A RECORD number of Irish people visited Hungary last year - with an ever-increasing number of them coming
from Northern Ireland.
The increase in tourist traffic is attributed to the introduction of direct flights from Malev Hungarian
Airlines in 1999. More than 37,000 Irish people visited Hungary between January and September 2004, an increase of a third on
the same period of 2003 - and numbers are set to continue growing.
Said Erika Repassy, Director of the Hungarian National Tourist Office in Dublin, at Belfast Holidayworld:
"When we opened the office in Ireland in 2003 we were confident of growing visitor numbers, but the rapid
growth has exceeded even our ambitious expectations." Meanwhile a familiar face was back on the Hungary
stand at Holidayworld - this time representing Wellness Travel, promoting health and spa breaks in a
number of countries, including HungaryNora Gonda, formerly of the Hungarian NTO, was publicising three nights at the four-star Hunguest
Hotel Pelion including flights from Dublin, transfers and full use of the spa facility for EUR 399; and
three nights at the Danubius Thermal Hotel and Grand Hotel Margaret Island, a four-star superior property,
for EUR 450.