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associated with elites and cultural events, not
merely with curative stays. After World War II
spas and baths in Hungary, now sponsored
by the state or the trade unions (with, for
example, trade-union rest houses, hotels and
sanatoria), became 'healing combinats' for the
working people, based on mineral waters,
climate and other local natural resources.
Accommodation facilities were typically large
buildings with mineral water basins and heal-
ing devices, with a residential part, dining facil-
ities and meeting halls. Other services were
almost absent. In the last 5-10 years, however,
these centres have experienced substantial
change. For example, based on Western expe-
rience, standards for wellness hotels were
established, baths and hotels started to create
their own special character, and the wide
adoption of water-based wellness services took
place.
The EU, recognizing the rich history and
heritage of baths and spas in many member
and pre-accession countries (e.g. Austria, Italy,
Greece, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria) has been pro-
viding financial support for the Itinerari Termali
(ITER) project in recognition of this common
cultural heritage that offers 'an extraordinary
combination of archaeology, architecture, craft
and landscape' (ITER-CADSES, 2005).
Although spa and health tourism is a key
component of the Hungarian tourism supply,
the education and training of spa tourism pro-
fessionals has only recently become a priority.
Because of the complex nature of the spa
product, spa- and wellness-related education is
currently provided within the framework of
both tourism and physical education pro-
grammes, and the development of spa tourism
management education as part of an under-
graduate healthcare programme is under way.
In addition, wellness training and education
are provided by various short courses and
post-secondary programmes around the coun-
try. Hungary's EU accession is affecting spa
and health tourism education favourably, as
wellness training in secondary education is
supported by the Leonardo da Vinci pro-
gramme, and spa tourism education may
also be developed within the framework of
employment creation and rural development
projects.
Conclusions
Although tourism has been a major economic
activity in Hungary since the 1970s, the indus-
try's structure and characteristics have under-
gone significant changes in the last decades.
Similar to the impacts of the political transition
in 1989-1990, the country's EU accession has
considerably influenced the Hungarian tourism
industry.
During the pre-accession preparation
period, the country received substantial EU funds
that were allocated to development projects in
such fields as conference tourism, spa and
health tourism development. Wider access to
EU funds as a member country may also con-
tribute to the sector's development and growth.
As part of the accession process, the Hungarian
tourism industry gradually adopted the relevant
body of European legislation to harmonize with
the EU's legal framework.
In the relatively short period since EU
accession, practical changes have proved to be
the most important immediate impacts of EU
membership, notably the expansion of the low
cost airline market and the improvement of the
border control system. Budget airlines have
played a major role in stimulating both incom-
ing and outgoing traffic, making Hungary a
more accessible destination for foreign visitors
and a more attractive market for investors.
However, the low-income yielding end of the
market that such visitors may represent, and
potential issues of dependence on fickle, price-
sensitive markets and operators, may require a
reappraisal of the role of such airlines in the
future.
There are high hopes that foreign health
insurance companies operating in the EU will
explore the country's rich healing assets and
the favourable price/quality ratio that guests
(patients) can enjoy in Hungary, and will pursue
contracts with local service providers. A certain
amount of uncertainty exists, since the state-
financed health sector in almost all EU countries
is facing a deficit and making attempts to limit
its coverage to the patients' home country.
To facilitate health service developments
the government has opened a special support
scheme targeting spa and bath owners and
operators. However, since most of these bath-
ing establishments are managed by companies
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