Papers by Zsuzsanna Bacsi
Studies in Environmental Science, 1995
Abstract The present investigation aims at asseseing the impacts of three well known climate chan... more Abstract The present investigation aims at asseseing the impacts of three well known climate change scenarios — the carbon dioxide doubling scenarios from the GISS, GFDL and UKMO general circulation models — on wheat and maize yields in Hungary. For this purpose the monthly outputs for global radiation, temperature and precipitation of the above three GCMs were used to create daily weather time series for Hungary. Climatic data scenarios were chosen from the gridbox which covers the location of Keszthely. Historical weather data of 16 years from Keszthely were used as baseline. These were used together with the CERES-Wheat and CERES-Maize crop growth simulation models. The validation of crop models is based on field experiment data from Keszthely. Statistical analysis of simulated crop data is presented. Comparing to the baseline the average wheat yield shows 13–25 % decrease in spite of the slightly increase of total biomass production according to different GCM scenarios. In case of maize the GISS scenario resulted in a small 8 % yield increase on the average, while the GFDL and UKMO resulted in 7% and 14 % yield decrease respectively. Yield decreasing mainly due to the shortened length of growing period.
ISBN 978-615-6338-02-0, Sep 7, 2021
DETUROPE - The Central European Journal of Tourism and Regional Development
Health tourism is one of the main development areas of tourism in Hungary. Health tourism develop... more Health tourism is one of the main development areas of tourism in Hungary. Health tourism development projects may initiate orders to the construction industry, preserve jobs, create new value and new jobs, and the multiplier effect may be beneficial for small and medium size enterprises in the surroundings of the investments. They can effectively contribute towards diminishing spatial and regional discrepancies, as thermal reservoirs are situated under 70% of the total land area of Hungary. The paper presents the results of a survey carried out in 2010 in three spa towns in the western part of Hungary. The objective of the research was to identify the role of spa tourism in the competitiveness of the three Hungarian counties (Baranya, Somogy and Zala) of the Croatian-Hungarian border area. The survey was focused on the local population of the three towns, and on the visitors of the spas. The objective was to identify the key success factors of spa development, the level of tourist satisfaction, the impacts of the spa on the local community. The survey was a part of a large project that analysed the role of health tourism in improving the competitiveness of the Croatian-Hungarian border region. The surveys were completed in August and September 2010, in three spa towns-Hévíz, Harkány and Nagyatád-on samples of 100 residents and 100 spa visitors, in each town. Generally local residents showed a positive attitude towards the spa as an attraction for leisure and pleasure, appreciating bathing more than healing. They are rather satisfied with the spa services, but food and drinks, and fitness services are considered of lower quality. In Hévíz the spa prices were considered too high for value, and this is really the most expensive spa of the three. The local residents of Harkány complained about technical improvements needed, while the citizens of the small town Nagyatád were very satisfied with their spa. In Nagyatád the spa was considered less important in the socioeconomic life of the town than in the other two famous spa towns. However, in Hévíz and Nagyatád the incomes earned and carreer prospects in the spa and related hotels were considered worse than the town average. The relationship between town leadership and spa were considered rather negative in Harkány. Local residents have positive feelings towards tourists, but the positive impacts of tourism are felt only in Hévíz, although here parking problems and high prices were felt as negative impacts. In Harkány the low number of tourists and the high prices were the main negative aspects, while in Nagyatád no negative impacts of tourism were felt. The most marked differences in the visitors of the three spas are with respect to age, length of stay, the motivation and purpose of visit, the accommodation taken, the daily spending and cost of accommodation, and the opinions on the spa services. While the tipical visitor to Hévíz is elderly, near the pensioner age, and stays for about two weeks for a medical treatment, paying a high price for the accommodation, who is not completely satisfied with the services offered by the spa and by the town, the typical visitor to Harkány is rather similar, but spends much less on accommodation. The visitors to Nagyatád, however, are 3-4 years younger, spend only a little, often comes with a group in an organised tour, stays about half as long as the visitors of the other two spas, and is usually completely satisfied with the services of the spa and the town. Those visiting Nagyatád, have already been to several other spas, being experienced spa visitors. Nagyatád, unfortunately, seems to have difficulties in converting the favourable opinions into revenues, the visitors stay only for a short time, and spend very little, and the town is obviously capable to attract much less tourists than the other two-regionally or internationally renowned-spa resorts. The survey results showed three different patterns for spa development: the pattern of an international success story of Hévíz, the situation of a regionally well known spa that has recently lost its attractiveness (Ha rkány) and the case of a small local spa in Nagyatád, that can successfully serve the local community, but lacks the preconditions needed to become a regional attraction.
DETUROPE - The Central European Journal of Tourism and Regional Development
DETUROPE - The Central European Journal of Tourism and Regional Development
The objective of the present research was to identify the role of health tourism in the competiti... more The objective of the present research was to identify the role of health tourism in the competitiveness of three Hungarian counties (Baranya, Somogy and Zala) of the Croatian-Hungarian border area. The key factors of success and criteria for sustainability were to be found in order to help the local decision-makers in their attempts to create a strategy for the development of health tourism. As a part of a large research project the current paper describes the results of a qualitative survey of 21 interviews with mayors, spa managers, and hotel managers, to represent general tourism supply to identify the impacts of health tourism developments on the settlement, the economic and social effects on the local population. The selection of interviewees was done to ensure, that successful, average, and not really successful spa towns were represented among the locations. Among the possible locations in counties Zala, Somogy and Baranya the interviews were finally conducted in Hévíz, Zalaszentgrót, Nagyatád, Marcali, Harkány and Szigetvár, and, to include a location where planned spa development was not implemented, in the village Somogysámson. Besides, the president of the Hungarian Baths' Association was interviewed, who used to be the director of the Szent András Rheumatic Hospital in Hévíz for a long time. Due to some of the interviewees' nonavailability two additional locations, Letenye and Kehidakustány, were also included to complete the list of interviews. An interview was conducted with the mayor of Somogysámson about an unimplemented spa development plan. The main findings of the research underlined that the number of domestic tourists, and within this wellness tourists, is very low compared to the opportunities. For this reason the further development of domestic tourism is of crucial importance. The reasons for that are partly the prevailing habits, the lack of tourism culture, the lack of recreation culture, and financial difficulties. The successful, progressive spas are those that have continued their development activities relying on their natural endowments, and responding with their innovations to the current expectations of the market and the environment. They have improved their medical treatments, introduced new machinery and technology, built new sight and fun components in the spa. Financial efficiency was achieved by those who were able to attract a sustainable number of visitors. According to the international literature an attraction with a visitor-centre like establishment (a museum, a fun park, a spa, etc.) will be very profitable after it reached 1 million visitors a year in terms of services sold. A small spa may be financially viable, if the capacities are well designed and the construction responds to the services demanded, as the example of Nagyatád shows. An adequate spa town image would definitely be needed for the further development of spas. Balatonfüred and Héviz are the only spas that have started to establish a real spa image in Hungary. The other important component should be the complete documentation for the patients and the treatments in spas and spa hotels, and the same is valid for wellness and fitness. The client should be informed about the impacts of the treatment on the patient's condition. The spas that are situated in small settlements do not possess resources for financing more serious marketing actions.They also lack creative groups of staff to develop a long-run strategy for the settlement, and to implement planned development projects. The microregions may be the suitable units to take over this role, but because of too many tasks it is highly questionable whether they are able to carry out such strategic developments. There is need for setting up a national resource inventory, and certain components of developing this system could be done at research and development teams of the universities. This resource inventory could reflect the endowments of the currently existing spas, their visitor numbers, and their qualities. One of the most problematic areas of the operation of medicinal spas in Hungary is the issue of support from the National Health Insurance Fund, as the amounts have been the same in the last four years. Without this support the spas would not be able to sustain themselves, but the prices of the treatments should be redefined, this is a crucial aspect of sustainability.
The present paper attempts to carry out the assessment of the objectives and targeted activities ... more The present paper attempts to carry out the assessment of the objectives and targeted activities of non-profit NGOs in Hungary, in relation to funding available for them from state funds through an application procedure. The analysis is based on a call for applications for funding announced in 1998 in Hungary, which offered 5000 Million HuFt (approx 20 million Euro at the approximate exchange rate of 1 Euro = 250 HuFt at the time) for various activities promoting rural welfare. Applications are analysed according to the targeted groups, targeted activities, required amounts of funding, in comparison to the local characteristics of the areas the NGOs are working. The aim was to identify the main motivating factors of the NGOs in deciding the line of action they intend to pursue. 1.
DETUROPE - The Central European Journal of Tourism and Regional Development
A relatively small but growing group of migrants nowadays are people moving to countries that are... more A relatively small but growing group of migrants nowadays are people moving to countries that are better known as migrant-sending locations. These voluntary migrants-frequently retired persons-decide on moving mostly in the hope of a better life quality they think to find abroad rather than in their own country. The property purchase of foreigners therefore related to this kind of migration, and relatively little attention is being paid to this kind of voluntary, lifestyle migration, though it can have a significant economic and social impact on the host country. Foreign property owners and several persons who are in contact with these foreigners were in-depth interviewed-as the special subject require empirical research methods-in the framework of the present research to determine the main motivations of property purchases in the Keszthely District of the West-Balaton Region, Hungary. Main motivating factors were identified as economic reasons, expectancy for a better, calmer new way of living and favourable climate conditions. Following the change of regime in Hungary three era in property purchase can be differentiated in the examined region based on the direction of migration with a gap between the first and second phase after the 2008 crisis.
In January 2006 The Keszthely-Heviz Microregion Multifunctional and Development Association toget... more In January 2006 The Keszthely-Heviz Microregion Multifunctional and Development Association together with the Georgikon Faculty of Agriculture Keszthely of the University of Pannonia, and the Krizevci Agricultural College (Croatia) started a cooperation project within the framework of the INTERREG IIIA Slovenia-Hungary-Croatia Neighbourhood Programme of the European Union under the title „ Development features of cross-border regions” (SLO/HU/CRO-4012-106/2004/01/HU-74 sz), . In this project the Croatian-Hungarian borderline area is assessed, as a case study to identify the cooperation possibilities mutually beneficial for the actors of the economy in both sides of the border. Within the project the socioeconomic situation is surveyed using questionnaires and interviews as primary information sources, to find out the requirements for successful cooperation, and then, based on the findings of this survey a teaching programme of 30 contact hours has been developed to train professiona...
The object of this analysis was to compare the organic and the conventional farming on the basis ... more The object of this analysis was to compare the organic and the conventional farming on the basis of primer database and modeling at the location of Hortobágy that is a well-known organic farming region in Hungary. 20 model variations were worked out for the conventional and 20 for the organic farming situation. According to the results, there is no significant difference considering the costs per hectare in the two modeled farming methods, although the structures of the production costs show huge deviations. The cost per production unit is typically higher in the organic model. Considering most of the model variations, organic farming is proved to be more profitable, but this economic pre-eminence is not explicit by any means.
Natural resources are major resources for tourism. Nature-based tourism is one of the tourism for... more Natural resources are major resources for tourism. Nature-based tourism is one of the tourism forms with an increasing appeal. Camping tourism is an important part of nature-based tourism and it plays a significant role in domestic tourism, representing approximately 10% of total tourist nights in the EU, though countries differ to a great extent. The decision to choose a camping holiday depends on the tourists’ preferences and values. The aim of the paper is to identify the extent to which national cultural traits and environmental consciousness influence the domestic demand for camping holidays. The paper demonstrates by way of multiple regression analysis of 25 EU countries in 7 years (2012 – 2018) that this decision is correlated to Hofstede’s 6 national cultural dimensions and national income levels, while the environmental awareness of the population does not have any significant influence on it.
Visegrad Journal on Bioeconomy and Sustainable Development, 2020
The 28 countries of the European Union represent a rather heterogeneous group regarding their geo... more The 28 countries of the European Union represent a rather heterogeneous group regarding their geography, history, and national cultures. Their response to the current global challenges depends on their way of viewing the world, and that is largely influenced by their national values and beliefs. The research compares the environmental awareness in distinct country groups and identifies the components of national culture, which, by their different approaches to the environmental sustainability, influence the most. The time span of the analysis is seven years from 2012 to 2018. National culture is defined by Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, and the environmental awareness data were collected from the Eurobarometer surveys of the EU. The main findings show that the environmental awareness in the EU increases with time and is higher in indulgent, more individualistic, and more long-term oriented countries, while the level of masculinity and uncertainty avoidance or power distance did not...
A Nyugat-Dunantulon sokkal tobben vannak a hasznaltcikk kereskedők, mint a Duna masik oldalan, ot... more A Nyugat-Dunantulon sokkal tobben vannak a hasznaltcikk kereskedők, mint a Duna masik oldalan, ott főleg viszonteladokkent tevekenykednek. Magyarorszagon 137 olyan telepulest tartunk fel, ahol ilyen tevekenyseget vegeznek. A falvakban a rendszervaltas ota a megelhetes nehezebb lett, es a munkanelkulive valt főleg a fizikai munkas, iskolazatlan retegek szamara nem adodott mas lehetőseg, mint a lomizas. 'Eleinte jellemzően roma szarmazasuak foglalkoztak ezzel a tevekenyseggel', de az utobbi evekben mar az also kozeposztaly nem roma tagjait is megtalaljuk a lomisok kozott. Egyes lomis csaladok kiemelkedtek a szegenysegből (sajatos kozeposztalyosodasi modell, amely az illegalis, majd fellegalis tevekenysegen alapul). A lomizok termektipusokra szakosodnak, felosztjak a piacot, akarcsak a formalis keretek kozott műkodő vallalkozasok. A vasarlok kozt, a tarsadalom minden retege jelen van ? igaz mas-mas jellegű arukat keresnek. A szegenyek, az also kozeposztaly szamara szinte elenge...
Cultural attractions are often linked to unique features of the host population, and are often re... more Cultural attractions are often linked to unique features of the host population, and are often related to a national minority or a segment of the population that preserved their traditions. Ethnically or religiously varied countries may often have such unique attractions, that seem exotic and appealing to tourists. Multiculturality is often an attraction for tourism, offering generally an authentic experience for visitors of different backgrounds. Besides, an ethnically or linguistically varied population can also provide a linguisticaly more skilful labour force, that is more sensitive to the needs of visitors coming from different cultures, and thus create a more comfortable environment for them. The issue of multicultural societies has recently become a sensitive issue, due to global mass migration. There is a belief that ethnic or cultural fractionalisation would necessarily bring about difficulties of understanding and cooperation, leading to lower economic performance, less st...
There is a belief that ethnic or cultural diversity would necessarily bring about difficulties of... more There is a belief that ethnic or cultural diversity would necessarily bring about difficulties of understanding and cooperation, lower economic performance, less stable economic and social processes and, ultimately a slowdown of economic output. On the other hand, ethnic fractionalisation and the resulting cultural diversity can create a pool of valuable resources comprising knowledge, traditions, skills, customs, that can initiate innovative ideas and creativity. The paper analyses the impacts of ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity on the competitiveness of countries, their income levels, and quality of life. measured by the Global Competitiveness Index. A cross-country multiple regression analysis of 155 countries was done, comparing different diversity indicators and assessing their impacts on GCI, GNI per capita and HDI. Linguistic diversity was found to positively influence economic performance, while ethnic fractionalisation had negative impacts only in high-income coun...
In January 2006 The Keszthely-Heviz Microregion Multifunctional and Development Association toget... more In January 2006 The Keszthely-Heviz Microregion Multifunctional and Development Association together with the Georgikon Faculty of Agriculture Keszthely of the University of Pannonia, and the Krizevci Agricultural College (Croatia) started a cooperation project within the framework of the INTERREG IIIA Slovenia-Hungary-Croatia Neighbourhood Programme of the European Union under the title „ Development features of cross-border regions” (SLO/HU/CRO-4012-106/2004/01/HU-74 sz), . In this project the Croatian-Hungarian borderline area is assessed, as a case study to identify the cooperation possibilities mutually beneficial for the actors of the economy in both sides of the border. Within the project the socioeconomic situation is surveyed using questionnaires and interviews as primary information sources, to find out the requirements for successful cooperation, and then, based on the findings of this survey a teaching programme of 30 contact hours has been developed to train professiona...
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Papers by Zsuzsanna Bacsi
A fent elmondottak alapján a diplomadolgozatban a fejlődés és növekedés egyes fontosabb kérdéseinek elemzésére teszünk kísérletet, az elméleti közgazdasági megközelítésekre és több fejlett ország empirikus idősoraira támaszkodva.
A general assumption says that if immigrants have an ethnic, religious and cultural background similar to the host country, their integration may not cause serious problems, but otherwise the challenge may be too hard to face. Ethnic diversity and fractionalisation may go together with cultural fractionalisation, if the new, ethnically different immigrant population will not, or cannot become integrated, keeping strictly to their traditional home culture, customs and marrying within their own subgroup. In this case ethnic differences may survive long after the arrival of the immigrants to the host country, and cultural diversification is maintained in every levels of life.
Assuming the above as a general trend for immigration, there is a belief that ethnic fractionalisation necessarily bring about difficulties of understanding and cooperation, lower economic performance, less stable economic and social processes and, ultimately a slowdown of economic output. On the other hand, ethnic fractionalisation and the resulting cultural diversity can be welcome as a valuable resource, in the form of diversification of knowledge, traditions, skills, customs, that can become a source of innovative ideas and creativity.
In the present paper evidence is looked for the relationship between ethnic fractionalisation and the level of economic development, income, or quality of life. As a side issue, the cultural impacts of ethnic differences manifested in different languages and religions are also considered, using data for 155 countries of the world, and applying statistical analyses.