Lake Balaton Recreational Area September 28, 2018, Thessaloniki Zita Könczölné Egerszegi Environmental Director Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency
Location Central-Europe Carpathian basin
Nature the lake and its surroundings Largest freshwater lake in Central Europe Natural shallow lake, average depth is 3.2 m Lake surface area is 600 km 2 One of the most significant natural treasure of Hungary, a unique ecological asset of the CE region Large areas of nature and landscape protection, such as the Balaton Upland National Park and Ramsar sites
Culture and History / People Cultural values, heritage sites, folk art as well as events cultivating these traditions and memories are determinative factors in developing the regional image. The permanent population is about 275.000 people, and together with families of weekend house owners it rises well above 500.000 people. In summer time, taking into account tourists and visitors, as well, the number of population increases up to 1-2 million people.
Economy Tourism: the driving force of the economy Bathing in Lake Balaton started in 19th century. About one third of tourism related revenues in Hungary are generated in the Lake Balaton Region. Similarly, it has the same share in tourism related infrastructure.
Administrative structure Government: Environment: 3 counties 3 Water Management 3 NUTSII Directorates regions 3 Green Authorities 180 (within government municipalities office) 1 National Park Lake Balaton Development Council (LBDC) Main task: coordination of the developments of the Lake Balaton Recreational Area Legal Base: the Act XXI of 1996 on Regional Development and Physical Planning Members (12): County Governments, Central government, Representatives of Ministries Main Activities: Development directions, development plans and strategies Coordination of developments, allocation of development funds
Institutional System Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency (LBDCA) Established in 1st January 2000 100% owned by the Lake Balaton Development Council Non-profit, public interest company 3 offices (Siófok HQ, Keszthely, Balatonfüred) 21 permanent staff Main Activities: multilevel co-ordination promotion of bottom-up initiatives project management management of grant-aid schemes international cooperation
Trends and developments
Trends in tourism I. number of guests at commercial accommodations (thousand people) 1800 1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 Külföldi Belföldi Összes Foreigner Domestic Total Significant European sending countries: Germany, Austria, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland
Number of guests nights The average day spent Trends in tourism II. number of guest nights at commercial accommodations (thousand nights) 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Vendégszám Vendégéjszaka Átlagos tartózkodási idő Number of guests Guests nights The average day spent The number of average days spent at Lake Balaton dropped from 4.81 to 3.22 from 2001 to 2016, in case of domestic tourists from 3.29 to 2.81, while in case of foreigner tourists from 6.25 to 4.91
Infrastructure already developed Waste management Drinking water supply and sewerage Gas, electricity and telephone connections etc.
Transportation already in place: roads, railways, airports, navigation Regional airport: 20,000 passengers (2017) Navigation: 660,857 passengers (2017) Ferry: 1,000,143 passengers (2017) Motorway (M7): 25,017 vehicle/day (2016) Bicycle road: 220 km Trans-European Rail Network south side www.google-earth.com
National programme, plans Regional programme
Integrated Transport OP 2014-2020, Hungary - main objective This programme includes the main transport infrastructure investments. It focuses on further developing highways and railways across the country, improving public transport services not only in and around the capital, but also in the main cities, and, in improving regional accessibility. As the results, the highways will reach the borders, and more "cities with county rights" will have direct link to the trans-european transport network. Railway modernisation will continue along the main corridors across the country, with several stations to be upgraded (Békéscsaba, Székesfehérvár, Szombathely). Urban transport will be further developed both in and around Budapest. Other large cities will also benefit from urban transport investments, and light train developments will link cities in the country together.
Transport developments in the Lake Balaton Region from OPs June, 2018 - corresponding to the project objective Operational programme Economic Development and Innovation OP Integrated Transport OP Priority and / or measure Development of infrastructure for active tourism networks (e.g. development of bicycle road) Decided cost (EUR) Spent cost 2015-2018. June (EUR) 25883431 6150435 Improve international road accessibility 25367030 22472756 Improve international railway accessibility 227955246 263666196 Developing sustainable urban and suburban transport 115034997 39606619 Improving access to the TEN-T road network 103083879 134820850 Territorial and Transport development for economic development settlement and for the promotion of labour mobility 12072426 14764874 development OP Development of Green City (e.g. developing walking areas) 18364582 16353978 Sustainable urban transport development 18461951 10926392 Total 546223543 508762100 Source: Development Policy Database and Information System, 2018
National Strategy - planned transport development Railway M7 Road 76-M75 Road 710 Airport New ferry (Refer to slide Government Decision)
Lake Balaton Regional Strategy - Vision set in the strategy leading lake destination in CE The Lake Balaton region aims to become a model of naturalness with high standards of living in the Central-European Region. The vision is based on the following four pillars: Természetesség Naturalness Megújuló képesség Renewability Fenntarthatóság Sustainability Egészség Health Lake Balaton Regional Development Strategy 2014-2020, approved by LBDC in October, 2014
Priorities of the strategy aim: increasing the competitiveness of the region 1. To improve economy and income-generation capacity 2. Coordinated development of tourism products and services 3. To improve health condition and quality of life of visitors and inhabitants 4. Encouraging consumption and processing of local food and products 5. Harmonious development of the society 6. To preserve natural value and cultural heritage, sustainable land use and preserving biodiversity 7. Eco-friendly and resources efficient transport system
Regional Development Programmes 2014-2020 - prepared by LBDC and approved by government decision 1. Concept and strategy adopted by the central government. 2. By approving the complex development programme of the Lake Balaton region, the central government also decided about the financial resources needed for the implementation of the planned developments (Government decree no. 1861/2016 (XII.27). 3. Financial sources include both national and EU funds, Total: 1 billion EUR, of which 460 million EUR for development of transportation. 4. Priority funding will be provided for e-transport such as e-boat, e-bike, e-bus. The goal is to develop the Lake Balaton to be a model area for electric transport in Europe. 5. Establishing an integrated transport management system is planned to be the base of the developments.
Government Decision no. 1861/2016. (XII. 27.) Annex 1. Transport Upgrade of railway line: Szántód Kőröshegy Balatonszentgyörgy (part of Trans-European Rail Network) Improve the condition of railway line Fonyód Kaposvár Road construction of no 710. (between Balatonkenese M7 highway) Reconstruction of the railway stations Electrification of the railway line between Szabadbattyán-Aszófő and the deployment of central traffic management 76-M75 main road - Balatonszentgyörgy - Fenékpuszta (two lane bypass road) Total: 395.6 million EUR
Government Decision no. 1861/2016. (XII. 27.) Annex 2. Increase the traffic of Hévíz-Balaton Airport and improve the industrial areas of Sármellék-Zalavár Ferry service between Badacsony and Fonyód Development of electrical transport (electric buses 10-15 pieces (Balatonfüred, Siofok, Keszthely), electricpowered ships and other means of transportation, electric car, boat and bike building charging infrastructure) Harmonization of Balaton transport system Total: 64.3 million EUR
Government Decision no. 1861/2016. (XII. 27.) Annex 1. Tourism development Protection of cultural heritage Balaton-Uplands: World Heritage candidate site Implementation of Walking in Hungary programme: development of complex water-tourism, and other stations, as well as e-ship development Development of bicycle roads Development health resorts Development of integrated product and services on tourismfrequented areas Sustainable preservation of cultural and natural values Total: 83.4 million EUR
Government Decision no. 1861/2016. (XII. 27.) Annex 1- Annex 2. Economy and innovation Improving the competitiveness of businesses Development of knowledge economy Development of info-communication of Lake Balaton Energy efficiency Employment Competitive workforce E-bycicle Electric shipping Development camp Creating a thematic adventure park Total: 198 million EUR
Lake Balaton is more
Thank you for your attention! Lake Balaton Development Coordination Agency H-8600 Siófok, Batthyány u. 1., Hungary Tel.: +36-84-313-346; Fax.: +36-84-317-002 E-mail: bftkht@balatonregion.hu