Event Eco-Tourism with an Eye Towards Hungary: Lessons From Florida

1
Event Eco-Tourism with an Eye Towards Hungary
Lessons From Florida

• Karen Chambliss, Michael H. Slotkin, and
  Alexander R. Vamosi
• Florida Institute of Technology
• School of Management

2
Introduction

• In 2001, FL Tech and BUTE were awarded a US State
  Dept Educational Partnership Grant
• The Partnership seeks to address Hungarys urgent
  environmental problems AND to promote
  market-based policies
• Eco-Tourism provides a means towards conserving
  lands and wildlife while uplifting regional
  living standards

3
Introduction, Continued

• FL Tech School of Management Faculty have
  participated in several economic impact studies
  dealing with a new genre of Event
  EcotourismBirding Wildlife Festivals (BWFs)
• This paper, mirroring the Grant Partnership,
  explores whether the BWF theme can be
  successfully transplanted to Hungary, and in so
  doing, serve as a catalyst for eco-tourism in
  rural, eastern Hungary (where unemployment is
  higher and per capita incomes are lower)

4
Introduction, Continued

• MikeThe impact of birding and wildlife viewing
  nationally, within the state of Florida, AND
  Florida BWFs
• AlexWhy Hungary is suitable candidate for the
  transplantation of this idea
• KarenSome insights we have garnered from BOTH
  our Florida BWF experiences AND our exchanges in
  Hungary

5
Birding Wildlife Watching

• According to a 2001 US DoI Report
• 66 million Americans aged 16 and older engaged in
  wildlife observation
• Yearly spending totals 38.4 billion
• Birding or birdwatching comprises the largest
  share (about 80 percent)
• Wildlife watching trips numbered about 22
  million

6
Wildlife Watching in Florida

• According to a 2001 FFWCC Report
• About 3.25 million people engaged in some form of
  wildlife observation in the State of Florida
• The economic impact totaled 2.9 billion for
  Floridas economy
• Net effect creation of 28,400 jobs

7
Birding Wildlife Festivals (BWFs)

• 3-4 day celebrations of birds and wildlife
• Utilize NWRs, NPs, SPs, protected lands
• Emphasize indigenous plants wildlife
• Carry a flavor of local culture and heritage
• Seek to educate through workshops seminars
• Birding lies center stagebut other participatory
  activities (canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding)
  are included
• Focus on conservation and respect for the
  environment

8
BWFs, Continued

• SCBWF (Aggressive Economic Impact 300k)
• Brevard County (MINWR, PINWR, Canaveral National
  Seashore)
• Comparatively large budget via guarantor
• FPBWF (Moderately Aggressive Impact 100k)
• Gulf Franklin Counties (St. Vincent NWR, St.
  Marks NWR, Apalachicola NF, St. George Island SP)
• Fundraiser for the St. Joe Wildlife Sanctuary
• FKBWF (Less Aggressive Impact 50k)
• FL Keys (limited budget, educational focus,
  raptor migration, Key Deer, snorkeling, etc.)

9
Potential Benefits Derived from a Hungarian BWF

• To be held at Hortobágy-Tisza Lake Area
• Serves as a catalyst for other ecotourism and
  cultural-heritage activities
• Prompts follow-up or add-on visitation
• Inculcates entrepreneurial risk-taking

10
Why Hungary?

• Hungary has the potential to be a major player in
  the European birding and wildlife viewing market
• Strong Commitment to Nature Conservation
• Diversity of Species (animal and flora)
• Existing Ecotourism/Cultural Programs
• birding tours well-established
• rich endowment of cultural capital

11
Hungarys Geography

• Located in the Carpathian Basin of Central Europe
• Size and population comparable to
• Indiana (area 93,000 sq km)
• Michigan (population 10.1 million)

12
Hungarys Commitment to Nature Conservation
Protection of Forests 1426 Considerate use of
the Forests 1790 Regulations preventing
deforestation 1879 Law on Forests
Protection of Wildlife 1729 Edict to regulate
hunting 1901 Widespread legal protection of
bird species
Law on Forests Nature Conservation (1935) 1939
Nagyerdö or Great Forest 1973 Hortobágy
National Park
13
Hungarys Extensive Conservation Program

• Protect lands 2 million acres
• 1,125 Regional Conservation Districts
• 38 National Landscape Conservation Areas
• Protected species 535 plant 855 animal
• 10 National Parks created in last 30 years

14
Hortobágy National Park -Tisza Lake

• The Hortobágy, considered to be the richest
  birding locale in Hungary, has been a World
  Heritage Site since 1999
• 81,000 hectares of protected wetlands and puszta
• Tisza Lake, a man-made reservoir adjoining the
  Hortobágy, is sanctuary to 150 bird species

15
Diversity of Wildlife42,000 animal species
Great Bustard
Redshank
16
Diversity of Animal Species

Elk drinking from an ox-bow lake in Gemenc
Saker Falcon
17
Diversity of Flora 3,000 plant species
18
Current State of Ecotourism(birding)

• Guided bird tours offered by prominent
  international ecotour companies
• Probirder
• Wings Birding Tours
• Sarus Bird Tours
• Birdwatching Breaks
• Sakertour

• Lack of detailed information
• Profile of the foreign ecotourist?
• Size of industry?
• Economic Impact?

19

Renowned Thermal Baths and Wine Country
The town of Tokaj and the Tisza river. Placid
home of the famous Hétszölö estate vineyards,
where world-class Tokaj wines are produced.
Széchenyi Baths and Swimming Pool in Budapest
20
Lessons Learned

• Use BWF to increase emphasis on ecotourism in
  Hungary
• Enhance stature as tourist draw
• Uplift Hungarian living standards
• Pursue aggressive economic impact model
• To include fundraising for National Parks

21
Success Defined

• Introduce Hungary to broader subset of visitors
  interested in nature
• BWF as vehicle to introduce vast natural
  resources of Hungary
• Showcase cultural diversity and rich history
• NOT a panacea for under-developed ecotourism
  industry nor a savior for Hungarys rural poor

22
Insights from Florida

• In U.S. planning/actualizing consumes nearly a
  year Hungarys 1st BWF may take 18-24 months
• Organization comprised of 4 specific areas
• Obtain approval to use protected areas
• Identify primary festival organizers
• Create environment to attract volunteers
• Secure sufficient funding

23
Cash Flow Funding

• Seed money required for proper timing of cash
  flows
• Potential sources of funds
• Guarantor entrepreneur, government agency, or
  foundation?
• National and local governments In-kind
  contributions (use of lands and experts and
  advertising)

24
More Potential Sources

• Media newspapers, birding magazines, radio, and
  television stations
• Businesses
• Tourism development agencies
• Polluters

25
Hurdles to Overcome

• A successful ecotourism event in Hungary faces
  hurdles in three primary areas
• Financing not likely an entrepreneur
• Bureaucracy response time, attaining
  commitments in timely manner
• Infrastructure language, amenities, roads and
  transportation make travel time longer

26
Concluding Remarks

• Ecotourism supports protection of nature
• Benefits local communities
• Increased employment opportunities through
  generation of green incomes
• Educates tourists locals about need to protect
  natural cultural values
• Hungary has potential to be a major player in
  European bird wildlife viewing market
• Hungarys conservation record noteworthy
  consistent with ecotourism mores and values