Opportunity or economic pressure? : Situation analysis of enterprises in the Lake Balaton resort area

Abstract

The importance of the service sector in the Lake Balaton Resort Area is increasing, creating new alternative workplaces for local inhabitants. This affects mainly employees in the primary sector, because they can hardly have many other opportunities as long as local laws forbid the construction of industrial complexes. This study classifies the enterprises into branches and examines the concentration of retail trade and catering trade. It compares the results of two studies carried out in the area and outlines the situation of tourism-based ventures. In 2005 the Resort Area consisted of 164 settlements including 26,000 enterprises. The number of enterprises experienced a 10% increase during the summer season. In 2010 the data regarding the amount of settlements and enterprises changed; currently there are 179 settlements in the Resort Area of which 51 lie near Lake Balaton. We used queries in both studies with the co-operation of 300-300 ventures. We were interested in their geographical position, sectoral classification, and size class. We have to be familiar with the problems of the entrepreneurs and residents living in the area in order to be able to improve their quality of life. The questions concerned the following facts: the primary goals of the owners; whether the ventures are economically successful in their opinion; the components of their prosperity; if they overcome difficulties on their own or with help. The research shows that individual enterprises are often more successful than suppliers and demonstrates the effects that the previous year’s investments has on their turnover.