Data from the State Tourism Administration of Ukraine - apparently due to differences in counting methods - significantly exceed the figures of the Central Statistical Office of Hungary, but according to the latter, in 2002 Hungary was visited by 25% more Ukrainian tourists (50 thousand) than in the same period of 2001, and the average length of stay of Ukrainians in Hungary increased to 2.2 days. What attracts so many tourists to this country? Says Svetlana KABYSH, head of the information bureau "Hungary-Tourism" at the commercial department of the Embassy of the Hungarian Republic.
- What new will Hungary offer Ukrainian tourists this summer?
- The National Tourism Bureau of Hungary has declared 2003 the year of health tourism. Therefore, we promote thermal springs, recreation, treatment, and recuperation at Hungarian resorts. The choice of the theme of the year is not accidental: the country has more than a thousand thermal springs, more than a hundred sources of mineral and thermal medicinal water, five medicinal caves in the Bükk mountain range, and the largest unique thermal lake in Europe, Lake Hévíz, with healing radon water. In addition to waters, in the Mátra mountain range there is even a unique "dry bath" - a sanatorium using natural carbon dioxide.
- For what ailments are Hungarian mineral and thermal waters recommended?
- Hungarian medicinal waters - hot (from 30 to 70°C) and cold - help with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system, post-traumatic conditions, rheumatism, gout, Bechterew's disease, dermatological and gynecological diseases.
By the way, the country has practically no sanatoriums in our understanding of this word. Besides outpatient hydrotherapy clinics, where people come for check-ups, procedures, or simply to sit in hot water, comfortable hotels have been built at Hungarian resorts, which have their own mineral pools, diagnostic and physiotherapy departments, and consulting doctors. We believe that a person recovers faster if they are surrounded not by hospital walls, but by the whirlpool of a full life. Each resort has recreational opportunities: pools with water of different temperatures and mineralization for children and adults, water attractions, sports grounds, as well as a network of restaurants, discos, etc. A number of Hungarian resorts, primarily Hajdúszoboszló, Debrecen, Eger, Miskolc-Tapolca, have already gained popularity among Ukrainians: in summer, group tours for children and individual tours for medical reasons are organized here.
- Has the route of sightseeing tours changed this season?
- I am pleased to say that the geography of our sightseeing trips is expanding. Even if it is a standard bus tour, the highlight of which is Budapest. Already last year, participants of such trips reached such distant points as Lake Balaton and Lake Hévíz. This year we expect that the geography of sightseeing tours will expand even more, in particular in the southern direction. By the way, at the recent tourism exhibition UITT-2003, the Southern Transdanubia Marketing Directorate of the National Tourism Bureau of Hungary was present. The Southern Transdanubia region is actually the border with Croatia. The southern direction is convenient for our tourist as a transit option for trips - it is one of several roads to Croatia through Hungary. The Southern Transdanubia region itself is very interesting. First, there is the wine-growing region of Villány - one of the most famous and best in Hungary. Secondly, in the Southern Transdanubia region there is one of Hungary's most popular resorts, still little known in Ukraine - the resort of Harkány. Here is the world's only spring with carbonyl sulfide content, which has a striking effect in the treatment of rheumatic diseases.
Well, the region number one this year has been declared the Western Transdanubia region of Hungary. Its resorts - Sárvár, Bük, Zalakaros, Kehida - in 2001 and 2002, the largest funds were invested. A new huge thermal complex in Sárvár opened only at the end of last year. Another traditionally popular tourist product of Hungary is Lake Balaton - the largest lake in Europe, a freshwater "Hungarian sea." Balaton gained particular popularity with the development of infrastructure - large and small hotels, guesthouses with a wide range of comfort and prices; restaurants, organized beaches, opportunities for recreation for children and adults. For lovers of water sports - swimming, surfing, yachting, there are also opportunities for active and extreme recreation.
The highlight of Hungarian offers, complementing the already named tourist products, can be called wine tourism. These are tours of the country's 22 wine regions, which is a recognized producer and exporter of quality wines.
- Has the number of travel agencies offering trips to Hungary changed recently?
- Yes, firms are actively developing their work in this direction, and many of them are large companies, for example the firm "Zagorye". The company "Okay-tour" has also become interested in the Hungarian direction. There are many organizations that operate in both Kyiv and Lviv and that aggregate practically all of Ukraine. Unfortunately, it is difficult to give a specific figure, but the fact that the number of travel agencies sending people on vacation to Hungary has increased at least twofold - that is certain.
- Yes, cheap tours exist - and they will exist until the introduction of the visa regime, which is planned to be established in November of this year. Ukrainian travel agencies are negotiating directly with Hungarian hotels, bypassing Hungarian tour operators, and no matter how offensive this may be to the latter, it is an objective process. Unfortunately or fortunately, the visa regime will not contribute to cheap tours - for the Ukrainian side to obtain accreditation, it will be necessary to have a serious Hungarian partner - either a large travel company or a hotel chain. We always treat cheap tours with great caution - but there are a number of companies that perform them well.
- At UITT-2003, Hungarian companies also presented their travel offers. Are their services in demand among Ukrainian tourists?
- At the UITT-2003 tourism exhibition, the National Stand of Hungarian Tourism presented 10 travel companies offering holidays in Hungary. Among them, four companies appeared in Ukraine for the first time - such a replenishment is a clear indicator of the growing interest in Ukrainian tourists in Hungary. All our exhibitors were satisfied with the results of the exhibition, which means that our travel agencies and, ultimately, tourists repay Hungary with reciprocity.
The vast majority of Hungarian companies represented at the exhibition are Budapest travel agencies, which is quite natural. In addition to them, for the third year now, a representative of the Europa-Fit Hotel, located on the thermal lake Hévíz, has been working at our stand. The hotel has a great chance of success in our market due to its convenient location, excursion programs, friendly pricing policy, and Russian-speaking management.
- What will be the cost of holidays in Hungary in the summer season?
- The cost of quality holidays at a Hungarian resort is comparable to holidays on the Black Sea coast of Crimea and is usually lower than the cost of Western European and popular Czech resorts. Recently, the price range has expanded significantly - from $80-100 for a 5-6-day bus tour to expensive individual and business programs. I think prices will remain at the same level. If there are some fluctuations, they will be insignificant and barely noticeable. On the one hand, we seemingly have the opportunity to raise prices - to capitalize on the fact that the market will become more attractive for external reasons. On the other hand, there is a restraining factor - if prices rise, Hungary will become uncompetitive, despite all our promotional efforts.
- Are schemes being developed for the operation of travel companies when the visa regime is introduced between Ukraine and Hungary?
- The general line has not yet been defined. I hope that this year we will not feel the impact of the upcoming visa regime and will work through the season without problems. By the way, the consul of the Hungarian Embassy visited the tourism exhibition - he talked with Ukrainian companies, asked for their opinions, and listened to proposals on building the work process in the new conditions. So, let us hope that the visa regime will not prevent Ukrainians from relaxing at Hungary's medical resorts.