Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Princess Mette-Marit pulled in to
Poland on a royal train yesterday (31.05.05).

The couple were greeted by Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski and
local students before their train headed on to the city of Krakow.

The crown prince and his wife later admitted they were travelling by
train because pregnant Princess Mette-Marit is afraid of flying.

On Tuesday morning (31.05.05) the Norwegian royals visited the
Foundation Women's Centre before going on to the Jagiellonian
University in Krakow, a centre for Norwegian medical studies where
more than 50 business leaders joined the royal tour in an effort to
forge closer links with Polish business

Royal tours are often used as door-openers for local business and the
crown couple's trip to Poland is no exception.

Poland, increasingly affluent and a new member of the European Union,
is now an interesting market for Norwegian companies.

Tourism officials are particularly hoping the couple's high profile
visit will be able to lure more Polish tourists to Norway.

Per Holte of Innovation Norway told the country's Aftenposten
newspaper: "Norway is still an expensive country for most Poles, but
studies show they're curious about Norway and want to fish in the
fjords,"