Essay title: Individual Report Business of Tourism
Student number:
Date: 10th July 2020
Unit Title: The Tourism Business
Lecturer:
Abstract: This report aims toanalyses Budapest tourism activity trends. Notably, Budapest is Hungary’s most populated city, and it is also among the top ten most popular cities in Europe. Thus, besides analyzing the trends, the report also proposes analyzing the historical review of tourism development in the region. It also seeks to explain the key attractions that the tourism economy depends on. The tourism industry has several economic, social, and cultural impacts on the environment. Finally, the report provides detailed information on means to reduce the negative impacts.
Table of Contents
I. Historical Development of Tourism in Budapest……………………………… Pg. 3
II. Tourism Demand and Supply………………………………………….………… Pg. 3-5
III. Budapest’s Key Attractions and Tourism Products……………………………. Pg. 5-6
IV. Current and Anticipated Impacts from Tourism Related Activities…………… Pg. 6-7
V. Recommendations on how to reduce Negative Impacts……………………………Pg. 7-8
VI. Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………Pg. 8
VII. List of References……………………………………………………………………Pg. 9-10
Historical Development of Tourism in Budapest
Budapest is among the most architectural cities in Europe, and the majority of the Europeans consider it a city with much value that they would love to visit. Europeans make up the highest percentage of tourists who visit Hungary. Baji et al. (2018) argue that from the majority of the tourists who visit Hungary, 98% of the total visitors consider Budapest as a list of the destinations that they are to spend their holiday in. Various attributes, including the city’s reputation as a suitable destination in the early 1990s, and the value of the thermal baths, traceable 2000 years ago. Historic literature state that the Romans were the first to use the baths and even built baths on the banks of River Danube. The most famous spas in the city are dated back in the 19thcentury. Currently, the ministry of the national economy is responsible for overseeing and promoting tourism development in Hungary.
Budapest is Hungary’s capital, thus, receiving high levels of attention from the leaders. For instance, Mezei (2018) argues that there is now a focus to improve the development of health and wellness tourism in the region. Low-cost carriers are also a significant investment that has, in the recent past, driven the growth of tourism and travel in the city. The country’s efficient infrastructure has been beneficial as it has resulted in the rapid growth of bookings in the capital. Currently, the Hungary government is working to make Budapest the most preferred tourism destination in Central Europe by 2030. However, although tourism is a significant driver in the economic development, it is uncertain what strategies the government requires to minimize the adverse effects tourism has imposed on the economy, environment, and the social culture.
Tourism Demand and Supply
Like other global tourist attractions, Budapest’s tourism industry elevates the nation’s global image. Still, it creates formal and informal employment for the country’s employment. Bodnár, Jászberényi, and Ásványi, (2017) argue that during visits, tourists require travel motivation and decision making, particularly regarding the best attractions within a country. For instance, the authors also argue that the majority of tourists travel to Budapest with a quest to enjoy the thermal waters and spa culture. Additionally, Budapest’s 19th-century architectural state also plays a significant role in attracting tourists, since it acts as a map in reflecting the country’s beliefs and tradition. Besides arts, other geographical features, such as the Danube River, also play an important role in facilitating a city’s tourism environment. Gede and Kádár (2019) argue that the river is an outstanding tourist attraction, owing to the way it connects various national parks, such as Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade. Additionally, the authors contend that the river elevates the nation’s aesthetic value, since it cuts through the city, helping to bring up some of the most beautiful bridges that also stand as tourist destinations.
In Budapest, most of the tourists prefer to experience the nation’s historic monuments held in the city. For instance, the Budapest castle is among the most famous tourist attraction. Gede and Kádár (2019) argue that the castle houses multiple museums, which not only enhances the visitors’ satisfaction, but also acts as a map reflecting the Budapest’s history, beliefs, and traditions. On the other hand, apart from pleasure touring, other tourists visit the city for health and wellness purposes. For instance, the thermal baths stand as their source of satisfaction; thus, tourists derive satisfaction from the city’s spars and thermal baths.
Consumer behavior guides the decision-making process of the tourists. Csapó and Marton (2017) state that tourists visiting the city have a need and end up considering the capital of Hungary as the center to satisfy their desire. Budapest can be referred to as wellness and cultural destination. The destination attractiveness and the marketing strategies endorsed influence the tourists’ decision-making process. Budapest is an attractive destination, and people who search the city will consider it beautiful from photos posted on the internet. Budapest municipal also takes personal responsibility for marketing the city through pictures and videos on the official website. Restaurants and hotels located in the city also market the regions. The vast marketing helps reach a wider audience and thus influence them on considering Budapest as a suitable destination for them. The tourism marketing national plan has been on the front line in influencing the people of Budapest towards the adoption of diverse market segments. The main aim is to diversify and capture a broader market segment. The city leaders headed by the Mayor have a responsibility to make Budapest a livable and pleasant; they do so by ensuring that they help in creating an environment from where the locals and the visitors can find a variety of leisure activities. The cheap means of transport in the city stands as the primary travel motivation. The vast number of cultural heritages and historical sites are also part of the motivation. People from Europe encompass high expectations about traditions from the region, while outsiders consider it a central learning point, as it aids in understanding the European Culture.
Budapest’s Key Attractions and Tourism Products
According to the global tourism statistics, Budapest, or the Paris of the East, boasts extensive popularity in Europe due to its cultural metropolises. Also, the area plays host to various global heritage sites, such as the UN.ESCO sites. Notably, the Hungarian government employs multiple approaches to ensure the flow of tourists in the country remains constant. For instance, some of the approaches include low transport and accommodation prices, acting as motivating factors, influencing tourists to make the visits. The government also adopts effective measures, which help increase the city’s supply abilities. Also, the municipal administration encourages locals to venture into a wider segment of markets is meant to increase the supply ability of the city.
Therefore, besides the River Danube, the area consists of key tourist attractions. Sziva and Bassa (2017) argue that among the most popular site’s attractions include Buda Castle and Castle Hill, Hungarian Parliament Building and Crown Jewels, and Saint Peter’s Basilica. Additional attractions include Fishermen Bastion, The Danube Promenade, Matthius Church, or the Church of our Lady, Exploring Gellert Hill, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Millennium Monument, Szechenyi Thermal Bath, and Hungarian State Opera House. Sziva and Bassa (2017) argue that apart from the national attractions, focusing on heritage and culture, Budapest also incorporates wildlife animals’ attractions. These attractions include Budapest Zoo and Botanical Garden, the Hungarian National Museum.
Notably, while each attraction site is important to the tourists, based on its significance, they play an important role as they educate them about the region, owing to the demand attached to them. Metro-Roland (2016) contends that the country considers the Buda Castle and Castle Hill as the most important tourist’s attraction since it encompasses essential museums and medieval art, such as eighteenth-century arts, such as the Budavari Palota. On the other hand, Shyliaeva (2019) affirms that the Hungarian Parliament Building boasts popularity as one of the largest parliament buildings in Europe. Additionally, the author asserts that the building hosts the Crown Jewels, representing the importance and significance of the royal family’s governance in the country. Besides the parliament, other structures also enhance Budapest’s tourism industry. For instance, Adams (2018) argues that besides hosting the country’s population for mass proceedings, Saint Peter’s Basilica leads as the largest church globally. Thus, regarding its tourism relevance, the building incorporates ancient Italian arts, representing over one hundred years of the country’s art growth. Additionally, Saint Peter’s Basilica shares a geographical platform with other essential features, which aid in elevating its significance. The features include the Tiber River and the Vatican Hill, built on the city’s center.
The Fishermen Bastion is also important to Budapest’s tourism industry. Sziva and Bassa (2017) argue that the region gained popularity during the Middle Ages, following the construction of the Defense Walls by the city’s fishermen. Accordingly, the area consists of unique late 1800 and early 1900 structures, such as the courtyard colonnades, and the N0n-Romanesque towers, which aids in presenting the country’s ancient architecture. Similar to Fishermen Bastion, the Danube Promenade is also important to Budapest’s tourism industry. Turtureanu (2016) contends that the attraction is a historic site consisting of more than sixty pairs of shoes, arranged at the river’s bank, close to the parliament building on the Northeastern side. According to the author, the shoes represent the death of Jewish soldiers, killed by the German Nazis. Sziva and Bassa (2017) contend that similar to Saint Peter’s Basilica, the Matthius Church, or the Church of our Lady and Exploring Gellert Hill are famous tourist attractions. For instance, the Matthius Church or the Church of our Lady encompasses religious significance as it reflects the Death of Mary while Exploring Gellert Hill is a tribute to Benedictine Monk, the country’s famous saint. On the other hand, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Millennium Monument houses old masters collection and famous Hungarian sculptural and architectural works, respectively. Lastly, the Szechenyi Thermal Bath, and Hungarian State Opera House are also Budapest’s major tourist attractions. For instance, the former provides steam rooms and saunas, which helps to attract tourists globally, while the latter hosts opera performances, celebrating ancient and modern performers.
Current and Anticipated Impacts from Tourism Related Activities
The impacts of tourism globally are similar. For instance, besides helping a state elevate its image globally, tourism also introduces new behaviors, which may be negative or positive. However, tourism imposes major impacts on countries’ economies and environments. For instance, Mezei (2018) argues that the Hungarian economy has greatly benefited from the tourism industry. This is because, apart from revenue created through visits, the industry has created more than one hundred and fifty-seven thousand jobs in the hotel industry. However, while the economic impacts are positive, tourism also imposes negative impacts, particularly on the environment. For instance, Kovács et al. (2017) argue that the increase in population hosted by the city in a day has detrimental effects on the environment. One is that due to environmental and climatic change, tourists consume high water levels, which results in the littering of plastic cans. Also, besides the environment, littering imposes detrimental impacts on marine life, resulting in the disposal of waste into the rivers.
Different studies indicate that most of the tourism industry is liable for a significant marine life intoxication due to the micro-plastic waste in the river and oceans. The fish and fish larvae are the most affected as they tend to confuse the particles with their food sources. On the other hand, tourism also encompasses socio-cultural impacts. Kovács et al. (2017) argue that over-tourism is liable for the current effect of travel activities in Budapest. For instance, a significant percentage of the population opposes Budapest’s high tourist visit, citing that it affects their quality of life. Accordingly, the society also argues that the tourists or the guests lack various aspects, such as the opportunity to explore and experience what they would have had a few years back. An uncontrolled night-time economy is another detrimental impact of tourism in Budapest. Nga et al. (2018) argue that the economy has affected the people of Budapest’s quality of life. Additionally, the economy affects Budapest’s party districts, which contributes to undermining the quality of life for the people of Budapest.
Recommendations on how to reduce Negative Impacts
While tourism is an important aspect of any country, it also incorporates detrimental effects, such as environmental and social, due to its positive economic impacts. As such, addressing and mitigating the impacts require countries to employ effective measures, including product range diversification, and minimizing the number of tourists in specific areas. Additional criteria include using stewardship and management and implementing strict laws. Product range diversification entails introducing new adventures, achieving better tourist distribution. Contrary, minimizing the number of tourists aids in controlling visitors in an area while using stewardship and management involves granting tour guides, ensuring that the tourists act according to the country’s policies. Lastly, implementing strict laws aimed at safeguarding the natural resources and marine environment, can aid in reducing the environmental impacts posed by tourists. For instance, with the current travel restrictions, the municipal can capitalize on developing measures that can help improve the state of ecological damage caused. With minimal movement, cleaning activities can take place and thus save millions of aquatic life.
Conclusion
The impacts of tourism vary, mainly depending on the geographical location of the attraction sites. However, while it encompasses multiple impacts, its positive impacts, such as the creation of employment, surpasses its negative impacts. Globally, Budapest Hungary is among regions that benefit through tourism, owing to its diverse tourist attractions sites, such as Buda Castle and Castle Hill, Hungarian Parliament Building and Crown Jewels, and Saint Peter’s Basilica, among others. Notably, while all the sites play a significant role in enhancing the nation’s image globally, combating impacts posed by tourism requires employing various directives, such as product range diversification. Other strategies include minimizing the tourists’ percentage in specific areas, minimizing the number of tourists, and implementing strict laws.
List of References
Adams, E.D. (2018) The history and signification of the Navicella Mosaic at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. PhD. University of Louisville. [ Online ] [ Accessed on 16th June 2020 ] https://ir.library.louisville.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4307&context=etd
Baji, P., Berki, M. and Izsák, É. (2018) Transformation processes of the city center of Budapest: From historical development to the new economy. Espaço e Economia, (13) December.
Bodnár, D., Jászberényi, M. and Ásványi, K. (2017) ‘Sustainability in museums of Budapest, an exploratory research.’ In Tourism 2017, Conference-Sustaining sustainability, cultural heritage, and cultural capital, 6(3-4) pp. 61-85.
Csapó, J. and Marton, G. (2017) ‘The role and importance of spa and wellness tourism in Hungary’s tourism industry.’ Czech Journal of Tourism, 6(1) pp. 55-68.
Gede, M. and Kádár, B. (2019) ‘Analyzing tourism movements along the Danube River based on geotagged Flickr photography.’ Proceedings of the ICA, 2, July, pp. 1-5.
Kovács, A., Németh, Á., Unger, J. and Kántor, N. (2017) ‘Tourism climatic conditions of Hungary–present situation and assessment of future changes.’ Időjárás/Quarterly Journal of the Hungarian Meteorological Service, 121(1) pp. 79-99.
Metro-Roland, M.M. (2016) Tourists, signs, and the city: The semiotics of culture in an Urban Landscape. London: Routledge.
Mezei, L. (2018) Hungarian tourism continues to skyrocket in 2018. Daily News Hungary. [ Online] [Accessed on 16th June 2020] https://dailynewshungary.com/hungarian-tourism-continues-to-skyrocket-in-2018/
Nga, N.T.T., Erdélyi, É. and Formádi, K. (2018) ‘Investigation into Responsible Tourism Tours in Budapest, Hungary.’ WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 227, pp.141-150.
Shyliaeva, T. (2019) ‘Use of Metaphors in Tourist Discourse of Danube Region.’ Journal of Danubian Studies and Research, 9(1), pp. 252-260.
Sziva, I. and Bassa, L. (2017) ‘World Heritage Sites through the Eyes of New Tourists–Who
Cares about World Heritage Brand in Budapest?’ Almatourism-Journal of Tourism, Culture and Territorial Development, 8(7), pp. 255-268.
Turtureanu, A. (2016) ‘Premises of the Religious Cultural Tourism Development in the Galati–Braila Urban Perimeter.’ EIRP Proceedings, 11(1), pp. 210-216.
2