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| The closing day of the 2006 Sziget Festival. Photo: Máté Nándorfi (MTI) |
In spite of the expectations that this year's Sziget Festival will attract even more people, the event's programme has not been designed to boost attendance, festival organiser Károly Gerendai told reporters on Monday. The Sziget Festival already enjoys a high profile in terms of its visitor numbers, so the aim at this year's festival has been "rather higher quality events, than more events."
More Comforts for Island Goers
As in earlier years, better infrastructure will serve the comfort of "island goers". There will be more toilets and more showers, and aluminium walkways will cover more of the paths on the island, Gerendai said. In spite of this, the recent unseasonably dry weather in Hungary will still create a lot of dust, he added.
For the peace of those citizens of Budapest who aren't enjoying concerts on the island, more sound-reducing barriers have been erected this year, Gerendai said.
He said that the festival's organisers had always taken the issue of trash seriously, removing a combined 10,000 cubic metres of refuse from the island over the past several years. Just last week, some 160 cubic metres of refuse was taken off the island with the help of the municipality, he said.
Musical Acts Festival's Biggest Cost
Ticket sales will cover 75pc of the festival's budget this year, with sponsors accounting for 20pc and concession sales 5pc, according to festival spokesman Csaba Marinka.
The biggest single expense for the festival is its line-up of musical acts, which will cost HUF 760m. Other events will cost HUF 415m. The Sziget Festival's technical costs will come close to HUF 600m, advertising costs in Hungary and abroad will reach HUF 210m and set-up, security and travel costs are expected to exceed HUF 500m.
The cost of the festival's "zero" day - Tuesday - is not included in these expenditures, Marinka added.
Gerendai noted that the festival would operate without any state subsidies this year. Last year state support accounted for 4pc of the festival budget.
Special Discounts; More Trains and Buses
A number of museums in Budapest will offer festival goers special discounts. Visitors who show their festival pass at the Museum of Fine Arts, the Ludwig Museum, the Museum of Applied Arts and the Hungarian National Museum will pay just half of the normal admission. Festival goers who show their armbands at the nearby Acquincum Museum will pay just HUF 300 for admission.
Festival goers are urged to use public transportation to get to and from the island. The Budapest Public Transportation Company (BKV) will run more frequent trains and buses to the site, and a ferry will also travel to the island from Batthyány tér in Buda and Jászai Mari tér in Pest.
The highlight of Day 0 of the Sziget Festival will be a concert by the great Hungarian rock band LGT.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
