In the increasingly competitive international tourism market, it is no longer sufficient for destinations to rely solely on online presence or traditional tourist attractions. Successful destinations are progressively building their brands on experience-based marketing, cultural connections, and the power of personal encounters. For Hévíz, it was therefore of particular significance that our town had the opportunity to introduce itself in the Slovenian capital for the first time as the guest of honour of the 3rd Liszt Cultural Days.
The invitation to participate in the event was extended by the Liszt Institute, the cultural institution of the Embassy of Hungary in Ljubljana. Thanks to this prestigious request, Hévíz was represented throughout the entire five-day cultural programme series. This provided an excellent occasion for the town to showcase itself to both Slovenian and Hungarian audiences not only as a spa destination renowned for its thermal lake, but also as a culturally open, modern, and diverse tourism destination.
The prestigious function opened with a concert by violin artist Jenő Sallai Jr. On Wednesday’s Health Day, historian Dr. Endre Szántó gave a presentation about the history of the Town of Hévíz and the formation of Lake Hévíz, while György Zoltán Hódi, director of the Amphora Medical Health Centre, introduced the town’s health tourism sector.
Opening concert by violin artist Jenő Sallai Jr.
Presentations by historian Dr. Endre Szántó (top photo) and György Zoltán Hódi, Director of Amphora Medical (bottom photo)
As one of the highlights of the week, the VIP reception on Friday featured a highly successful gastronomic offer provided by the 13 Chefs' Association. The afternoon atmosphere was enriched by performances from members of the Nagyváthy Folk Dance Ensemble from Keszthely under the leadership of András Hardi, followed by the Jazzy Pop duo of Lia Szabó Siklódi and Endre Varga. Meanwhile, at the outdoor street festival, the Hévíz Tourinform Office also operated its own stand to showcase the town’s tourism appeal and accommodation selection.
However, the guest-of-honour role was not only an important cultural representation opportunity, but also granted a valuable platform for diplomatic and professional networking. During the week, the delegation of Hévíz met personally with Mitja Predovnik, Deputy CEO of Visit Ljubljana, the city’s destination management organisation. In addition, the delegation was welcomed by Karmen Novarlič, Head of the Business Communication Department of the Slovenian Tourist Board, and Milena Pelipenko, Director of the Alpe–Adria Fair, Slovenia’s largest tourism, camping, and leisure exhibition. Discussions focused on prospective cooperation and the exchange of professional experiences.
During the meetings, the possibility was also raised that Hévíz could potentially join the renowned tourism fair in the near future, which could open up new international presentation and promotional opportunities for the spa town within the Central European tourism market. Such discussions are particularly valuable for a tourism destination, as the continuous development and strengthening of international partnerships play key role in enhancing the town’s competitiveness. Cultural events also enable far more direct and personal networking channels than traditional business meetings and exhibitions.
From a tourism perspective, the 3rd Liszt Cultural Days marked an important milestone for Hévíz, reinforcing the message that the town is not only a renowned health tourism hub, but also a dynamic and increasingly visible international destination rich in experiences. The week became a celebration of two nations and their cultures, two languages, and shared European values which all contribute to ensuring that Hévíz remains a stable and attractive presence in the international tourism market in the long term.
