Sustainable and virtual tourism development in the Nógrád-Hont cross-border region

Bánk and Gyűgy renewed: creation of unique style tourist sites, new, innovative services and virtual experiences for visitors.

The aim of the project was to promote the Nógrád-Hont border region in tourism, combined with the preservation, restoration and development of the cultural and nature conservation heritage of the area. The members of the consortium participating in the implementation of the project financed from the INTERREG program were the village of Bánk, Dudince, and the RTDM Rétság Nyugat-Nógrád County TDM Nonprofit Ltd.

The overall objective was to increase the tourist attractiveness of the two settlements. Both have good endowments, but it can only be exploited by creating an environment that meets the needs of the present age and by providing services that are in line with the world and technical achievements around us. In addition to preserving traditions and closeness to nature, there was a need for innovation both in creating the spectacle and in positioning it in the tourist offer of the region. Thus, in addition to the architectural renewal of the two settlements, IT and virtual reality played an important role.

In Bánk, the parking lot, the bus stop and promenade were renovated, a unique beach entrance and tourist information point at Lake Bánk was built, and a multifunctional terminal was set up, through which constantly updated information about the area and services can be accessed. RTDM Nonprofit Ltd. undertook the development of an interactive educational path, the development of a smartphone application presenting the tourist values of the area, and the design of a special vehicle devoted to tour around surrounding area.

Dudince followed a similar: the main goal was to increase the tourist attraction of the settlement. Dudince is the smallest town in Slovakia, the main source of income for the town is tourism: about three hundred thousand people visit the town and its spa every year, so it is important that the facilities and services follow the needs of the age. Within the framework of the project, the surroundings of the spa were renovated and several new facilities were created (promenade, performance stage, works of art, water structures), which provide opportunities for new leisure activities, cultural events and recreation. The virtual offer has also appeared here: through the multifunctional terminal set up, visitors can get to know the tourist attractions of the area.