The age of centralized tourism in Hungary?

Hvg.hu got hold of a planned government proposal which would centralise tourism in Hungary affecting Budapest and the countryside alike.

According to the proposal, which hvg.hu received from an anonym source, the government would be present everywhere: sport events, concerts, festivals and tourism as a whole would be centralised and controlled through the National Tourism Agency (NIÜ).

The concept is not public yet, and government sources have not confirmed it so far, but it’s signed by the Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister, and it’s approved by Antal Rogán, Head of Cabinet of the Prime Minister. Based on the proposal, negotiations have started in January, and it might be submitted in the near future.

The main goal of the centralisation is to create an agency which covers every tourism related branch in Hungary, to make it more efficient and more profitable: only 8.8% of Hungary’s GDP came in from tourism in 2013, while this number in the nearby countries is 12-15%. The government would like to achieve this raise through several centralised agencies, such as the National Tourism Agency (NIÜ), which would replace the currently existing Hungarian Tourism Ltd.

Several other institutions would fall under the NIÜ, such as the National Congressional Office (NKI), which should make Hungary “a business tourism destination,” and get ahead of cities like Wien, Prague, Bratislava, Zagreb, or Ljubljana. International congresses would be organized, making Hungary a “conference centre.”  The government would either create or obtain a signature event, such as the Geneva International Motor Show, or Bocuse d’Or in Lyon.

According to the proposition, the government is planning to create several other institutions as well, such as the National Event Coordination Centre (NRKK), which would organize and coordinate touristic and sport events. The Sport Events Division would be necessary to organize main events, because the current clubs and associations are unable to do so.