Photo taken on Feb. 21, 2019 shows the Travel Expo at Budapest Fair Center in Budapest, Hungary. The Travel Expo opened here on Thursday with the slogan "It's an active weekend" and will last until Feb. 24. (Xinhua/Attila Volgyi)

Travel Expo, Hungary's No. 1 tourism fair, opened its doors here on Thursday with 300 exhibitors from 30 countries.

Gabor Ganczer, CEO of main organizer Hungexpo Inc., said at the opening ceremony that "The industry closed another successful year last year. Tourism is one of the driving sectors of the robust Hungarian economy: it produces close to 10 percent of Hungary's GDP."

The guest of honor at the Expo this year is Algeria. "The largest country on the African continent, Algeria has a diverse landscape and lots to offer travelers. The journey from Europe is only a short one, but the difference between the two continents is immediately noticeable and provides a sense of adventure and intrigue for tourists. Algeria has many charming cities with winding streets and stunning architecture, a Mediterranean coast, lush landscapes and Roman ruins," said Ganczer.

Alexandra Szalay-Bobrovnicky, deputy mayor of Budapest, emphasized that the exhibition, which has been organized for 42 years, was the biggest gathering of the tourism sector. "Every year, 30-35 thousand people visit the exhibition," she noted.

Held on Feb. 21-24, Travel Expo focuses on fun experience, establishing personal connections and providing the widest possible range of information for visitors, said the deputy mayor.

Participants receive information on destinations, holiday resorts, accommodation, and meet face-to-face with travel experts. Designed to inspire travel, the event also offers entertainment programs, such as a boat show, a playground, a caravan salon and stage shows.