Cross-border developments in Palócföld (Northern Hungary)23 May 2008
Tourism accommodation facilities and services offered in the region of Palócföld have increased with the help of EU funding of 220 million HUF.
Tourism and tradition preservation developments were implemented within the framework of the cross-border cooperation, i.e. the Interreg Operational Programme. Tourism in the settlements of the citadel of Palóc folk art, namely, Hollókő and Rimóc, can continue to develop with the help of the funding.
The local government of Hollókő implemented a series of major developments with the help of 95% EU funding equivalent to 220 million HUF in value. A building that previously functioned as a kindergarten was converted into a youth hostel with an accommodation capacity of 25 beds; a pottery cellar, weaving workshop and other handicraft utensils were set up in two handicraft courtyards; moreover, a Palóc heritage house and research centre was established by renewing a historic building. The local government of Rimóc built a guest house with an accommodation capacity of 10 beds, as well as a youth hostel with an accommodation capacity of 25 beds.
The main component of the project activities of the Slovak partner involved establishing facilities suitable for organising summer camps and open-air schools in the recreation centre operating in Dudince (Gyűgyi). Ensuring equal opportunity, as well as handicap access for children and adults with special needs was explicitly prioritised during the course of construction.
According to the mayor of Hollókő, extending the scope of tourism services ensures job opportunities for applied arts and arts and crafts professionals and consequently strengthens the population retention capacity of the settlement. Complementing services based on heritage tourism with remedial tourism makes the region more attractive, and therefore also lures more visitors to the region.
The long-term objectives of the cross-border cooperation relates to promoting the development of the settlements of the region, establishing model tourism cooperation with the cross-border partner and offering joint tourism programmes by combining folklore and natural tourism services. Through the cooperation of Hollokő and Rimóc renowned for their natural, historical and folk art treasures and the Slovak settlement of Dudince famous for its thermal spas, the three settlements will be able to offer complex services that unite the lure of the sites.