SOUTHERN TRANSDANUBIA - Geography and history
Situated in the south-west of Hungary, Southern Transdanubia has common borders with Western Transdanubia in the north-west, Central Transdanubia in the north and Southern Great Plain in the east. The southern border is an international one, with Croatia. Southern Transdanubia covers an area of 14 169 square kilometres and it is the less densely populated region of the country (70 inhabitants per square kilometre in 2003). The region had 989 400 inhabitants at 1st of January 2003, representing 9.8% of the total population of the country.
The dual tourism potential of the region is guaranteed on one hand by the whole southern shore of Lake Balaton and the Mecsek-Villány Hills on the other, providing the opportunity of excellent vine culture and wine production.
Although there were several layoffs in coal and uranium mining, the limestone stock of the region is suitable for cement production, or having changed colour in some places, can be used as marble. The performance of the atomic power station in Paks is vital in the region, while the big number of rivers enable industry to settle down there, which has not been the case until now.
Regional economy
In 2001, Southern Transdanubia was ranked at the fourth place among the regions regarding the Gross Domestic Product per capita with EUR 4 275 per inhabitant.
There are as many as 1350 companies with foreign ownership settled in Southern Transdanubia and the number of companies owned by Hungarians is also slowly developing. The industrial development strategy of the region can be based on the large companies and enterprise development organisations operating in Southern Transdanubia. It is justified by the fact that 18 industrial parks have been set up in the region so far. They offer communication services and supporting facilities for newly established businesses.
The production sector is dominated by the agriculture with the connecting food processing industry, energy production, and tourism. However, there is a significant increase in the high-tech sectors as well. In 2001, the employment rate of Southern Transdanubia was 52.3%, while the unemployment rate was 7.8%. In 2001, the primary sector accounted for 8.4% of the Gross Value Added of the region, which was more than 4 percentage points higher compared to the national average. The opposite trend appeared for the secondary and tertiary sectors, with respective shares of 30.8% (against 31.3% nationally) and 60.7% (against 64.4% nationally).
The sector of electric power production is more developed than the national average. The improvement of the transportation facilities of the region ? including roads, railways, waterways, and airfields ? has a key role in the dynamic development of the region. Furthermore, protecting the values of the environment has always been a priority of the region, as it is well shown by the recultivation activities after closing down the coal mines ? acknowledged all over in Central-Eastern Europe.
Natural endowments
The endowments of the region make its lands excellent for agricultural production. As much as 80% of the region?s surface is arable land and the proportion of forests is also significant. The sub-Mediterranean climate of the land is beneficial for agriculture as well. As a result, the region has a prominent position on national level in the production of maize and it is one of the country?s most important vine-growing regions. The region is rich in minerals and the only nuclear power plant of the country operates in Paks. This is why 40% of Hungary?s electric power supply is produced in Southern Transdanubia.
The region?s endowments in the field of tourism are excellent. It is rich in thermal and medicinal waters offering good conditions for developing tourism. Therefore, one of the short-term priorities of the region is the promotion of medicinal tourism. The natural beauty and the rare species of Gemenc, the Danube-Drava National Park, or Inner-Somogy are all attractions of eco-tourism, while the folk traditions with the colourful events and festivals can be enjoyed in the form of cultural tourism. Due to the above attractions and the popularity of the Lake Balaton, Southern Transdanubia is ranked third among the Hungarian regions in terms of tourism. (Based on the number of tourist nights spent).
Southern Transdanubia is one of the intellectual centres of Hungary. The region follows Budapest and its environs concerning the number of higher education students compared to the number of inhabitants. Both Pécs and Kaposvár are university centres with an influence on the whole of Transdanubia. The picture is completed with the academic training performed in Szekszárd and Paks. Pécs is an important intellectual basis of the country, the home of the University of Pécs and the Centre for Regional Studies of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.
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