RURAL%20TOURISM%20IN%20HUNGARY

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RURAL TOURISM IN HUNGARY

• The role and importance of the Hungarian
  Federation of Village and Farm Tourism in
  developing rural tourism in Hungary

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The counties of Hungary
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General information

• Country Hungary
• Area 93.000 square kilometre
• Population 10 millió

Data on the Federation

• Name of the federation Hungarian Federation of
  Village and Farm Tourism
• Number of members 19 county organisations, and
  with these 1300 guest houses
• Accommodation capacity 700 classified
  guesthouses and 30,000 non classified

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Constitution objectives

• Improvement in the living conditions of the rural
  population
• Representation of the economic and legal rights
  of hosts receiving tourists
• Cooperation with organisations supporting and
  fostering village and agrotourism
• Continuous and comprehensive instruction
• Building an image for village and agrotourism
• Developing the quality of supply and fostering
  sales

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Presidency
Name Position Speciality Dr.
Csizmadia László president Dr. Hanusz Árpád
vice president Information Technology
Dr. Szabó Géza vice president Education,
Training Benkovics László vice
president Finance Sípos Jánosné, Zsuzsa vice
president Classification, Marketing Geszt
i Jánosné vice president Organisation Dr.
Miklay Frigyesné, Eszter secretary-general
László
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History of the Association I.

• In the 70s, together with the easing of political
  pressure, the economic situation of village
  people improved
• Big houses were built but the majority of young
  people left the villages
• The empty houses were increasingly turned into
  guest houses
• Lack of quality control and organisation
• By the begining of the 90s the news of the
  success of village tourism in Western Europe had
  reached Hungary

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History of the Federation II.

• 1994-the Federation established with 35 members
• 1995-96 based on Western models a classification
  guide and the rules are worked out
• 1996-consultants start classification of
  properties
• 2000-number of members goes up to 116
• 2000-change in strategy, based on EU regional
  guidelines
• 2001as a result of restructuring the direct
  membership of the Federation will consist of the
  19 county organisations
• 2002-2003 county organisations strengthen
• From 2003 the main focus is on organised supply
  and effective marketing activity

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The definition of village tourism (according to
our Federation)

• Hospitality activity in well-kept rural
  environment based on local and regional
  attractions
• Satisfies a wide range of needs for spending
  leisure time
• Provides accomodation, meals and programmes for
  domestic and inbound tourism
• this activity fosters wide-scale cooperation
  between local organisers and hosts
• It is a commercial activity

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Attractions in our supply

• natural environment (thermal water, nature
  reserves, unique natural formations)
• traditional village life (customs, traditions,
  folk festivals, handicrafts)
• agricultural activity (ecological farming and
  husbandry, horticulture, raising small animals)
• Gastronomy (local cuisine, specialities, wines)
• Culture, architecture (historic buildings and
  memorial places)

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Some typical Hungarian attractions

• Festival country-wide
• making plum jam in Szatmárcseke
• walnut festival in Milota
• pumpkin festival in Nagydobos
• Wine -tour
• Apple-tour, horse-radish-tour
• Sausage making, cooking Goulash soup and fish soup

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Craftsmanship

• Folk architecture
• Peasant furniture
• Ceramics
• Folk costumes
• Artisan Camps

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Palóc cottage
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Hand painted jug from Hollóháza
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Folk costume of Boldog
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Artisan camp
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This is how rag carpet is made
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Other attractions

• Gastronomy
• Hungaricums
• Ecological products
• Safeguarding helath, recreation
• Thermal waters, excursions
• Sports (riding, angling, carriage ride,water
  sports)
• Welcoming people with disabilities (wheelchair
  access)

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Hungaricum Paprika hanging out to dry
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Carriage ride
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Riding school
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Angling
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The complexity of rural tourism

• ecotourism
• agrotoursim

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Cooperation

• The Federation maintains close ties with
• State institutions
• Local governments
• Non-profit specialist organisations
• Tourism bureaus
• Travel agencies

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The marketing activity of the Federations
Central Information Office

• Giving information to hostst and prospective
  guests
• Distribution of national and regional
  publications and leaflets
• Publishing promotional materials
• Participation at meetings of professionals
• Organisation of conferences and workshops
• Maintaining ties with state and professional
  organisations

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Factors hampering development

• Lack of continous funding that results in
• Unstable financial situation
• It is difficult to do long-term planning
• There is no funding for research, thats why the
  trends are not easy to identify
• More efficient marketing activity would be needed
• Cooperation is not always working well, lack of
  unity can be experienced

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Main tasks in developing rural tourism

• Closer cooperation with state organisations,
  local governments
• Strengthening ties with professional
  organisations
• Developing complex supply-finding new target
  markets
• Publishing a larger number of informational and
  educational materials
• Spreading the use of Internet
• Organising courses to train hosts and consultants
• Gathering and processing statistical data

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Change in the number of hosts between 1998 and
2002
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Change in number of guests between 1998 and 2002
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Change in the number of guest nights between 1998
and 2002
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Thank you for your attention!