THE EFFECT OF THE 10-YEAR EU MEMBERSHIP OF HUNGARY ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN THE SUBREGIONS OF NÓGRÁD COUNTY Part 1: Rural Development

Located in the Northern Hungary Region, Nógrád County has the second smallest area and the smallest population among counties in Hungary. At the same time, Nógrád is also the most forested county in the country (nearly 40% of its cultivated areas is covered by forests), which provides excellent opportunities for active tourism and ecotourism. In addition, this county has the lowest number of towns in the country, which carries a potential primarily for rural tourism. Rural and natural tourism as well as cultural tourism, which can be built on rich treasures of cultural heritage, offer alternative employment opportunities to the population of the county, which has four sub-regions rated as disadvantaged. The study is seeking an answer to the question to what extent the regional policy of the EU contributed to the development of tourism in six sub-regions of the county during the 10-year EU membership of Hungary