Geysers at bargain prices.

Cheap travel to the land of the fjords and geysers: Holiday in Iceland is due to the economic crisis as effectively as never before. The tourists come in masses, but some will be disappointed - at hotels and car rental is the lower than expected savings.

 

Bubbling geysers, fjords and idyllic an economic crisis until shortly before the bankruptcy of state: The things for which Iceland is famous, in 2008, have a sad experience complement. Before the influx of tourists the country can now hardly save. This is because the Icelandic krona is in deep crisis crashed - Holidays on the otherwise expensive island is as cheap as ever.

"Feeling 20-30 percent" could vacationers walking or eating for excursion tours in the past saving, said David Johannsson, director of the Icelandic Tourist Board. And even if the word of "tourism crisis" does not like to hear the enthusiasm for Iceland is in spite of the difficult economic situation in Europe too.

"We had last year to attract tourists from all EU countries," said Johannsson. More than 50,000 Germans traveled to the island, twelve percent more than last year. And although the Icelandic crown after its nadir in the autumn since recovered somewhat recovered has swelled from the influx of Germany since the beginning of the year even more than before. In the first two months 2009 was the increase at 20 percent. Olafur Davidsson, Iceland's ambassador to Germany, takes it with humor: "The crisis has hit us sooner, so we have a certain advantage, because once again come out."

Cars and rooms remain expensive

It is not as Iceland has become cheap, such as the exchange rate suggests. Actually have the purchasing power of the euro on the island in fall temporarily almost tripled. But this is deceptive: "We have a large share of food import, and that is expensive for us now," said Johannsson. Cars also need for expensive euro should be introduced, and the hotel had their room rates before the crisis on the European currency.

"The beer in the evening may be cheaper," says Dagmar Kimmel by Iceland-Viking Travel Specialists. Many others will remain for Europeans, however, similarly expensive as before - even the organizers of the fares will not be reduced. Tourism Manager Johannson suspects that if all the tourists 15 percent cheaper to book than before the crisis.

This makes the currency turmoil of recent months, other countries to travel bargains. In the U.S., Europeans get today for a one-euro times as much dollars as in 2000. Even those who moved to England or Scotland, you can now save a lot of money: For the euro, there are 92 British pence - approximately one third more than in the summer of 2007. And in Poland, with the economic boom after the turn for vacationers had become increasingly expensive, the zloty to the level of 2004 has fallen.

These countries may, the money of tourists in the crisis so as to better use. "The people of Iceland need to tourism as a source of income," says trip organizer Kimmel. The Icelandic Tourist Board hopes that modest that 2009 similar to many vacationers visit the country as the 2008th "We do not expect huge boom," says Chief Saevar Skaptason.

Meanwhile, the organizers do not want to advertise to the crisis, but rather "the beauty of the country at the forefront," says Kimmel. But the economic turmoil has not only tourist destinations, but also the countries of origin of tourists recorded. And if the traveler so precisely on money than usual, could be 2009 but the crisis decide who flies while on vacation.