An Analytical, Evaluation and Comparative Study Conducted on the Implemented Tourism Investments in the Border Region of Hungary and Croatia
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An analytical, evaluation and comparative study conducted on the implemented tourism investments in the border region of Hungary and Croatia Hungary-Croatia IPA Cross-border Co-operation Programme 2007-2013 HUHR/1101/1.2.5/0003 Written by: Zala Wine Route Association on behalf of Zala County Chamber of Commerce and Industry 2013 An analytical, evaluation and comparative study conducted on the implemented tourism investments in the border region of Hungary and Croatia CONTENT 1. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Description of the project ................................................................................ 2 1.2 The purpose and subject of the study............................................................... 2 1.3 Description of the method of investigation...................................................... 3 2. THE GENERAL POSITION OF THE BORDER REGION, THE STATE AND OPPORTUNITIES OF TOURISM SECTOR ........................................................................................................ 5 2.1 Situation analysis ............................................................................................. 5 2.2 Strategy of tourism development in the target area on the basis of planning documents ................................................................................................................. 10 3. DESCRIPTION OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENTS IMPLEMENTED IN THE BORDER REGION OF HUNGARY AND CROATIA .......................................................................................... 12 3.1 Regional and temporal specification of the subject investigated ................... 12 3.2 The system and characteristics of funding sources for tourism developments in Hungary and Croatia ............................................................................................ 12 3.3 The system of funds, background of supported programmes in Hungary ..... 13 3.3.1 Regional OP – West Pannon Operational Programme (hereafter abbreviated as WPOP) – New Széchenyi Plan ......................................................................................... 13 3.3.2 Regional OP – South Transdanubia Operational Programme (hereafter STOP)– New Széchenyi Plan ......................................................................................................... 13 3.3.3 Environment and Energy Operational Programme – New Széchenyi Plan ...... 14 3.4 The system of funds, background of supported programmes in Croatia ....... 14 3.4.1 Interreg III A Slovenia-Hungary-Croatia Neighbourhood Programme 2004-2006 ... 14 3.4.2 Slovenia-Croatia IPA Cross-border Co-operation Programme 2007-2013 ....... 15 3.4.3 Hungary-Croatia IPA Cross-border Co-operation Programme 2007-2013 ...... 15 3.5 Review of investigated tourism developments according to location, themes and order of magnitude ............................................................................................. 16 4. DESCRIPTION, EVALUATION AND COMPARISON OF KEY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS . 18 An analytical, evaluation and comparative study conducted on the implemented tourism investments in the border region of Hungary and Croatia 4.1 Somogy and Zala counties ............................................................................. 18 4.1.1 Zala county ........................................................................................................ 19 4.1.2 Somogy county .................................................................................................. 28 4.2 Koprivnica-Križevci and Varaždin counties.................................................. 37 4.2.1 Koprivnica-Križevci county .............................................................................. 40 4.2.2 Varaždin county ................................................................................................. 47 5. CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................... 54 6. BIBLIOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................... 55 7. ATTACHMENTS ...................................................................................................... 56 An analytical, evaluation and comparative study conducted on the implemented tourism investments in the border region of Hungary and Croatia 1. INTRODUCTION With the accession of Croatia to the European Union a long process was brought to end, which is of great significance from the viewpoint of Hungary as well. Hungary’s relationship with the neighbouring countries has been rather complex since the Peace Treaty of Trianon. Hungary and Croatia made up an integrated social-economic region even after the Peace Treaty and the establishment of Yugoslavia, which then ceased in the period of State Socialism.1 Exactly that was the reason for the active informal economic relations in the border region at the time of the transition in Hungary and the disintegration of Yugoslavia, based on shortage economy. Hungary’sympathy became apparent at both state and local level during the Serbo-Croatian War. During the war between 1991-95, Croatia suffered heavy losses and toll. Consolidation also took quite long, so accession to the Union was shifted considerably, almost ten years, compared to the processes in Hungary. In the last ten-twelve years, both parties have made a lot of efforts to revitalize and reinforce the traditionally close social and economic relations rooted in historical traditions. Hungary, as a member country, had an active role in the preparation of Croatia for EU accession. We endeavoured to help the EU integration of Croatia with the efficient use of pre-accession funds, sharing experience and implementation of joint projects. In the border region, it is especially important to facilitate these processes which stimulate the economy and improve the texture of society and community relations. In both countries, this region is regarded as an internal periphery. Apart from some busy settlements, it is considered to be a disadvantaged, rural, characteristically agricultural area with the problems of unemployment. The Hungary-Croatia IPA Cross-border Co-operation Programme 2007-2013 provides a tool for the efforts serving border region development and regional policies. As the Lead Partner of the project Invest-Pro supported by the programme, the Zala County Chamber of Commerce and Industry is responsibe for the investigation of the situation of tourism in the region. On behalf of the Chamber, Zala Wine Route Association has conducted a study on tourism investments, implemented projects as well as projects under implementation. 1 Zoltán, Hajdú Dr.: Administrative geography in Hungary, 2001 1 An analytical, evaluation and comparative study conducted on the implemented tourism investments in the border region of Hungary and Croatia 1.1 Description of the project In the framework of the project Invest-Pro – which received EU funding at the application round of Hungary-Croatia IPA Cross-border Co-operation Programme 2007-2013 ‒ the duties of the Lead Partner are performed by Zala County Chamber of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with Somogy County Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Križevci College of Economics and AZRA d.o.o. Varazdin County Regional Development Agency. The aim of the project is to foster the economic development in the border region of Hungary and Croatia, to stimulate investments, to facilitate and support investment implementations and planned developments. Partners on both sides of the border are committed to the implementation of project objectives. In the framework of the project, a great deal of research and several analyses are performed in the field of tourism, which reveal the usefulness of infrastructure and other investments, and the potential of the sector. Collection and promotion of unexploited investment possibilities is carried out by publications and organizations of businessman meetings, where cross-border relations are strengthened in order to develop tourism and establish tourist destinations in the border region. The project implementation provides an opportunity to exploit the tourism development potential of Zala and Somogy counties in addition to Koprivnica-Križevci and Varazdin counties on the Croatian side. As a result of the project Invest-Pro being implemented with the support of Hungary- Croatia IPA Cross-border Co-operation Programme 2007-2013, the economic power of the border region of Hungary and Croatia will increase, new workplaces will be created, the quality of life of the inhabitants will improve and the implementation of projects and investments will provide further opportunities for the expansion of the developing region. 1.2 The purpose and subject of the study The subject of the study conducted by assignment is a review of the implemented tourism developments in the border region of Hungary and Croatia, and collection, analysis, evaluation and comparision of the tourism investments in the region. In four counties in the border region of Hungary and Croatia (Somogy, Zala, Varaždin and Koprivnica-Križevci), the number of tourism infrastructure and product development investments is steadily increasing owing to national and EU funding in addition to the activity of the actors of economy (enterprises, organizations and local governments). According to the requirements of the assignor, the sudy comprises these four counties since partners in