Happy Tour, the largest tourism group in Romania, recorded EUR 60 million in sales last year. The revenues come exclusively from tourism related activities, according to a group statement. The company saw growth on the holiday and city break segments.

“In 2013 we invested in technology and online marketing and we tried a different approach in our activities. The results of last year’s actions will be visible in the results for 2014,” Javier Garcia del Valle, Happy Tour Group CEO said.

In 2013, the leisure segment grew by 12 percent, in average, due to new holiday destinations such as Madeira, Bodrum and Chania in Crete. The city break segment was up 8 percent, with Prague, Paris, Barcelona, London and Madrid among the most popular destinations.

The airplane ticket sales also increased compared to 2012 and this trend is expected to continue in 2014. External routes represent 85 percent of total plane tickets sold. “Analyzing the purpose of the journeys taken in 2013, we have a 45 to 55 percent ratio for holidays versus business trips,” Javier Garcia del Valle said. He also mentioned that low cost ticket sales were up 10 percent, in volume, compared to 2012.

Happy Tour Group operates in Romania through the Happy Tour and Travel House travel agencies, Prestige Tours tour operator and Paravion online plane ticket reservations portal. The group has 150 employees of its own and works with 90 affiliate agencies in Romania.

The group is controlled by private equity group GED Capital.

Andrei Chirileasa, andrei@romania-insider.com