Károly Pető

International Trends in Recreational and Wellness Tourism

Abstract These days the various forms of health tourism are gaining an enhanced role in world tourism and this is also true of the economic performance of some countries. In the last decade, health tourism featuring an on-going development saw a dynamic development primarily in the area of wellness tourism at both national and international levels. The countries with the most significant wellness supplies and tourist movement are located in the first place in Europe (mostly in German-speaking and Mediterranean countries), North America and Southeast Asia (Kiss K. - Torok I. 2001, Ratz T. 2004). The general trends such as the enhancement of individualization, demographic transformations, changes in womens social roles, spiritualization, the appreciation of healthy lifestyles have created the social background of the demand for wellness services and products (Friedl H. 2007, Zsigmond E. 2007).As for experts in various areas of science, the wellness market, due to social transformations and the favourable economic performance of the sector, is likely to become one of the fastest developing touristic and economic sectors (Ardell D. 1985, Nefiodov L. 1996, Horx, M. 2001, Scholz, J. 2003, Pilzer, P. 2007). The fact, however, that the various countries are unable to fully exploit the potentials hidden in natural endowments is not exclusively a problem in Hungary; moreover, it leads to the uniformity of supply and endangers the sustainability of natural assets. In the coming decades well-to-do, ageing but at the same time active age groups aspiring for a higher quality of life, particularly in North America, Scandinavia and Western Europe may represent a huge potential for wellness tourism. Regarding wellness data there are no uniform measurement systems, i.e. terminological differences in various countries hinder the comparison of data on recreation and wellness. Both the sector and the customers need more information, data and resources to make wellness services competitive and trustworthy. For this reason, this study seeks to introduce the international and national trends in tourism, including recreational tourism and also to draw up a general picture of the international wellness market.

Information technology developments of logistics service providers in Hungary

ABSTRACT The objective of this research is to examine the role of sector-specific information technology (IT) developments and their significance in terms of the revenue and earnings before tax of Logistics Service Providers (LSPs), as well as the impact of these developments on the flexibility and integration of LSPs. A survey questionnaire was conducted with 284 LSPs participants. The data provided by the 51 responding enterprises provided a representative sample for the analysis of the sample population and the drawing of general and relevant conclusions related to basic population. It can be concluded that their revenue, earnings before tax and degree of integration into the supply chain depend on the sector-specific IT developments carried out by the given enterprise. IT investments will remain important in the future and the introduction and leveraging the best technologies may yield competitive advantages and higher financial rewards for LSPs.

Measuring of Subjective Quality of Life

Abstract The present study discusses the partial results of a more comprehensive research and its front line goal is to identify the factors which affect the quality of life. Do we subconsciously make some kinds of mathematical calculations weighing our results achieved in certain areas of life to assess how we are getting on? Or rather we use one “indicator” (e.g. money, number of friends, professional recognition) and we assess our situation accordingly? These issues necessarily emerge when it comes to the consideration of the quality of life. Among factors determining life satisfaction, earnings, employment, health and relationships play significant roles. Therefore, on the leading edge of this research are primarily the cognitive factors of life quality. Questionnaires were completed in one of the most popular tourist destinations of Hajduszoboszlo. The 804 local respondents expressed their views primarily about factors determining their well-being and about the impacts of the dominant presence of health tourism on their lives.

Impact of Pesticide Productivity on Food Security

The seven billion global population is projected to grow by 70 million per annum, increasing by 30 % to 9.2 billion in 2050. This increased population density is projected to increase demand for food production by 70 % notably due to changes in dietary habits in developing countries towards high quality food, e.g. greater consumption of meat and milk products, and to the increasing use of grains for livestock feed. The availability of additional agricultural land is limited. Furthermore, more agricultural land will be used to produce bio-based commodities such as bioenergy or fibre instead of food and feed. Thus, we need to grow food on even less land, with less water, using less energy, fertiliser and pesticide than we use today. Given these limitations, sustainable production at elevated levels is urgently needed. The reduction of current yield losses caused by pests are major challenges to agricultural production. This review presents (1) worldwide crop losses due to pests, (2) estimates of pesticide-related productivity, and costs and benefits of pesticide use, (3) approaches to reduce yield losses by chemical, as well as biological and recombinant methods of pest control, and (4) the challenges of the crop protection industry. However, as long as there is a demand for pesticide-based solutions to pest control problems and food security concerns, the externality problems associated with the human and environmental health effects of pesticides needs also to be addressed.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LOHAS SEGMENT, THE CONSUMER GROUP WHICH IS DEVOTED TO SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION

1Debreceni Egyetem, Gazdaságtudományi Kar, Marketing és Kereskedelem Intézet (University of Debrecen, Faculty of Economics, Institute of Marketing and Commerce) 2Debreceni Egyetem, Gazdaságtudományi Kar, Vidékfejlesztés, Turizmusés Sportmenedzsment Intézet (University of Debrecen, Faculty of Economics, Institute of Rural Development, Tourism and Sport Management) 3Debreceni Egyetem, Gazdaságtudományi Kar, Ágazati Gazdaságtan és Módszertani Intézet (University of Debrecen, Faculty of Economics, Institute of Sector Economics and Methodology) H-4032 Debrecen, Böszörményi út 138. e-mail: szakaly.zoltan@econ.unideb.hu

The Size and Characteristics of the LOHAS Segment in Hungary

1Debreceni Egyetem, Gazdaságtudományi Kar, Marketing és Kereskedelem Intézet (University of Debrecen, Faculty of Economics, Institute of Marketing and Commerce) 2Debreceni Egyetem, Gazdaságtudományi Kar, Vidékfejlesztés, Turizmusés Sportmenedzsment Intézet (University of Debrecen, Faculty of Economics, Institute of Rural Development, Tourism and Sport Management) 3Debreceni Egyetem, Gazdaságtudományi Kar, Ágazati Gazdaságtan és Módszertani Intézet (University of Debrecen, Faculty of Economics, Institute of Sector Economics and Methodology) H-4032 Debrecen, Böszörményi út 138. e-mail: szakaly.zoltan@econ.unideb.hu