Rolling in Budapest Cultural information in English … Hear everything first hand

The press conference was opened by Ruszinkó Adam – Deputy State Secretary for Tourism – Economy Ministry saying, the Hungarian winter sports tourism aspects, especially in the domestic field in skiing opportunities are in-and-around the country. The Tourism in the current year pointed out that the data in all respects shows for the positive expectation to Hungary to be this year’s most successful year ever in tourism. Continued by saying, in the first three-quarter of the year 2015., 8.16 million visited Hungary and within this number was 20.75 million guest overnight spent at commercial accommodations. The number of guests by the number of guest nights was higher than the previous year’s. In particular, domestic tourism for almost half of all overnight stays represented the number in increasing. The Deputy State Secretary emphasised to be looking  forward to a great season by Hungarian skiers. Taking into account the figures of the previous year’s season five hundred thousand Hungarian skier, keeping up in staying domestically even for just one night. A new turn in the traveling tourism could be by locals and foreigners. For many enjoy to spend time at 2 to 4 nights as a short relaxing trip to the wellness spa resorts. He added, this time can be spent absolutely and worthwhile to go up to the mountain side for skiing for also that period. This performance would positively contribute to further strengthening of the domestic tourism in the off-season period. The domestic enterprises really are unto do as best of everything in their power so that in Hungary the ski lovers could have the option of staying in Hungary for skiing. The domestic ski resorts are close in distance and on the one hand are more affordable than slopping down in other European country. For the foreigners, who just spend a short time with small children or want to have a bit of ski teaching in advance is the right place to come to enjoy the available pre-ski training at good conditions and need not have to spend a day abroad in learning the first technical, physical steps in skiing. The Hungarian ski pistes in wintertime also welcomes the ski lovers and with the well-equipped plastic shells is perfect to gain the acquired knowledge of skiing for domestic smaller kids, young adult and adults.

Tamás Glázer –  Tourism deputy general manager at Tourism – Hungary outlined the following …  Their project is „Enjoy skiing at home”. The beginners and pros skiers can enjoy themselves on the ski slopes in Hungary. The priority of the winter season tourism in stimulating the domestic and ski-related accommodations, most restaurants are small or medium-sized enterprises that accept currency in the domestic. The goodies of the Tourism vacation cards were also emphasized. The quality of domestic services reached the level to beginner to pros, everyone can feel well on different tracks. Then Tourism general manager also confirmed that the enquiries indicate already to a good chance that 2015-2016 can be a record year for tourism in Hungary.  This year’s winter season has launched 10 times within the Budapest Winter Invitation promotion campaign by the Hungarian National Tourist Office. The collaboration was already made by the providers in the tourism service by the Hungarian Association of Hotels and Restaurants. The campaign’s goal is to popularize Budapest within the winter services in increasing tourist traffic and extend the time of staying by local and foreigners visitors.

At the press conference István Chernel – Ski and Tourism Cluster talked about the name itself of Cluster. Staring with first the connected to István Chernelházi Chernel (1865 – 1922) – Hungarian ornithologist, who in 1893 (Norway) introduced the ski and skiing. More than 1893 promotional articles have been published and in 1896 he wrote and published his book titled “The Footsledge Manual” This was the first edition in history that a Hungarian describe the sport. Up to this day his works hung in the domestic skiing basics with technical skills. Cluster is designed for sport, physical activity and domestic promotion of the culture of snow sports and winter sports. Just a quick  overview of ski facilities and in skiing around the world … there are  80 countries, 2,119 ski lifts are operating a total of 26,934. More than 6 million hotels are available around the globe for skiers. On Earth more than 100 million people ski regularly, most of them in Germany (14.6 million), the US (13.6 million) and Japan (11.5 million), while in Hungary, 0.5 million (497 thousand). The number of skiers world is highly significant, but he was happy to say there is a slight change in growth, and hopefully by the locals and foreigners it will continue to increase. According to the figures, the dynamic growth in China and Eastern Europe is expected to target the non-skiers groups by 2020. More and more people are traveling for winter vacation to places. In recent years, the general trend of increase in demand for shorter (three days) ski programs (several times, shorter duration). These three factors significantly assist in the development of domestic skiing. Summarising the “Skilands” in Hungary there 42 ski trails, 70 lifts, 30 lit up at night. During daylight and lit up as it darken  at 27 ski schools. A total of 46 ski lifts in operation at the snowy field. The Cluster has 26 members, of which 10 pieces of snow-covered ski resort at Dobogókő, Eplény, Kékestető, Lillafüred, Mátraszentistván, Nagy Hideg Hegy – Great Cold Mountain, Normafa  -Norma Wood, Sátoraljaújhely, Pécs, Visegrád.

Furthermore  detailed information in English language concerning Cluster visit: http://rudar.ruc.dk/bitstream/1800/1263/1/Final-version.pdf

Update and snaps by Aggie Reiter