The event will take place in Prague on 2 March 2027 and is being developed by ETOA and New Deal Europe in partnership with Discover Central Europe. The programme will feature a full day of pre-scheduled meetings, alongside a welcome reception and familiarisation trips for international buyers.
Central Europe Marketplace has been created as a dedicated commercial platform for the region, bringing together the four neighbouring destinations in a single B2B event. The marketplace will present tourism products and enable international buyers to establish relationships with suppliers across Central Europe.
Tom Jenkins, CEO at ETOA, said: “Tourism flourishes when businesses can build trusted relationships. Central Europe offers an extraordinary combination of heritage, culture and contemporary experiences, and demand for the region continues to grow. Our role is to make it easier for buyers and suppliers to meet, understand each other’s needs and create products that travellers will value. Central Europe Marketplace is designed to do exactly that, and we’re delighted to be launching it with New Deal Europe and our destination partners to make it a success.”
Tine Murn, CEO at New Deal Europe, said: “New Deal Europe has long been the voice of South East Europe in global tourism, particularly across the English-speaking markets. We are excited to bring our knowledge and expertise to the Central European countries as well. This new B2B marketplace, which we are launching together with ETOA and the V4 countries, will help create a much-needed shift in interest towards Central and Eastern Europe. I am confident it will become an important platform for the region and a great success.”
The inaugural edition will showcase tourism experiences across Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, including historic cities, cultural routes, nature, gastronomy and year-round touring opportunities.
Tereza Hofmanová, Director of the Czech Tourism Authority – Czech Tourism, said: “Hosting the inaugural Central Europe Marketplace in Prague underlines Czechia’s role as a natural hub in the heart of Central Europe. It is a great opportunity to showcase the region to international partners and introduce them to destinations and experiences they can in turn recommend to their clients. I believe this new event will create new business opportunities for destinations, hotels and tourism partners throughout the Central European region, while helping to attract more international visitors to this part of Europe.”
Botond Boros, CEO, Visit Hungary, said: “Central Europe has so much to offer, even more when looked at beyond individual borders, and Hungary is proud to be part of this growing cooperation. We are delighted that our partnership is moving to a new level, opening up new opportunities to connect international travel buyers with the experiences and businesses of our region. We are excited about the joint programmes ahead and look forward to welcoming more visitors to the region and inspiring them to discover all that Central Europe has to offer.”
Magdalena Krucz, CEO of the Polish Tourism Organisation, said: “Poland. More than you expected” – the slogan we use to promote our country – can, on this occasion, take on a broader meaning for the entire region. Central Europe is also much more than you can expect, and the upcoming event will be a great opportunity to demonstrate this. I’m convinced that by joining forces, we can reach a significantly larger number of travellers from around the world with our message and offer, including the partners of the European Tourism Association, who are extremely important to our industry. What is particularly important is that we will be meeting with group tour organisers, a segment that provides a solid foundation for the stable development of tourism. I believe that in Prague, we will inspire them to discover and explore our part of Europe.”
Matej Fekete, CEO of Slovakia Travel, said: “We consider the Central Europe Marketplace event to be an important step towards strengthening Central Europe’s position on the global tourism map. International cooperation is currently one of the most effective tools for developing inbound tourism. By presenting our countries together, we can appeal to long-haul markets with a more attractive and comprehensive offer that will benefit all partners across the region.”
Tags: Tereza Hofmanová, Czech Tourism Authority – Czech Tourism Matej Fekete, Slovakia Travel Tom Jenkins, ETOA Magdalena Krucz, Polish Tourism Organisation Botond Boros, Visit Hungary Tine Murn, New Deal Europe
