Аграрный вестник Урала № 12 (118) 2013

Экономика

Tourism infrastructure index and the distribution of development funds in statistical regions of Hungary

Tourism is one of the highest income-generating sectors which has influence on other economic and social processes as well.
With the increase in the solvent demand, it can contribute to the creation of sustainable touristic service. At the current programming
period, there is EUR 5 billion available for developing the agriculture, rural environment and the rural areas in Hungary.
It facilitates the changes of the economic structure, started already, and slows down the break-off of the rural areas to be able
to start the economic and social catch up. Funds available for the touristic services can improve the competitiveness of the regions,
in case they are used efficiently. Such funds are available from various sources. The New Hungary Rural Development
Strategic Plan contains the strategic frame of the Hungarian rural development, funded by the European Fund for Agriculture
and Rural Development. Its aim is to create the development potentials to improve the agriculture, to preserve the natural values
in the rural areas, to strengthen the rural economies as well as to achieve social cohesion. The funds that are for encouraging
the touristic activities are available in the 3rd axis in the New Hungary Rural Development Program, financed by the European
Fund for Agriculture and Rural Development. Out of the 4 axis, this represents 12 % of the funds, with a co-financing rate
of 75 %. The touristic potentials of the regions have been improved from the Regional Operational Programs of the National
Development Plan and later on of the New Hungary Development Plan (Kassai Zs., Ritter K., 2011). The aim of the non-refundable
funds is to create or preserve jobs in the rural areas, especially in relation to sustainable rural-, agro-, eco-tourism as well
as promoting the marketing of related services. The New Széchenyi Plan has supported the touristical projects as well. Eligible
developments include development of accommodation facilities, of business- and marketing activities as well as education and
training. One of our objectives in this research was to examine these funds and the concrete development directions in details
and to investigate what their spatial distribution is in the country, seeing whether these funds show any concentration in Hungary.

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Keywords:

tourism infrastructure index, distribution of development, tourism, development, funds, statistical regions, Hungary

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