40th Anniversary of the Association of Hungarian

Travel Agents and Tour Operators

HISTORY

1974 – founded by 7 state-governed travel agencies

1990 – after the political changes in Hungary 3000 agencies appeared on the market– chaotic situation

1992 – the first regulations in tourism came into force – strict working conditions

↓Number of travel agencies decreased to 1100 (today the number of

registered travel agencies is about the same)

Present – about 180-190 billion HUF/year is the turnover of the registered travel agencies in Hungary, 80-85 % handled by members of the Association.

Permanent lobby activity

• proposals for Package Travel Directives• proposals for the new Tourism Law• proposals for Tourism Strategy in Hungary• initiating modifications of tax and accounting laws• lobby for a new Hungarian Airways company• cooperation with the Budapest Spring Festival and the

Touristic Office • permanent fight against illegal tourism activities• coopertion with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs • initiating to set up a working group for the problems to be

solved in Budapest Tourism

Services for members free of charge

• consultations about taxation matters• consultations about legal matters• conferences at the Budapest Tourism Fair• general meetings twice a year, trainings, marketing and

communication presentations • members’ data published in the annual catalogue of the

Association and on the website• regular meetings with suppliers for incoming offices• study tours for outgoing offices

The value of the above services is higher than the contribution feeof the membership at the Association

Cooperations

Aim of the cooperation agreements are to achieve best conditions at suppliers, at other organizations or at authorities like:

• Hungarian Tourism Office• MISZ – Association of Hungarian Travel Guides• MARESZ – Association of the Hungarian Convention

Organizers• NIT Hungary –an Integrated Constitution of the Federation of

International Private Transporters • TMSZ – Associaton of HungarianTourism Managers• VIMOSZ – Association of Touristic and Hotel Trade Employers • Code of Conduct with the Association of the Hungarian Hotels• Hungexpo – Exhibition Organising Company• Palace of Arts, Liszt Music Academy, Gödöllő Royal Pallace,eg.• QBE Insurance

Communication

• press conferences• many interviews – radio, TV, etc.• campaign – 7 benefits why to travel with professional travel

agencies• road-shows all over the country (Győr, Miskolc, Szombathely,

Szeged)• representing the Association and its members with an own

stand at the Tourism Exhibitions in Budapest, Miskolc, Pécs • new MUISZ website with important informations only for

members• newsletters, informations, invitations only for members

International relations

• membership at European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Association – ECTAA

• membership at German Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Association – DRV

• membership at Croatia Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Association- UHPA

• membership at International Coach Tourism Federation - RDA

Through the lobby activity of our Association the body represents the interest not only for its members but for every company working in tourism.

MUISZ is the strategy partner of the Hungarian Tourism Department of the Ministry of

National Economy

Challenge

How to be a member

The Association has ordinary and extraordinary members.Ordinary members are travel agencies and tour operators, among them we can find Hungarian representatives of major international coorporations as well as 2-3 person small family-run companies. Extraordinary members are enterprises connected to travel trade.

(insurance companies, hotel chains, tourist boards)

To apply for membership an application form has to be submitted to the Board of the Association together with the necessary

licenses of the Hungarian Licensing Office and a recommendation of 2 members of MUISZ.

Hungarian tourists possibly choose a member of us when travelling. MUISZ membership means quality, relaibility and

professionalism.

Organization of MUISZ

• President• Vice-presidents • Secretary general• Committee chairs of the professional committees: Domestic and Incoming Committee Tour Operator Committee Travel Agency Committee Transport Committee Convention and Event Organization Committee Great Plain and North Hungary Committee Budapest and Central Hungary Committee Transdanubia Committee

• Committee chairs of the functional committees:

Ethical and Legal Committee

Economic Committee

Communications Committee

International Relations Committee

Secretary of the Association:

• 2 employees are working at the Secretay doing administration work like contact with members,with Ministries, Authorities, forein correspondence, etc.

• Their work is controlled by the President of the Association