- Svetlana, for Ukrainian tourists, Hungary is primarily about wine and sightseeing tours, but what else can it offer guests?
- At the moment, I consider the two most promising areas in tourism to be relaxation on thermal waters and business tourism. However, I would like to note that thermal springs are mainly visited during sightseeing tours – stop by, swim, leave. But at these resorts, you can also have a great rest and get treatment.
It is gratifying that such baths as Széchenyi and Miskolc have gained considerable popularity, and I want as many people as possible to learn about thermal springs, their benefits for health and good mood. We face a very serious task – to attract Ukrainians to the thermal waters of Hungary. After all, medical baths and balneological hotels are located in almost all regions of the country.
We are now working to convey information to travel agency managers, and they in turn should pass it on to Ukrainian tourists. People should know that the water in the baths is medicinal and that you cannot stay in the thermal pool for more than 20-30 minutes. By the way, there are also contraindications to taking baths, but do not be afraid – there are far fewer of them than indications. And even if you cannot take baths, you will not be bored at the resort – everyone, without exception, can use various slides, Jacuzzis, and entertainment pools filled with ordinary water.
- In Kyiv, it has become very fashionable to visit SPA salons, take various treatments... Do Ukrainians go to Hungary for health?
- You know, they do. At the thermal lake Hévíz, there is the hotel "Europa-fit", whose deputy director has come to every Kyiv tourism exhibition for the past four years. And only now the hotel has felt the return – people from Ukraine have started coming. Clients already know what thermal resorts offer, Ukrainian firms can professionally present them. In Hungary, there are 1,300 thermal springs, and most of them, I repeat, are medicinal, and resorts grow on them like mushrooms. And there is more than enough work in this direction now.
- Do Ukrainians who decide to relax at such a resort need a doctor's prescription or any certificates?
- As I already said, there are general contraindications for bathing in thermal waters. These include inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the musculoskeletal system in the active stage, oncological diseases including leukemia, fevers, thrombosis and thrombophlebitis, cardiovascular insufficiency, stable hypertension, hemophilia, post-infarction period, tuberculosis, Graves' disease, mental illnesses. Also, baths are not recommended for pregnant women. If a person does not have such ailments, he can safely swim, of course, without overdoing the time. The procedures have a good effect on the skin and also positively affect internal organs.
If you need treatment, then there are no problems with that in Hungary either. Baths are indicated for chronic diseases of the skeletal system and connective tissues, arthritis, gout, Bechterew's disease, muscle rheumatism, fibromyositis, post-traumatic treatment, neuralgia, skin diseases (eczema, psoriasis, etc.), osteoporosis, gynecological diseases, infertility, and many other ailments. Also at Hungarian resorts, mineral waters are offered, which doctors recommend drinking for chronic catarrh of the digestive organs, gastric and duodenal ulcers in the inactive stage, chronic cholecystitis, gall and kidney stone diseases, hepatitis, and ordinary constipation. Water is also used for inhalations – they are indicated for chronic inflammation of the nasal sinuses, respiratory diseases, and bronchial asthma. Oral diseases such as chronic gingivitis and periodontitis are treated in Hungary using mouth irrigation.
- Can all these procedures be done while living in a sanatorium?
- No, there are no sanatoriums in Hungary, but there are resort hospitals and hydrotherapy centers that can be visited while staying nearby in one of the hotels. There are plenty of options – for every taste and budget. Already now, tourists from Uzhhorod are mass-traveling to Hungary for treatment, but Kyivites are still little familiar with this type of recreation.
- How are things with the second promising area – business tourism?
- For Hungary, it is going very well. In 2005, Budapest ranked seventh in the world in terms of the number of conferences held – no other European capital has such a status. And Ukrainians also participate in many international events taking place in this country – scientific conferences, seminars, the vast majority of which are medical. Plus corporate events. Hungary has very good conditions for such meetings. Firstly, it is the center of the Old World, with excellent transport links to all countries of Europe and the world, and tickets are inexpensive. Secondly, excellent hotel infrastructure – each of the five-, four-, and even three-star hotels has a conference hall.
In Budapest, there are also separate congress centers that can accommodate several thousand people. In addition, Hungary has always been interesting in terms of the price-quality ratio. Plus the possibility of additional programs – excursions, thermal springs, wine, horse tours, etc.
- Due to the unstable situation in Turkey and Egypt, has the number of Ukrainian tourists in Hungary increased?
- I wouldn't say so. Turkey, Egypt, and Hungary are such different segments of tourism that the situation has not changed significantly for us. No surge of interest occurred – only seasonal fluctuations in prices.
- And how are things with them?
- Prices, unfortunately, are rising for objective reasons. The economic situation in Hungary is quite difficult, so the government is trying to find additional sources of revenue. One of them is tax increases – from September 1, VAT increased from 15% to 20%, and the same is happening with other payments. Naturally, prices for hotels, food, transport and services will rise.
Hotels are desperately trying to keep prices from rising to avoid losing customers, and are doing everything they can. But owners' possibilities are not limitless. Unfortunately, the process of price increases is inevitable; they have been gradually rising over the past two years, and another jump will occur by the winter season. Three years ago, one could find accommodation in a four-star hotel for €12 per night in catalogs, but now, of course, that is no longer the case.
- If prices do not scare away tourists, then the weather may disappoint them. When is the best time to go to Hungary?
- The peak for Ukrainian tourists is during the May holidays, and many wish to visit Hungary in August – especially on the weekends associated with the celebration of Independence Day. This year, an interesting situation arose with the Sziget festival – more than 50 journalists and about 400 tourists went there. I think this number will only grow in the future, because there are many more festivals in Hungary.
- Tell us a little about them.
- There are many festivals throughout the year. In general, Hungary has a very vibrant folklore, with interesting ensembles of the Palóc and Matyó ethnic groups. The towns where these people live, by the way, are located on the route from Ukraine; you can easily stop in any of the villages and get acquainted with the local culture. The locals there preserve ancient traditions, wear national costumes, sing and dance just like several centuries ago. In short, there is plenty to see.
Of course, we must not forget about the numerous wine festivals that take place in September to early October. Then there is the contemporary art festival in Budapest, which will conclude the eventful year. After that, Christmas events begin.
- And what surprises tourists about New Year's Hungary?
- When planning to celebrate New Year in Hungary, keep in mind that for locals it is a home holiday, so tourists should be prepared for everything to be closed. The best pastime in such a case could be SPA treatments and bathing in thermal springs. Although lately, they have been organizing shows for tourists to their taste on New Year: mostly Europeanized mass celebrations with sledding, pies, etc.
In January, the Days of Tradition and Art will take place in Aggtelek, and at the end of February, a carnival procession is planned in Mohács. From March 17 to April 2, the Budapest Spring Festival, famous far beyond Hungary's borders, will be held. It will feature famous performers of classical and popular music, theater groups, and several exhibitions of various genres will also take place in the city. In April, a Easter celebration will be held in Hollókő. And then summer is just around the corner...
- And if a Ukrainian decides to visit Hungary independently, for example, to go to Budapest with the whole family by car, what difficulties might he face?
- The first and main difficulty is crossing the border at Chop. There you can wait for a long time for various, completely unpredictable reasons. Delays occur not only due to human factors but also for technical reasons – for example, if the bridge is "clogged" with cars, then nothing can be done.
One must also remember that highways in Hungary are toll roads, and gasoline is quite expensive. However, traveling by car around the country is convenient; there are campsites and mini-pensions everywhere, and you can always find a place to spend the night or just rest. Robberies on the roads are not frequent, but they do happen. The only thing I can advise is to refrain from driving in Budapest; the city has huge traffic jams. It is better to walk or use public transport.
- The Hungarian language is quite difficult for other Europeans. What should a tourist do for communication?
- In Budapest, you definitely won't get lost or disoriented, as the city is simple in layout and small in area. However, communication problems can certainly arise. There is room for improvement – even in journalists' reviews of the Sziget festival, there were complaints that there are many stages, but communication is conducted in Hungarian.
In general, young people actively study foreign languages and can speak English, older people remember a little Russian, but in the countryside you will only get a response in Hungarian. However, there are exceptions – at resorts frequently visited by Poles, there are signs, inscriptions, and menus in three languages – Hungarian, German and Polish, so Ukrainians will not be lost there. Moreover, in restaurants in Budapest, the service staff speak English, and in the menu you can find dish names written in Russian.