Seasonality in HungaryNational Tourism Development Strategy

HUNGARIAN

TOURIST

AUTHORITY

by Tamás Záhonyi

3rd AER Seminar on Sustainable Quality Tourism

Åre, 11 March 2005

Hungarian Tourist Authority

Role of tourism in Hungary

Seasonality in Hungary

National Tourism Development Strategy

HUNGARIAN

TOURIST

AUTHORITY

• 1st of January 2005• Independent organisation• Highest level state administration body for tourism• Strategic planning and development, economic and

administrative issues, EU and international relations• Hungarian National Tourism Office responsible for

promoting Hungary

• Minister without portfolio responsible for regional development

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Hungarian Tourist Authority

• Represents 9 % of the GDP• Offers employment for 320.000 people• Single economy activity in many

underdeveloped regions• Key sector• Challenges

– Concentration• Seasonal concentration• Territorial concentration

– Length of stay is short– Low average expenditure– Share of domestic tourism is low

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Tourism in Hungary

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Seasonality

0500

100015002000250030003500400045005000

I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII.

International arrivals Tourism nights in public accomodations

2004, in thousands

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Tourism nights in public

accommodationsTotal tourism nights

45%

22%

33%

International tourism nights

26%

23%

51%

Budapest Balaton Others

2004

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Lack of long term strategy since 1989, spontaneous developmentThe strategy outlines the priorities of development until 2013

National Board of Tourism: Advisory Board of the Minister with members from the main areas of tourism, tourist regions are also represented

Strategy Working Group

Primary and secondary sources, interviews with tourist professionals

May-June 2004: open consultation

Final version approved in January 2005

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National Tourism Development

Strategy

The objective of the Strategy

A new approach: A new approach: tourism is not only a sector of economy, but tourism is not only a sector of economy, but a part of life.a part of life.

The main objective is to improve the quality of life - tourism The main objective is to improve the quality of life - tourism should contribute to sustainability.should contribute to sustainability.To define the frames and guidelines of tourism development To define the frames and guidelines of tourism development for the next 10 years.for the next 10 years.The Strategy focuses on the major challengesThe Strategy focuses on the major challengesDetailed action plans to be elaborated for shorter periods (3-5 Detailed action plans to be elaborated for shorter periods (3-5 years) will describe the planned actions for different regions years) will describe the planned actions for different regions and tourism products.and tourism products.

Objectives

The Strategy contains 5 comprehensiveThe Strategy contains 5 comprehensive objectivesobjectives::

• Establishment of local destination management organizations

• Reorganizing the regional tourism management system

• Creative an effective vertical system from local to national level

Create an effective Create an effective organizational structureorganizational structure

•Product development•Destination development•Development of significant destinations

Attraction Attraction developmentdevelopment

•Enhancing the competitiveness of domestic tourism •Optimalizing the effects of tourism on the quality of life

Human orientedHuman orientedand profitable developmentand profitable development

for long termfor long termImproving Improving the infrastructure the infrastructure

of tourismof tourism

•Improving the accessibility of tourism attractions•Enhance tourists’ convenience

Human resourceHuman resource developmentdevelopment

•Reorganizing the educational system, according to the demands of the labour-market •Preparing a stable employment environment•Improving the attitude

N T D S2005-2013

Horizontal objectivesHorizontal objectives

Product developmentProduct development• Supply development based on natural resources, Supply development based on natural resources,

traditions and heritage traditions and heritage

Destination developmentDestination development• Local levelLocal level• Regional levelRegional level• National levelNational level

Development of destinationsDevelopment of destinations of major importance of major importance• BudapestBudapest• Lake BalatonLake Balaton

Decrease concentration

Quality-assuranceQuality-assurance

Research on non-economic impacts of tourismResearch on non-economic impacts of tourism

Sustainable Tourism Working GroupSustainable Tourism Working Group

National indicator systemNational indicator system

LabelsLabels

Carrying capacityCarrying capacity

Visitor managementVisitor management

Sustainability

Actualities

•The National Tourism Development Strategy (230 The National Tourism Development Strategy (230 pages) and it’s summary (45 pages) were approved pages) and it’s summary (45 pages) were approved by the by the NationalNational Tourist Board in 20th January 2005 Tourist Board in 20th January 2005

• Publication (printed copies,Publication (printed copies, web-site, CD-ROM)web-site, CD-ROM)

• Preparing a government decree proposalPreparing a government decree proposal

• The tourism related parts of the National The tourism related parts of the National Development Plan II will be based on the National Development Plan II will be based on the National Tourism Development StrategyTourism Development Strategy

Thank you for your attention!

Hungarian Touris

t Authority

Hungarian Touris

t Authority

H-1535 Budapest Pf. 7

29

H-1535 Budapest Pf. 7

29

Vérmező út 4.

Vérmező út 4.

TelTel: (361)

: (361) 225-6500

225-6500

Fax: (361)

Fax: (361) 225225--6502

6502

Web: Web: w

ww.mth.gov.hu

www.mth.gov.hu

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