The event, organised by the Košice-Turizmus institution, presented the eastern-Slovak metropolis as an attractive destination, especially meant for people who enjoy atypical sites.
“It was mostly young people looking for something new and yet not discovered,” Dominik Plavka, one of the Slovak exhibitors at ECB 2015, told the TASR newswire. “Organisers themselves recommended Košice to journalists as a city worth visiting what made us, organisers, naturally very pleased.” The journalists and bloggers were surprised by what can be seen and experienced in Košice and vicinity, he added.
Košice captured with its original cultural infrastructure of the European Capital of Culture 2013 (ECOC) project. “The best received idea was to use the old and unused objects which were transformed into new culture and creativity centres, like the former 19th century military barracks Kasárne/Kulturpark, or the complex of former city pool, now serving as the first Slovak Kunsthalle /Hall of Arts,” exhibitor Zuzana Fabianová said.
Compared with other fairs and exhibitions, participants were mostly interested in the experiences and the vicinity of Košice. She said that many were surprised by the fact that within two hours of Košice, many UNESCO heritage sites can be visited, as well as numerous natural sites. They also praised the compact historical square and many cultural events taking place annually in the city.
“Of the events, Gurmán Fest enchanted the best, with its original concept and expression, resembling a barbecue in a park for 10,000 people, and its unique atmosphere,” Fabianová added.
European City Breaks is meant mainly for Dutch journalists specialising in tourism, and bloggers or video-journalists, organised since 2010.
