Budapest Zoo entry fee to drop in '08

The Budapest Zoo has pledged to cut entry prices next year in order to attract more visitors, the Zoo's director, Miklós Persányi who is the former minister of the environment, told hirado.hu. Currently a day ticket costs Ft 1,700 (€6.60) for adults and Ft 1,200 (€4.70) for children, students and pensioners, while a family ticket for two adults and two children is Ft 5,000 (€19). All prices will be reduced next year, but a decision has not been made yet on the exact price reduction.

Persányi said that the Zoo experienced a drop of over 100,000 in visitor numbers compared to last year, which was in part caused by high entry prices. While the revenue of the institution increased, he thinks it is not enough to be profitable. He hopes to see more people coming to the Zoo in the next year. Dropping prices will likely mean more visitors and more revenue, he said.

The Zoo is currently undergoing reconstructions and other developments, set to be completed next year. The new attractions include new runs for gorillas and orangutans, a "Savanna run" - where giraffes, rhinos, ostriches and antelopes will be seen together - and new houses for elephants and giraffes, all of which will open in the spring.

For the Christmas season the Zoo has attractions geared for kids. Young visitors can use the playhouse for free and will receive presents when they come to the Zoo. They can also visit a nativity scene with live animals and life-size wooden statues of Mary, Joseph and the Three Kings.

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