Some 260 thousand people have benefited from reduced rate holiday opportunities thanks to the Erzsébet programme since it was launched two years ago, programme spokesperson Anna Nagy told a press conference on Thursday.

The spokesperson informed the public that almost half of the people involved in the programme were children. Approximately two thousand children from neighbouring countries have benefited from the programme and about 60 different types of camp have been organised for children. At the Zánka holiday resort at Lake Balaton, renovations and improvements totalling HUF 900 million were performed to ensure even better circumstances for children.

In addition to camps and excursions, several other initiatives have been launched under the programme, including study trips to Belgrade and Brussels or watching the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix practice session at Hungaroring.

This summer, reduced rate vacation opportunities were also extended to disabled people, of whom 5600 were given the chance to attend special holiday camps. This year's novelties also include the new Talentum programme, which helped the further development of about a hundred talented young people in such fields as the media, the arts and sports.
The annual budget for the programme is HUF 3 billion, which is derived from the distribution of Erzsébet vouchers that may be given to employees as a non-cash benefit over and above their basic salary. As such, it does not represent an additional burden on the Hungarian state budget.

The programme caters for all age groups; the youngest participant in the programme was barely a few days old, while the oldest was 104. This year, the programme helped a total of 145 thousand people, including 83 thousand children of whom 50 thousand attended Erzsébet Holiday Camps.

(Ministry of Public Administration and Justice)