Research on the quality of lifeudin the spa towns of Hungary

摘要

Within the framework of the Széchenyi Plan, the realised spa investments and theudaccommodation investment related to them significantly improved the quantitative andudqualitative indicators of the health tourism supply in Hungary. The health tourismuddevelopments promoted by the tourism politics (Budai 2001, Budai & Székács 2001),udand the closely related marketing communication motivated the researchers to devoteudmore attention than previously to the examination of seemingly positive changes of theudsocio-economic effects (Mundruczó & Szennyessy 2005, Formádi 2007, Ács & Laczkóud2008). In connection with the topic, with the co-ordination of Hungarian Academy ofudScience Geographical Research Institute, in the summer of 2007, a research began thatudprimarily concentrates on giving an overall picture about the quality of life of theudpopulation of the settlements in connection with health tourism.udThe tourism that influences the strengthening of the regional competitiveness,udbecomes the measurable depositary of the living conditions of the given settlement, onudone hand by satisfying the needs of visitors (developing a service industry), on the otherudby improving the local population’s living conditions (creating a liveable settlement)ud(Dobos & Jeffres 1993, Jurowski & Brown 2001).udIt is recognised that the Hungarian nation, which is struggling with significantudchallenges in relation to physical and mental health, can improve some of the aspectsuddefining the quality of life by the active consumption of the supply of health tourismud(Kopp & Kovács 2006). However, is the quality of life better for those citizens, who liveudin a settlement that offers health oriented tourism? To be able to give a cautious answerudto this question an overall research is needed. The first step of the research is to analyseudthe guest turnover rates of spa towns in Hungary (especially focusing on investmentsudrelating to the Széchenyi Plan), and the mathematical-statistical analysis of socioeconomicudaffects. With this, we aimed to create a comprehensive picture about theudprocesses that were generated by the spa developments, as they are commonly successudstories, especially regarding the demand changes that are directly/indirectly influencingudthe quality of life and their impression on local society and economy