Section 1: Tourism, Rural Tourism and Accommodation 1.3. Rural Accommodations in Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Spain, Sweden and The Netherlands 1.3.2. Hungary

Development of Rural Tourism

Before the Second World War, around 40% the Hungarian population enjoyed holidays in the rural areas accounted. However, the rural tourism of that period entirely disappeared after 1945 and the reorganization of the market faced significant obstacles:

• the lack of an institutional framework
• the bad financial situation of both inland tourists and entrepreneurs development
• the little interest of professional tourist organizations (since rural tourism development promises only low profitability)
• the lack of business and hospitality skills and the quality and comfort in village houses
• the ageing of the local residents.

The development of rural tourism has been included (and often emphasised) in regional development plans since the 1960’s, without too much success. New attempts to revitalise the traditional type of tourism started mainly in the 1980’s, especially in the least developed areas of the country. In order to change this image, the Hungarian Government, through regional development agencies and tourism organizations, started a campaign in 1997 to promote domestic, including rural, holidays. In Hungary, in 1998, there were approximately 2000 beds registered in rural tourism and the average occupancy rate was less than 10%, associated with low level of demand. In 2001, the total number of rural accommodations grew up to 6675. At present (2010), the rural accommodation capacity is around 10,000 beds as a response to a steadily growing demand. Both among Hungarians and foreigners, there is a relatively high proportion of faithful visitors. Their satisfaction gives the indication that the product itself is perceived as a good quality product.

Foreign tourists are mostly interested in three types of rural tourism:

• in accommodation in the vicinity of popular tourist destinations (low price motivation);
• in folklore programmes and horse-shows in the "puszta". The Great Plain in the Eastern part of the country is the traditional basis of the horse-shows. To spare tourists the trouble of taking a long trip to the original "puszta", horse shows are now also organised around Lake Balaton. The lake is the second most popular tourist destination of Hungary. The development of all the other types of rural tourism (including active nature holidays or participation in farm activities) is still at an early stage;
• in traditional gastronomy and wine tasting programmes.

Some typical Hungarian attractions are:

• Festivals, like making plum jam in Szatmárcseke, the walnut festival in Milota and the pumpkin festival in Nagydobos
• Wine–tour, Apple-tour, horseradish-tour
• Sausage making, cooking Goulash soup and fish soup
• Health tourism, thermal waters,
• Horse & carriage riding, angling, water sports.

Definition and Mission

Qualification System for Accommodations