Ving's purchase of Itaka agency poses threat for Orbis

Scandinavian Leisure Group, part of British Airtours company and the owner of Ving, has bought one of the biggest Polish travel agencies, Itaka, from Opole. The joint incomes of both companies will threaten the dominant position of Orbis, the country's largest travel agency at present. In 2000, Ving's income was zl. 110 million and Itaka's was zl. 100 million. As Orbis' 2000 income totalled zl. 227 million, only zl.17 million more than the combined total of Ving and Itaka, the newly merged company will now constitute the second largest travel agency in the country. Both companies will still operate under their existing names, with employment remaining unchanged. The new company aims to combine both Ving and Itaka's travel offers, using 44 sales offices countrywide. A Ving representative claims the takeover does not mean prices will go up. (Puls Biznesu p. 5) K.K.