Led by tourist guide Zhao Huairu, 17 Chinese tourists set out
from Beijing Tuesday to Hungary. They will spend their last day of
China's goat year on board and welcome the new monkey year in
central Europe.
This is the first tourist group after Hungary gained the
authorized destination status (ADS) on November 1, 2003.
Organized by the China Travel International (CTI), the group
will arrive in Budapest via Amsterdam. Due to the lack of direct
flights from Beijing to Budapest, the cost of air tickets occupied
half of the trip fee of around 16,500 yuan (some US$2,000), said
Guo Yimei, an official with CTI.
Although the cost is quite expensive, according to experts, many
consumers still hoped to register for the trip. This indicated
China's outbound tourism market was maturing.
The launching of the first group marked the new period of
bilateral tourism exchanges, said Hungarian ambassador to China
Mihaly Bayer.
Lying in the heart of Europe, the nation is divided by the blue
Danube river. The enchanting natural landscape and a prolonged
history with rich culture enabled Hungary to become a holiday venue
in Europe, said Robert Vertes, a Hungarian tourism official.
"Tourism exchanges between two nations should be two-way," said
Gu Xiaoyuan, deputy director of the Beijing Tourism Bureau. "We
welcome Hungarian tourists to China also. Next month, we will host
a Hungarian tourist delegation to Beijing," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency January 21, 2004)