used the Danube as their destination. By 2009 these numbers jumped to 110 vessels and over 225.00 guests. And the upward trend still continues. After years of absence American tourists are seen back on board.
In the previous years it was possible to extend the cruise season to 240 days per year. And now it is also possible to use the bicycle track nearly up to the Delta. “Hikeable Danube” is another very modern trend which was promoted and implemented at a very early stage. City trips and culture events are booming sectors nowadays and emphasis will be put to offers concerning land excursions which mean a combination of cruise and land programmes.
For the benefit of its members and partners DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION keeps enlarging its sphere of action through networking and lobbying. It is understood to be an established and well founded platform for all questions concerning the Danube. To reach the high goals several tools are employed: marketing, communication, activities to promote the region’s image and lobbying.
The first Danube Shipping Conference took place in 1997, attracting 10 participants; 2009 already 145 participants, representatives of shipping companies, cruise operators and tourist experts exchanged their views and experiences. The Danube Cycling and Hiking Conference was held for the first time in 2007, bringing 20 experts together, but 2009 the number had grown to 40 participants. The Danube Salon (since 2007 within the actb event) is a specialized tourist trade fair which was originally established in 1982 under the name of Danube Travel Mart.
The DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION currently has members of the following national tourist boards: of Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia and Romania. Continuous negotiations are under way to extend membership to all states situated along the Danube river.
Talking about the future, Prof. G. Skoff, President of the DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION, underlines, that “through innovation it should be possible to convey old history and antique treasures, security must be considered a number one target, tourists should be longing for to visit this region. This must be practised within the scope of EU strategies, a new identity should be given to the whole region and thus the Danube will meet, also in future, the spirit of time.”
The DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION today is a well established player in the region, it is a world known contact point for people interested in the Danube region and an integral part of the European tourist scene.
Change in generation at the DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION
After 26 years full of fascinating and interesting work as Secretary General of the DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION, Mrs. Ursula Deutsch has finally decided to retire and left her desk by the end of June. How would the DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION have developed without her? Her enthusiasm and ever lasting effort was necessary for the rising success. Mrs. Deutsch significantly contributed a lot so that the working group could flourish and continue. We wish her all the best for the future with plenty of time for leisure.
With the entry date June 1st Mrs. Bettina Schuckert followed Mrs. Deutsch. Mrs. Schuckert is 37 years old and a graduate of the Viennese Tourism Academy Modul. She gained first professional experiences in the hotel business (ANA Grand Hotel, Vienna) and after numerous other occupations is now back in the tourist business. In her last position at the National Park Management Donau-Auen she was responsible for press release and public relation. The focus of her other employments was marketing and promotion.
Together with her family Mrs. Schuckert lives in Vienna, overlooking the Danube river and from her previous activity she took along a lot of motivation for the river: “I sincerely look forward to my new job and I am happy that after so many years I came back to tourism. That it happened in context with the Danube region, which has attracted me ever since, is sheer luck and a wonderful extra token.”
Mrs. Schuckert will continue the work of the DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION in the usual way and with the usual quality. The slogan “fascination of a river” will also be used in future and emphasized by events throughout the year, according to seasons. In the coming years accent will be put to new markets like Japan, America and Scandinavia.
Very soon a conference on time-tables will be held. Railway, busses and shipping companies should operate together, should complement one another in an ideal way and should offer attractive rates and services (i.e. cycle transport) so that competition is generated in this field. Moreover, preparations for the study of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation are finalized. Target is an increase of passenger volume on the Danube River and the Black Sea.
At the beginning of December the 14th Shipping Conference will be held in Budapest, together with the 4th Cycle and Hiking meeting. Invitations will shortly be sent out.
There is a lot to do. As usual, the DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION goes with full speed ahead.
New office premises for DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION
Since few days DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION has moved to new office premises. Please note the new address:
DIE DONAU – Danube Tourist Commission
Wiedner Hauptstraße 120-124/4. OG
1050 Vienna
Austria
The new telephone mainline will be set up in a few days. Right now please contact us on the following number: +43 650 728 33 73
Our new e-mail addresses are:
Prof. Gerhard Skoff: g.skoff@danube-river.org
Bettina Schuckert: b.schuckert@danube-river.org
Theres Rinner: office@danube-river.org
New website DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION (575 characters)
Since mid-may DANUBE TOURIST COMMISSION has a new web platform with modern design. The newly revised website enables simple access to updated information around the Danube river. Thus the homepage has a more vibrant and attractive appearance.With immediate effect new topics, press releases, articles and information about the Danube region are ready for download.Besides the established Danube-Press-Service regular public newsletters are planned.Have a look and see for yourself: www.danube-river.org We gladly accept suggestions and feedback in order to optimize our offer.
As per the new legal situation our press-infos can only be sent electronically with the approval of the addressee. If you do not want unsolicited e-mails please inform us as soon as possible: office@danube-river.org. Your address will be immediately removed from the distribution list.
June 2010. Responsible for editing and content: Bettina Schuckert
DIE DONAU – Danube Tourist Commission, Wiedner Hauptstraße 120-124/4. OG, A-1050 Wien,
Tel. +43 650 728 33 73, e-mail: office@danube-river.org
www.danube-river.org, www.danubesalesmanual.com
