GINOP-7.1.5-16-2016-00006 The complex tourism development of the Körös Valley Visitor Centre and Animal Park
Project title: “The complex tourism development of the Körös Valley Visitor Centre and Animal Park”
Project ID number: GINOP-7.1.5-16-2016-00006 (Complex tourism development of national parks)
Awarded funds: 330.414.547 HUF
Financing ratio: 100%
Planned competion date of the project: the second half of 2019
Recipient, organization implementing the project: Körös-Maros National Park Directorate
Introduction
The invitation for tender for the Economic Development and Innovation Operational Programme (GINOP) 7.1.5-16-2016 “Complex tourism development of national parks” aims to increase the income from sustainable tourism and to present our natural assets in a suitable way.
The government has set itself the objective to increase the number of visitors within the capacity limits at the natural historic sites by developing the economic activity connected to tourism, and by doing so to increase the income from tourism at these sites. The Government will achieve this objective with the cooperation of the National Park Directorates.
In the invitation for tender for the Economic Development and Innovation Operational Programme (GINOP) 7.1.5-16 “Complex tourism development of national parks” 4.5 billion HUF is available for the 2014-2020 period.
The basic conditions for tourist reception are present at all ten national parks, however in the 2007-2013 period not all national parks could implement a complex service package that meets the needs of the visitors. Families and school groups are the primary target groups of the services created with the cooperation of the National Park Directorates.
General goals of the tender
A fundamental goal of developing the national parks is to achieve an organized and significant increase in the number of spending visitors, which can be realized by developing the attractions and creating the conditions for receiving visitors. The initial core idea of the development was the creation of attractions based on the unique characteristics of the given national park, and the construction of the necessary infrastructure. Tourism development planned in the national parks in the 2014-2020 period will contribute to the conservation of the local assets, and it will also provide economic benefits for the people living in the region With appropriate management, these sites can become extremely attractive tourism products, and at the same time they could become model sites for tourism that is based on natural assets and the connected cultural values.
It is necessary to increase the number of visitors within the capacity limits at these historic sites by developing the economic activity connected to tourism, and by doing so to increase the income from tourism at these sites. To achieve this goal we need innovative, interactive forms of presentations, an extended season, and the marketing of services tailored to the needs of eco-tourists. Fortunately, this also bring with it an increase in the number of tourists receptive to the protection of our natural assets, and an environment-conscious approach will become the main driver of the income from tourism and the tourists themselves.
To conserve the natural assets in an economically and environmentally sustainable way, we have to make them accessible and we have to improve our complex offerings.
The goals of this project
This project aims to create a complex tourism exhibition area based on a unique concept, where we will offer a glimpse into the natural and historic values of the Körös-Maros National Park with the help of innovative forms of presentation and interactive interpretation equipment, all based on the principles of experience tourism. The plans include a 130 meters long tree covered promenade to bring the natural flora and fauna of the softwood floodplain forest within reach, and the Körös Valley Visitor Centre and Animal Park will also present new wild species. Besides developing the attractions, greater focus is given to improving the quality and standards of the visitor reception capabilities.
Nearly 331 million HUF was made available by the European Regional Development Fund for the complex tourism development of the Körös Valley Visitor Centre and Animal Park under the Körös-Maros National Park Directorate.
This development significantly improves the tourism services in Szarvas and its neighbourhood, which directly helps the lodging businesses of the region, and also extends the overnight stay of the tourists in Szarvas and its neighbourhood.
