Government Will Provide HUF 1 billion to Preserve Gypsy Music in Restaurants

The government will provide almost HUF 1 billion (EUR 2.56 million) in non-repayable funding to help 500 gypsy musicians to work in cafés and restaurants over four months, boosting the attractiveness of the restaurants participating in the program.

Gypsy music in Hungarian cafés and traditional restaurants is a unique tourism tool that enhances the guest experience, and its preservation and promotion is of key importance for domestic tourism, writes Turizmus.com. Recognizing this, the Hungarian Tourism Agency (MTÜ) has proposed to the government to continue the Muzsikáló Magyarország program launched in 2018, the MTÜ emphasized in a statement.

The program aims to preserve and promote the traditions of traditional café gypsy music.

The government has launched a sectoral program worth a total of HUF 15 billion (EUR 38.4 million) aimed at developing tourism and boosting its competitiveness, the first element of which is now being launched. The 2024 program, worth a total of HUF 1 billion, will enable nearly 500 gypsy musicians to play at cafés and restaurants for four months. During this period, the supported bands will play for three hours a day, four days a week, in the cafés and restaurants of their choice.

“With the non-refundable subsidy, the government is essentially covering the cost of live music in restaurants,” said Zoltán Guller, President of the Hungarian Tourism Agency. They are confident that many catering businesses will take advantage of the opportunity offered by the initiative, as a band’s performance can not only lure guests in from the street, but also provide an experience that they will be happy to share with their relatives and friends.

Live gypsy music is thus a successful way of increasing the attractiveness of hospitality outlets.

“The program is a win-win situation for musicians, the participating restaurants, guests, and local tourism,” he emphasized. The call for applications is open from April 29 to May 27 and is open to leaders of gypsy bands of four to six musicians, including string players, clarinetists, and cimbalom (stringed instrument) players. The process is simple and can be completed with minimal administration. A telephone and e-mail helpline is also available to assist musicians with any queries they may have. However, the MTÜ would like to draw attention to the fact that it is advisable to start the application process as soon as possible, as the evaluation of applications is likely to be suspended if the budget is exhausted.

Via Turizmus.com; Featured image via Fortepan/Farkas Jenő