MINŐSÍTETT GYÓGYHELLYEL RENDELKEZŐ, ÖTEZERNÉL KISEBB LÉLEKSZÁMÚ TELEPÜLÉSEK EGÉSZSÉGTURIZMUSÁNAK LOKÁLIS HATÁSAI

Abstract

Health tourism is a key element of tourism in Hungary. The settlements with certified health
resorts are the flagships of the Hungarian health tourism, with a large number of settlements
that have less than 5,000 permanent inhabitants represented among them. The growing
popularity and demand for health tourism has the potential to have an impact on the
municipalities with a health tourism offer.
The research underpinning the study focuses on Hungarian settlements with certified health
resorts that have less than 5,000 inhabitants (Bogács, Bük, Demjén, Hévíz, Zalakaros,
Kehidakustány, Harkány, Igal, Egerszalók, Mátraderecske, Parád, Cserkeszőlő).
The research aims to examine the local, settlement-level effects of health tourism, including the
effects on the settlement as a whole and its inhabitants. The research is based on questionnaires
filled in by the residents of the settlements and their local governments.
Based on the results, it is clear that health tourism has an impact on the subjective quality of
life of the inhabitants of the examined settlements, as well as on some factors potentially
influencing the tourism success of the settlement.