Strengthening the family-friendly and four-season nature of the tourist region, the viewpoints around Lake Balaton were connected to a network. The development which was implemented with European Union funding of the 2014-2020 programming period, helps visitors not only visit one tourist attraction but as many as possible during their active rest.
Balaton could not be left out from the project of national importance, which was meant to promote the development of services in touristic areas. With the help of a consortium led by the Hungarian Tourism Agency, the viewpoints and lookout towers around the lake were connected to a network within the framework of a programme named Balaton from bird’s eye view.
When connecting the viewpoints, the developers were guided by the goal that in the future they would not only be one attraction for visitors looking for active rest, but that a tourism product would be created in a network that would mitigate the regional concentration and at the same time reduce the seasonality characteristic of the region.
As a result of the developments that started at the end of 2018, the Kis-hegy forest experience center in Balatonlelle and the “Molyhos-tölgy” rest terrace in Szántód forest were among the first to be finished. The Óvár look-out tower in Szigliget have been renewed and equipped with child-friendly elements, and a fairy tale learning trail with interactive play elements was created in Balatongyörök, Keszthely Mountains, around the Batsányi look-out tower and on Szerelemdomb. Furthermore, visitor counters were installed at four popular attractions – Festetics, Batsányi, Óvár look-out towers in Szigliget, and the look-out tower in Tihany.
The project continued in 2021 with the static strengthening of the Festetics viewpoint in Gyenesdiás, and in 2022 in Balatonföldvár, due to the renovation of the viewpoint’s surroundings the services of the SHIP History Visitor Center were expanded. The municipality of Fonyód also made progress in local tourism through the support of the Economic Development and Innovation Operational Programme: it renovated the Szaplonczay promenade, where a service building was established, and also developed the Sipos-hegyi and Várhegy look-out towers.
Compared to the parallel but isolated investments, the main advantage of the current complex look-out tower developments is that this comprehensive tourism program was put together by the consortium leader, who also provided a tourism expert in the area until the project ended. According to the intention of the investors, the active, eco-tourism product was created with conscious planning which will significantly contribute to the better utilization of existing accommodations outside of high season, to extending the average length of stay, to achieving a higher number of visitors and to strengthening the family-friendly character of the destination.
The program was implemented with European Union funding under EDIOP-7.1.9-17-2018-00016 project.
Find out more about the project in the Project Finder: Details
