cím: OFF TO SPAS

lead: Tourism products for the senior age group are developed further in the framework of an international project worth EUR 278,098, through the example of Hévíz and Covasna, with the involvement of 7 partners of 4 countries.

tartalom: + 1 On 29th July 2015, the European Commission signed the grant contract, in the framework of which a 15 months' health tourism development was launched. The international project „OFF TO SPAS” is implemented in the cooperation of 7 partners of 4 countries. Hungary is represented by Pannon University (project coordinator), Tourism Non-profit Ltd. of Hévíz and the Municipality of County Zala, further members of the consortium are: AGE Platform Europe AISBL, Consiliul Judetean Covasna, Asociatia Pentru Dezvoltarea Turismului in Judetul Covasna and Travel Specialist Group Sweden AB. The aim of the project is to create a Central European transnational balneological tourism product for the older (senior) age group that extends the market of medicinal and thermal tourism to those sending areas where the demand for medicinal and wellness tourism related to natural waters can be increased.  Objectives of the project: to create a tourism product network that takes into account the special needs of the older age group, to improve the number and quality of the cooperation between the members of the tourism value chain and the organisations/associations of the elderly, to increase the turnover of low or middle season in terms of tourism in order to improve the effectiveness and competitiveness of tourism SMEs, to promote tourism as the strategy of active and healthy aging, to increase the professionalism of the tourism service providers in order to ensure the sustainability and self-development of the project. For the sake of all these, the following main activities will be implemented by the partners: Conducting a research in support of the health tourism development: market study concerning the elderly, surveys, comparative analyses, researches testing the market of the elderly and balneological issues, involving the membership of AGE Platform as well as the customers of the travel agency Travel Specialist Group Sweden AB, Creating a balneological tourism product network, - through the example of Hévíz and Covasna - which offers location- and market-specific medical and health assistance programs for the older age group,   Discussion forums, workshops related to the project for the purpose of network building and partnerships, and exchanging good practices,  Extensive marketing communication, which addresses decision makers and potential travellers, and conforms to the special needs of target groups and to tourism trends. The first step of the project ending in September 2016 is the two days' meeting starting today in Hévíz, during which the participating partners coordinate the main tasks and actions.  The application was submitted in December 2014 by the partners for the European Commission's invitation to tender with the identification number „COS-TFLOWS-2014-3-15”. Due to the application prepared on high professional standards, the European Commission considered the project eligible for funding with the originally requested budget – with EUR 208,565 EU funds and EUR 69,533 deductibles. At the European Union level, a total of 10 application won support in the calling for tender.

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cím: MI6 Energy-conscious Hospital Certificate for Hévízfürdő

lead: For the 13th time this year, on May 4, MI6 awarded certificates to the service providers and institutions that achieved the best results in terms of energy savings in the past year.

tartalom: + 1 Hungarian Innovation and Efficiency (MI6) Nonprofit Kft was established in 2011. The goal of the organization, which is also supported by the UN, is to promote all the energy efficiency processes through which Hungarian service providers can save energy and thereby save additional resources. The essence of the Virtual Power Plant Program (VEP) they operate is that: Unused energy is the greenest energy! The less energy we use, the more we can reduce CO2 emissions, thereby making the operation of our facilities more sustainable, energetically efficient and cheaper. The economic value of unused energy is the same as that of produced energy. With unused energy, we not only manage resources more efficiently, but also save money. The aim of the organization is to have service providers connected to the program either from the entrepreneurial, residential, civil or public sector; over time, do NOT use as much energy on an annual basis, so save as much as PAKS can produce. All of these results can be achieved with investments aimed at energy efficiency, technical developments, conscious decisions, the use of smart systems, lifestyle changes, recycling... For the 13th time this year, on May 4, MI6 awarded certificates to the service providers and institutions that achieved the best results in terms of energy savings in the past year.   How did the Hévízgyógyfürdő Szent András Rheumatic Hospital earn the certificate? The certificate is awarded for 1 year, and environmental engineer György Németh, the technical manager of the Szent András Rheumatic Hospital, told us about how to earn it. MI6 announced the program for the 13th year, but the Hévíz hospital applied for certification for the first time this year. Service providers can apply in different institutional categories, we have measured ourselves among hospitals. In order to be certified as an energy-conscious hospital, it was necessary to present the already implemented and planned measures aimed at energy efficiency, as well as to show how much we were able to reduce the institution's CO2 emissions in 2022 as a result of the technical changes, investments, and developments that have already been implemented, as well as how much we could count on financial savings. We can be proud that we met expectations in every respect. In recent years, several technical solutions have been completed in the hospital, with which we can achieve more energy-efficient operation of the facility. These include, for example, heat pump development, the solar park, rethinking the operation of facilities with building energy control smart systems. Of course, further developments are also planned. These will allow us to manage energy in different ways in different parts of the institution. It is also important for us to strive for a change of attitude among hospital workers, to make them interested in sustainable energy management in the long term.   How new is energy-conscious thinking in Hévíz? In Hévíz, the issue of sustainability and environmental awareness has long been an important and prominent aspect. Of course, this is also due to the fact that Lake Hévíz and its surroundings are a nature conservation area, so many regulations must be complied with. From the point of view of tourism, protecting this natural treasure is of particular importance in the settlement. Among the institutions in Hévíz, at the Szent András Rheumatic Hospital in Hévíz, we have been dealing with sustainability issues, energy efficiency, and cost-effective facility operation for a long time. This is also proven by the fact that this is not the first recognition of our work in the last 10 years. The institution has previously received the Greenovation award and the Ozone Green award. Of course, processes and developments in this direction have intensified since the first Covid year in 2019. The economic and social changes of recent years have initiated several processes in more and more institutions and state support systems, all of which favor decisions aimed at more cost-effective operation. Why is this award important? The Certificate of the MI6 Energy-conscious Hospital confirms that we are on the right track, that what we do is important. These recognitions are also very important to us because we consider this work to be a form of social responsibility. It is important that others know about it, the people who live here, our colleagues, the guests who come here. Let them see that sustainability is a priority in Hévíz and in our hospital, Tófürdő too! It must be seen that even a small intervention, operational decision or investment can achieve huge results in such a large institution. In fact! I'm going further! In an institution of this size, it is possible to save at least as much energy as with a new technical solution in the form of an investment, just by conscious employee behavior and conscious energy use. I believe that small steps can go a long way. Personally, my task is to operate a long-term sustainable Hévízfürdő together with my colleagues and everyone who works here. On May 4, the Energy-Aware Hospital Certification was presented to the hospitals by Katalin Szili, the hereditary patron of the VEP, and Zoltán Jenei (OKFŐ).

title: MI6 Energy-conscious Hospital Certificate for Hévízfürdő

description: For the 13th time this year, on May 4, MI6 awarded certificates to the service providers and institutions that achieved the best results in terms of energy savings in the past year.

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cím: pART forest exhibition opened in Hévíz!

lead: The pART forest exhibition, which opened on August 4, 2023 at 4:00 p.m., will be open to the public until September 30.

tartalom: + 1 Hévíz Turisztikai Np. Kft. participates in this year's Veszprém-Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture events with its program series Forest Mystery. The Forest Mystery, or Game in Green! the main concept of events in Hévíz is to use natural spaces for cultural events where people, nature and art can connect! It was obvious that the main location of the programs to be realized is the Northern Nature Reserve next to Lake Hévíz, where micro-concerts, children's performances and geobotanical walks are organized several times between April and October. One of the special elements of this series of events the pART forest exhibition opened on August 4, 2023 at 16:00. Anyone who knows the area and has seen the exhibition - which is not only the location but also the theme of the forest itself - can easily understand the choice of title. The pART forest exhibition is located on a forest path next to the northern stream of Lake Hévíz. By walking in the forest, we can get to know the hidden beauties that are usually difficult to see with the naked eye, or remain hidden during an average walk, through an exhibition showing the wildlife of the nature reserve, selected from more than 60 pictures. Pictures of wonderful birds, special plants, small animals and bugs can be seen on the pictures stretched on and between trees. A significant part of the works are paintings, the work of nature illustrator Márton Zsoldos. The exhibition also includes some photos taken by nature conservationists Előd Búzás and Gábor Sinka, here, in the immediate vicinity of Lake Hévíz. The opening of the forest exhibition is a wooden gate with the motto of the exhibition: "Open to nature!" On behalf of the organizer Hévíz Turisztikai Np Kft., Tamás Pálffy emphasized that the aspects of nature conservation, sustainability and green events were taken into account when organizing the entire Forest Mystery program series. Every event tries to leave the smallest possible ecological footprint, and in all its elements it strives to bring people, nature and the cultural experiences that can be experienced in nature closer to each other in such a way that they interfere with nature only to a small extent, but in no case in a harmful way. Recycled wooden picture frames donated by local residents were also used for this exhibition, and sugar asparagus was used for mounting. The forest exhibition is expected to be on display until September 30, but this may even change due to the use of natural materials and the development of weather conditions. In this case, durability was not even a goal. However, the gate remains! Because whether there is a pART Forest Exhibition in the Hévíz Véderdø or not, the message is always valid: Open to nature! A small taste of the exhibition can be viewed in this photo gallery!    

title: pART forest exhibition opened in Hévíz!

description: The pART forest exhibition, which opened on August 4, 2023 at 4:00 p.m., will be open to the public until September 30.

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cím: Sustainable tourism development in the Slovenian-Hungarian border region

lead: Sustainable tourism development of 40 enterprises, 20 attractions and 4 destinations will be implemented within the framework of the Interreg VI-A Slovenia-Hungary 2021-2027 programme, in the project "Cross-border destination development for inclusive and sustainable tourism in the Slovenian-Hungarian border area" (CROSSDEST) in the next two years.

tartalom: + 1 The first international professional meeting of the project took place on 15 January 2025 in Hévíz, in NaturMed Hotel Carbona. The aim of the event was to strengthen the partnership and define a common framework for sustainable tourism development.   Sustainable tourism development based on the standards of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) was launched in Slovenia exactly a decade ago this year, and today 95% of all guest nights generated in the country are realized in destinations with international sustainability certification. In international recognition of the work accomplished, Jana Apih, Head of the Green Destinations Representation in Slovenia, was elected Executive Director of Green Destinations in November 2024. This is why it is outstanding that the preparatory programs implemented in the project are implemented jointly by the Slovenian and Hungarian Green Destinations representations. However, this is only one of the project elements of the complex destination development project, since the seven participating partners, Hévíz Tourism Non-profit Ltd., Pannon European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation, Murska Sobota Development Centre, Lendava Institute of Tourism and Development, Goodplace – Institute of Sustainable Tourism, Sárvár Tourist & TDM Non-profit Ltd. and Innotime Hungary Consulting and Service Ltd. have the primary objective of unified tourism in the Slovenian-Hungarian border region. Sustainability development, including the development of a local product program, the assessment of legal and professional obstacles to cross-border tourism product development and the mapping of their solutions, as well as the implementation of destination-level sustainability pilot projects will be carried out in the next nearly two years.   The project partners described in detail their role in the project and the tasks ahead. In the first panel, representatives of the destinations participating in the project, the staff of Hévíz Tourism Non-profit Ltd., Sárvár Tourist & TDM Nonprofit Kft., Murska Sobota Development Center and the Lendava Institute of Tourism and Development outlined their plans. The second panel gave the two Green Destinations representations and the Pannon European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation the opportunity to detail their objectives and plans, while the afternoon program presented how the project helps local entrepreneurs to obtain sustainability certifications and expand the tourism offer. The partners held the first partner meeting, during which they reviewed the reporting and communication requirements of the project, established the Steering Committee and set out the steps for the implementation of the project. Follow us on Facebook!  

title: Sustainable tourism development in the Slovenian-Hungarian border region

description: Sustainable tourism development of 40 enterprises, 20 attractions and 4 destinations will be implemented within the framework of the Interreg VI-A Slovenia-Hungary 2021-2027 programme, in the project "Cross-border destination development for inclusive and sustainable tourism in the Slovenian-Hungarian border area" (CROSSDEST) in the next two years.

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cím: Hévíz Visitor Satisfaction Analysis – 2024

lead: Monitoring visitor satisfaction is an increasingly important element of sustainable destination management in Hévíz. In addition to official tourism statistics and stakeholder consultations, the destination continuously follows publicly available online reviews and ratings appearing on major travel platforms such as Google, TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Facebook.

tartalom: + 1 Although this monitoring activity has existed in practice for years through everyday destination management work, 2024 marked the first structured summary analysis focusing on visitor satisfaction trends related to the destination’s main attractions. The aim of the analysis is not only to identify strengths and development opportunities, but also to better understand visitor expectations and support future tourism planning and communication activities. The review analysis presented below is based on publicly available ratings and comments related to Hévíz’s most important attractions.   Overall results – exceptionally strong visitor satisfaction The analysed attractions of Hévíz received consistently high ratings across all major online platforms. The average ratings of the leading attractions typically range between 4.5 and 4.9 points (out of 5), indicating a very high level of visitor satisfaction. The results confirm several long-term strengths of the destination: the unique atmosphere and natural environment of Hévíz, the internationally recognised thermal lake and spa culture, the calm and relaxing character of the town, well-maintained public spaces and promenades, hospitality and visitor friendliness, and the diversity of wellness, recreation and cultural experiences. Visitor reviews frequently highlight the clean environment, green areas, walkability of the town, and the relaxing atmosphere that distinguishes Hévíz from larger mass tourism destinations.   Top-rated attractions in Hévíz – 2024 Hévíz Thermal Lake and Spa The Thermal Lake remains the destination’s flagship attraction and receives the highest number of online reviews. Visitors consistently praise: the uniqueness of the natural thermal lake, the relaxing spa experience, the surrounding park environment, and the health and wellness benefits. Many reviews specifically mention the peaceful atmosphere and the combination of medical wellness and leisure tourism. Egregy Wine Cellar District The Egregy district is increasingly appreciated as an alternative tourism area complementing the spa experience. Visitor feedback frequently highlights: traditional wine cellar atmosphere, local gastronomy, walking opportunities, sunset views, and authentic local character. The area also contributes to distributing visitor flows beyond the central lake zone. Protective Forest and Walking Routes Nature-based recreation remains one of Hévíz’s strongest tourism assets. Reviews regularly emphasise: shaded walking paths, bird sounds and calm environment, clean air, and accessibility for elderly visitors. The protective forest areas around the lake are often described as an important part of the overall wellness experience. Farmers’ Market The local farmers’ market receives positive feedback for: local products, handmade goods, regional gastronomy, direct contact with producers, and authentic local atmosphere. Visitors often mention the market as one of the most authentic local experiences in the destination. Church of Egregy The Árpád-age church is regularly praised for: historical atmosphere, scenic surroundings, panoramic views, and peaceful environment. Reviews show strong appreciation for cultural and heritage experiences connected to the natural landscape.   Visitor satisfaction trends in accommodation services In addition to attraction-related reviews, accommodation feedback on major international booking and travel platforms also confirms the strong tourism reputation of Hévíz. A review of the leading accommodation platforms (Booking.com, TripAdvisor, Hotels.com, Expedia, Trip.com, Szallas.hu and Google reviews) shows consistently high visitor satisfaction levels among Hévíz accommodation providers. The highest-rated hotels and wellness accommodations typically receive ratings between 8.5–9.5/10 or 4.5–4.8/5 across different platforms. The most frequently mentioned positive themes include: wellness and spa quality, cleanliness, hospitality and staff friendliness, quality gastronomy, peaceful atmosphere, accessibility of the Thermal Lake, green environment, and the overall relaxing experience. Visitors particularly appreciate the combination of medical wellness, traditional spa culture and modern comfort. Reviews also indicate increasing demand for: environmentally conscious accommodation, quiet and nature-oriented experiences, locally connected gastronomy, and wellness services integrated with sustainable mobility and outdoor recreation. Analysis of online accommodation reviews also supports the destination’s long-term tourism positioning as a calm, health-oriented and quality-focused spa destination. What visitors value most in Hévíz Analysis of recurring review themes shows that visitors primarily associate Hévíz with: Relaxation and tranquillity The calm and health-oriented atmosphere remains one of the destination’s greatest competitive advantages. Clean and green environment Many reviews mention the quality of public spaces, parks and promenades. Wellness and health tourism Visitors highly value the combination of spa treatments, recreation and nature. Walkability and accessibility The compact structure of the town and pedestrian-friendly environment receive consistently positive feedback. Authentic local experiences Wine culture, local gastronomy, markets and smaller community-based attractions are increasingly appreciated.   Visitor concerns and development opportunities Although overall satisfaction is very high, online reviews also identify some recurring challenges. The most frequently mentioned issues include: temporary parking pressure during peak periods, congestion around the Thermal Lake during busy days, weather-related crowd concentration, occasional waiting times, and the need for further multilingual information. These observations are important inputs for destination management and are increasingly integrated into tourism planning, mobility development and visitor communication.   How the destination uses visitor feedback Visitor feedback contributes to several destination management processes in Hévíz. The municipality and Hévíz Tourism Nonprofit Ltd. use publicly available reviews together with: official tourism statistics, resident feedback, stakeholder consultations, sustainability surveys, and tourism impact assessments. The information supports: tourism communication planning, mobility management, attraction development, event organisation, and sustainability-related decision-making. The destination increasingly recognises visitor satisfaction monitoring as an important component of long-term sustainable tourism management.   Conclusion The 2024 online visitor satisfaction analysis confirms that Hévíz maintains a very strong tourism reputation among domestic and international visitors. The destination’s strongest assets remain: the unique Thermal Lake, the calm and green urban environment, health and wellness tourism, authentic local experiences, and the balance between recreation, nature and culture. At the same time, visitor feedback also helps identify areas where future improvements may further strengthen the quality and sustainability of the destination. The continuous monitoring of visitor opinions will remain an important tool supporting tourism planning and sustainable destination management in Hévíz.

title: Hévíz Visitor Satisfaction Analysis – 2024

description: Monitoring visitor satisfaction is an increasingly important element of sustainable destination management in Hévíz. In addition to official tourism statistics and stakeholder consultations, the destination continuously follows publicly available online reviews and ratings appearing on major travel platforms such as Google, TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Facebook.

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