Trnava Regional Tourism Board in Slovakia has chosen Dubai and the Gulf Countries as the Location for its first-ever international promotions office.

The Trnava Region will promote itself from Dubai throughout the Gulf States of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as the preferred European destination for Middle Eastern guests to visit for enhanced wellness, health, beauty and healing in 2023.

Agata Mikulova, Executive Director at Trnava Regional Tourism Board, said: “The Middle East outbound tourism market has been studied and identified as a visitor market of great potential for the tourism industry of the Trnava region. Travellers from the Gulf countries are known to be one of the best in the world for wellness and medical tourism as they tend to stay for extended periods, travel with immediate and extended families, and spend much of their stay also touring and exploring the surrounding cities and communities.

“Trnava Region is the perfect answer for travellers seeking such destinations, as we are home to some of the leading luxury wellness, medical, healing and natural spa hotels and resorts in Central Europe, with so many castles, medieval cities and towns and adventures to experience to keep even the most avid explorer and tourist fully occupied with authentic experiences.”

Mikulova added: “Trnava region may not yet be so well known within the Middle East, however our key industry players are ready to immediately accept Middle Eastern guests with culturally-aware hospitality, dietary options and even Arabic language services that would be appreciated by our guests.

“In order to expand awareness of our offerings and attractions and to develop travel agent and consumer engagement and demand, we have appointed Aviareps, the world’s leading destination marketing and promotion company, to run our first-ever representative office in the Middle East. With their travel industry, media and digital networks and expertise, we are confident they will position Trnava Region in order to meet our objectives and goals.”

Glenn Johnston, Vice President Middle East and Global Public Affairs, Aviareps, said: “Trnava region is a hidden gem and we are extremely honoured and proud to partner with the Trnava Regional Tourism Board in establishing their first international representative office, here in the Middle East.”

Johnston added: “Trnava’s wellness, health and medical spas offer excellence both in treatment and comfort. The region is dotted with natural wonders, castles, medieval cities and towns and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, making for excellent day trips that offer a luxury of personal attention and private exploration, as they are not overrun with tourists.

“Additionally, outbound travel for wellness and cultural tourism is shaping up fast in the Middle East as a growing trend, and Trnava Region has great scope and appeal to entice such travellers, not only as a standalone destination, but also as an ideal itinerary inclusion to those visiting the neighbouring capital cities of Bratislava, Vienna and Budapest, all lying on the Danube River and within a couple of hours drive from Trnava.”

Influencer curated holiday packages
Promotions for Trnava Region have started immediately with a group of Emirati, Bahrani and UAE expat influencers hosted to the region in December 2022 to experience first-hand the exceptional spa and wellness facilities of the region, including visits to key tourist towns and villages, Christmas markets, winter wonderland natural settings and even high-speed adrenaline experiences at the Slovakia Ring, one of the longest motorway circuits in Europe.

As a unique influencer collaboration initiative led by Aviareps and its specialized influencer marketing company, Swayfluence, each of the influencers will work with Trnava travel partners and leading UAE travel agencies to create individually branded and curated Trnava Region travel packages that will be made available for their followers to join them on a group travel experience back to Trnava.

Other key activities planned for the promotion of Trnava region in the Gulf include: specialized webinars for Middle East travel agents on how to create Trnava holiday packages and itineraries; tourism business development and seminar missions by Trnava tourism stakeholders to the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain; participation at the 2023 Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, the Middle East’s largest tourism exhibition; and a series of social media and digital marketing campaigns to be held throughout the year. – TradeArabia News Service