Nicols wins major contract in Hungary

20 canal boats to be built for rental from Kisköre and Tokaj in 2020

The Nicols boatyard, based in France, is celebrating winning a contract with the Hungarian government to build and deliver 20 of their stylish canal boats ready for holiday rentals in 2020.

The new boats all come from the Nicols Estivale range and will be located at two new bases in Kisköre (1.5 hours from the capital Budapest and 4 hours from Vienna) and the Tokaj. No previous boating experience or a licence is needed to hire the boats which will vary in size and layout.

Nicols is particularly excited about the project as it makes it the first boating holiday provider to be operating in the Hungarian tourism market. Commenting on this, Nicols Booking Office Manager, Corinne Dufaud, said “We are very proud to have won this contract as it recognises Nicols’ expertise at both building great boats but also operating great holidays. Everyone is extremely excited to be involved in launching what will be a new type of tourism in Hungary.”

Securing this major contract to develop waterways holidays in Hungary continues Nicols’ recent record of successes. Only last year the boat builder launched the three-cabin Sixto Green – the first 100% electric powered boat and the first of its kind on European waterways.

Focus is now on delivering the 15 million euros project - building the 20 canal boats but also constructing the infrastructure to accommodate them in Hungary which, as well as the two Nicols bases, also includes generating suitable mooring points along the waterways. Progress is well underway. Despite the contract only being signed at the end of December 2018 at the Hungarian Embassy, the first completed boat will be presented at the Budapest Tourism Fair in February 2019.