BEST PRACTICE: Balaton-felvidéki Nemzeti Park (Balaton-Upland National Park)

Balaton-felvidéki Nemzeti Park (BNP) is one of the best known of the 10 national parks in Hungary, as it is located in the Balaton region, which is Hungary’s second most important tourist destination.

 

Background information

The area of the national park, established in 1997 (57,019 hectares), consists of six former landscape protection districts. With its creation, the old dream of Hungarian nature conservation came true: by connecting long-separated protected areas, a protected ecological system covering the contiguous area of the Balaton highlands was created. BNP has 135 employees, including some professionals with tourism qualifications.

 

Analysis and overview

Key principles

In addition to nature conservation, the basic activities of the Directorate include tourism and the presentation of natural values, as well as awareness raising and environmental education. Therefore, they consider it important to create demonstration places where the natural treasures and specialties of the given area can be presented.

Examples and case studies

The website of the Balaton Highlands National Park Directorate, in addition to presenting the area of the national park, tries to provide information about the exhibition sites, accommodation, hiking opportunities and nature trails belonging to the directorate. Visitor centres and exhibition spaces primarily meet the needs of tourism. Forest schools serve nature conservation education, and their programs are integrated into primary and secondary education programs. Guided tours, educational trails, and various events help tourists and the region’s residents spend their free time.

They are planning to launch new courses, among others:
• Trainings of tour guides capable of guiding hearing and visually impaired visitors (social skills)
• Training of geotour guides (sustainable/green skills)
• Regular IT training for employees

The short training programs developed by Pantour can be useful for them.

Potential pitfalls and challenges

The BNP hopes to introduce new job profiles at the organisation by 2030. Based on the Austrian example, the Organization would like to establish environmental education and tour guiding for the hearing and visually impaired. They also strive to ensure that the special lessons of school students can take place in an external environment (e.g. biology, geography, environmental class, etc.).

Benefits and outcomes

They have established a close cooperation with the University of Pannonia, often holding lectures for tourism majors about the organisation and professional practical knowledge. The access gate as IT development and a partner company are currently carrying out the continuous development of the website. An app has also been developed. From a marketing point of view, they have improved the appearance and presence of social media.

Measuring success

For the National Park, success means that they can contribute to the dissemination of environmental sustainability aspects and skills in as many forums as possible: regular lectures and presentations for university students and schoolchildren, number of tour guides trained by them.

References and external resources

The head of the Ecotourism and Environmental Education Department is responsible for the training: Balaton-felvidéki Nemzeti Park.