Travel company predicts 'Palin effect' for Europe

Eastern Europe will benefit from the 'Palin effect' in the coming months as the presenter's exploration of the region hits TV screens, it has been predicted.

According to tour operator Intrepid Travel, countries such as Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania and Croatia will enjoy a tourism boom as people watch Michael Palin's New Europe programme and read his book on the region.

The company claims that this effect was first seen in Asia in 2004 following the BBC's Himalaya with Michael Palin show.

Daniel Pawlyn of Intrepid Travel said that more people are likely to be more adventurous on their holidays as they are inspired by the activities they see the comedian taking part in on screen.

"The great thing about the way Michael Palin travels is that he really gets under the skin of a country; travelling on local transport, staying in traditional accommodation and generally doing what the locals do," he said.

The former Monty Python member's latest adventure took him to a number of European countries, including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Turkey.

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