The prospects of regional market place developments in economic geographical perspective: Case study of Balaton Resort Area, Hungary

Abstract

Today's investments can be accomplished by involving numerous sources either with the aim of stimulating the local economy with an infrastructural project, the innovative development of a service activity or a land rehabilitation interference. The European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund or the community initiative LEADER can be found among the EU sources. My study introduces the group of the present Hungarian tender sources which, utilising the above mentioned sources, create primarily a basis for preserving the local workplaces with infrastructural investments by assisting the accessibility of local products and producers to the markets. The secondary analysis of the literature sources, city development strategies and the data on webpages of the applications was applied. With my empirical survey I partially keep track of the 2007–2013 EU investments with similar objectives, demonstrating their usefulness. The data of the investments supported by LEADER in the Balaton Accentuated Tourism Zone (BATZ) (sample area) was recorded with the help of interviews made with the representative and employees of the local government. The results show that from the point of view of the maintainer the operation of the market places is not cost-efficient, without the developments the infrastructural circumstances with long term pay-off would have remained unsolved. The projects directly contribute to the advantageous assessment of the investors of the analysed region and the indirect strengthening of the local economy.