Countless Activities Await Sports Lovers at Lake Balaton in Spring

The dynamic development of sports tourism has a positive impact on tourism at Lake Balaton, attracting a large number of guests to the “Hungarian sea” by mid-spring, Világgazdaság reports, citing a statement by the Balaton Tourism Association.

A study by UNWTO shows that sports-related travel now accounts for more than 10 percent of the world’s tourism revenues. Hungary is no exception to the trend: Tamás Fekete, President of the Balaton Tourism Association, pointed out that last weekend, tens of thousands of tourists came to the lake, of whom around 28,000 took part in a running race, but the region is also extremely popular with cyclists and sailors.

Tourism experts forecast a 17.5 percent increase in this segment between 2023 and 2030. The association president believes that the professional organizations responsible for tourism on Lake Balaton have seen these changes in the global market in good time. The pace of change is one of the reasons why there is already an active sports life at Lake Balaton in winter and spring, he noted.

Perhaps the biggest change on an annual basis is felt by those who also like cycling in the region.

In recent years, the country’s largest geographic and most complex cycling tourism development project at Lake Balaton has been completed.

In addition, the Balatonbike365 website has been created, also functioning as a tourist information portal. Here you will find 4,000 tourist services and 1,000 natural attractions, grouped into 30 categories. Good news for the first cyclists of spring is that BalatonBike365 centers in Balatonfüred, Balatonföldvár. and Keszthely are now open daily, and guided e-bike tours will start from Badacsonytomaj this weekend.

The highlight of last weekend was the 19th Ultrabalaton. It attracted not only runners but also a significant number of cycling companions to Lake Balaton. This crowd of tens of thousands of people was a major economic boost for local businesses.

But the weekend was not just about running. The marinas were also buzzing with activity. Many people are taking sailing courses, which shows the growing interest in sailing. The association stressed that sailing is no longer a sport for the upper classes and that it is never too late to start.

It is estimated that there are 30-35,000 active sailors in Hungary, who often spend several days at Lake Balaton.

Tamás Fekete stressed that sailing instruction provides the region with future returning guests, attracting active, multi-seasonal tourists who visit the lake not only in summer but also in autumn and spring, when sailing is more ideal.

Via Világgazdaság, Featured image: MTI/Varga György