Early history

The Yugoslavian carrier Aviogenex operated regular charters from the Manston (later Kent International Airport) to the then-popular beach resorts of Dalmatia in Yugoslavia on behalf of Yugotours from its formation in 1957, gaining ground in the 1970s as foreign holidays became increasingly popular, and even more so in the 1980s.

End

By the end of the 1980s, before the breakup of Yugoslavia, the country was the United Kingdom's second most popular overseas holiday destination behind Spain.^[3] During its heyday,^[when?] the tour operator sent close to 500,000^[1] holidaymakers a year to the countries of former Yugoslavia, namely Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro.

By the early 1990s as Yugoslavia's political framework came under strain, Yugotours faced fierce competition from then market leaders Thomson.^[2] By 1992, with Yugoslavia embroiled in inter-ethnic warfare, there were fears over the future of the brand, with fears of it being relegated to sub-brand status or dropped altogether.^[2] These fears were reaffirmed by Alison Gray, Yugotours marketing manager, who remarked that "It's a delicate balance. For those who link Yugotours to Yugoslavia negatively, it could be a turn-off." Into this vacuum Thomson, Lunn Poly and Owners Abroad stepped in left by the collapse of the International Leisure Group with it brands like Club 18-30, Global, Intasun.^[2]

However, the brand survived until 2007, providing holidays to the newly independent former Yugoslav republics, mostly Croatia. From 2007, it was finally absorbed into the Med-Choice brand, covering the whole Mediterranean area.^[2]