Research on the quality of life in the spa towns of Hungary

Within the framework of the Széchenyi Plan, the realised spa investments and the accommodation investment related to them significantly improved the quantitative and qualitative indicators of the health tourism supply in Hungary. The health tourism developments promoted by the tourism politics (Budai 2001, Budai & Székács 2001), and the closely related marketing communication motivated the researchers to devote more attention than previously to the examination of seemingly positive changes of the socio-economic effects (Mundruczó & Szennyessy 2005, Formádi 2007, Ács & Laczkó 2008). In connection with the topic, with the co-ordination of Hungarian Academy of Science Geographical Research Institute, in the summer of 2007, a research began that primarily concentrates on giving an overall picture about the quality of life of the population of the settlements in connection with health tourism. The tourism that influences the strengthening of the regional competitiveness, becomes the measurable depositary of the living conditions of the given settlement, on one hand by satisfying the needs of visitors (developing a service industry), on the other by improving the local population’s living conditions (creating a liveable settlement) (Dobos & Jeffres 1993, Jurowski & Brown 2001). It is recognised that the Hungarian nation, which is struggling with significant challenges in relation to physical and mental health, can improve some of the aspects defining the quality of life by the active consumption of the supply of health tourism (Kopp & Kovács 2006). However, is the quality of life better for those citizens, who live in a settlement that offers health oriented tourism? To be able to give a cautious answer to this question an overall research is needed. The first step of the research is to analyse the guest turnover rates of spa towns in Hungary (especially focusing on investments relating to the Széchenyi Plan), and the mathematical-statistical analysis of socioeconomic affects. With this, we aimed to create a comprehensive picture about the processes that were generated by the spa developments, as they are commonly success stories, especially regarding the demand changes that are directly/indirectly influencing the quality of life and their impression on local society and econom