Cross-border tourism management by an EGTC
The Novohrad-Nógrád Geopark was established in 2008, after more than a decade of professional preparatory work. The initiative, which aims at the preservation of the common geological heritage and the promotion of nature-based tourism, was launched by the Bükk National Park and the Cerová vrchovina CHKO (Cerová vrchovina CHKO), but the Municipality of Fiľakovo, the Salgótarján Small Area Association and the Nógrád Geopark Association also played an important role.
In 2010, UNESCO included the initiative in the European and Global Geoparks Network as the world’s first cross-border geopark. However, the geopark title is owned separately by a Hungarian company (Nógrádi Geopark Nkft., based in Salgótarján, later Novohrad-Nógrád Nonprofit Ltd.) and a Slovakian civil association (Združenie právnických osôb Geopark Novohrad-Nógrád, based in Fülek/Fiľakovo), which makes the cross-border integrated development of the geopark, covering 68 settlements in Hungary and 24 in Slovakia, difficult. The Bükk National Park could not be a member of the Hungarian organisation, as the institution cannot be a member of a company or an association. The only legal form in which they can participate is the EGTC. This would be important because the national park is the manager of the geological heritage located in the Hungarian territory of the geopark. During the 4-yearly UNESCO audit, the delegation also criticised the fact that BNPI cannot participate in the joint work. The main challenge for the non-profit association set up on the Slovak side is to raise funds. European and global membership requires participation in the international events of the two networks, which sometimes means travelling to distant continents, and the association cannot cover the costs.
Furthermore, the current structure is very complex, difficult to understand and involves a large number of duplications, while the membership composition is not optimal from a management point of view.
The solution to the above problems is a joint cross-border management organisation, for which the EU EGTC Regulation can provide the framework. Such an association was already established in the region in 2011, with the membership of the municipalities of Fiľakovo and Salgótarján, the Novohrad-Nógrád EGTC, based in Salgótarján, which, however, almost exclusively implemented developments on the Hungarian side, then went bankrupt after the 2015 municipal elections and was liquidated in 2018. In the meantime, however, UNESCO itself has found the legal solution suitable for the governance of European cross-border geoparks and has included it in its recommendations, and two such geoparks are now managed by EGTCs.
Both countries have nationalised the relevant EU regulation.
EU regulation:
Slovakia:
Hungary:
There is no legal obstacle to the creation of an EGTC, the use of the legal instrument removes an administrative (governance) obstacle.
There is full openness on the part of the local authorities potentially affected by membership, the national park and the Ministry of Agriculture. On the Hungarian side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is providing maximum support for the establishment of the EGTC, while on the Slovak side the Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization is currently the competent authority, whose representatives are open to informal discussions prior to the establishment.
The partners participated in the reference group workshop held in Ipolytarnóc on 11 September 2024, where they agreed on the steps and tasks of the establishment process. CESCI prepared the first draft texts of the convention and statutes of the EGTC, including the points where a decision of the founders is needed. In order to establish the EGTC, Salgótarján must acquire the ownership of the geopark title from the non-profit limited liability company, and the civil association based in Fiľakovo must not retain any members with entrepreneurial status. At present, these tasks are being carried out by the parties concerned.
The Karawanken Geopark (AT/SI) and the Muskauer Faltenbogen / Łuk Mużakowa geopark (DE/PL) are managed by an EGTC respectively. From the former we managed to obtain both the statutes and the convention. The Karawanken-Karavanke UNESCO Global Geopark, operating in the form of an EGTC, promotes the creation of sustainable tourism through the cooperation of nine Austrian and five Slovenian municipalities. As an association with independent legal personality, it is able to implement cross-border developments in the field of tourism. The EGTC unites the natural and cultural values existing on both sides of the border by creating uniform tourism products and joint management.
The process of setting up the EGTC could start and even be completed in 2025.
Uniform training and certification of water tour guides
The Danube and its natural branch system offer outstanding water tourism opportunities along the Hungarian-Slovak border. Although there are an increasing number of point-based water tourism developments in the Hungarian-Slovak border region, active cross-border tourism products (bi-directional hiking trails, tours) are still only available in small numbers. The fact that currently in Hungary and Slovakia different rules apply to the training of water tour guides, the enforcement of safety conditions or the issuing of the relevant permits makes it difficult to organise regular tours.
It is worth clarifying who, with what qualification, what permit, what mooring plan, can lead a hike on a border river. Ways of preventing possible infringements and penalties should be explored before extending services.
Education and training of tour guides in the two countries, and thus in the border region, are currently not based on uniform principles. As there is no communication between the relevant bodies, it is easier for all authorities to turn their heads and the guides lead tours on their own responsibility without proper information.
In Hungary, the water tours and water camps organised by the Hungarian Kayak-Kenu Federation and other institutions were previously led by athletes or volunteer physical education teachers who were experienced in water sports and who relied only on their own personal experience. They were not registered and had no professional knowledge of water tour organisation and management, nor of water rescue, lifesaving and first aid. Therefore, in Hungary, the programme requirement for a vocational qualification in adult education and training (SzPk-00240-19-000) has been established for water tour organisation, water tour guiding, water lifeguarding. The programme requirement is based on modules that meet European requirements, including the modules of the ELESA recommendations (European LEarning Syllabus for outdoor Animators), and can therefore be the basis for negotiations on the development of joint Hungarian-Slovak modules:
There is no explicit water tour guide training on the Slovak side. The Red Cross provides lifeguard training, which is a prerequisite for water tour guiding. A course in water rescue is compulsory for those who carry out preventive or direct rescue on waterways. The training is differentiated along 5 levels, from level 3 (4, 5) onwards, a person can carry out open water rescue (bronze, silver and gold levels, corresponding to international certification training).
The Hungarian Kayak-Kenu Federation (MKKSZ), the Hungarian University of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, the Active and Ecotourism Development Centre (AÖFK) and the Hungarian Nature Walking Federation are happy to participate in further expert discussions. It is necessary to involve representatives of other relevant sectors and to initiate joint consultations.
Consultations have been held with the AÖFK, the MKKSZ and they are open to further expert discussions.
IPA Hungary-Serbia – The SWIMLAB project aims to provide training and competition opportunities for young people in swimming, contributing to the mass promotion of the sport and the development of cross-border links between swimming communities. It will also support coaching training and introduce diving in Serbia using expertise from Mako. The project will strengthen links between Hungarian and Serbian sports organisations through cooperation activities, events and public outreach, promoting sport and community involvement in the border region. The planned sports events and exchanges will create a sustainable, long-term partnership between participants and water sports enthusiasts on both sides of the border. Joint training and competitions will be open to all ages, with a special focus on youth talent development and broad community participation.
Active tourism on border rivers would be boosted by a harmonised regulatory framework and mutual recognition of qualifications. The application of the minimum requirements developed in the ELESA project (in partnership with Hungary), previously developed in cooperation with several EU countries, could create a common basis and help harmonisation. The ELESA project aimed at designing a generic set of requirements consisting of a comprehensive and innovative learning curriculum for outdoor animators, built in line with the Lifelong Learning Programme and the results of the Leonardo projects EQFOA and CLO sector, which can be used in higher education, vocational education and training and adult education.
Cross-border water tour management and organisation involves several sectors. It is mainly a problem for the tourism sector, but it also affects education (adult education), nature conservation (restrictions), transport (Navigation Code). Through inter-sectoral coordination and expert consultation, it is possible to develop a solution with the parties concerned.
The project is financially supported by the European Union,
within the framework of the Interreg Hungary – Slovakia Programme.
For more information visit www.skhu.eu.
The project is financially supported by the European Union,
within the framework of the Interreg Hungary – Slovakia Programme.
For more information visit www.skhu.eu.