Experience Circle at the Balaton Uplands | TÁJTÉKA Mentoring Program
In April-May 2023, we successfully concluded the "Experience Circles" TÁJTÉKA mentoring program developed with the aim of knowledge sharing, joint thinking, community building, networking and cooperation going the year-long beyond the European Capital of Culture program. This aimed to foster a network of active local community, permanent and temporary local residents, entrepreneurs, creatives, representatives of local governments and cultural institutions, program organizers, and tourism professionals.
In the form of a five-session comprehensive training and workshop the participants explored innovative ways to shape their environment in a smart and sustainable manner. The objective was to promote the development of tourism services that showcase the cultural and natural values of the Balaton Uplands through the intelligent management of the local landscape.
The training and workshop series guided participants along the following themes:
1.workshop
What has changed or is changing in the world of tourism? What does tourism and visit mean today and what will it mean in the near future? The first session gave a general overview of the interdependent relationship between visitors, services and management. The participants formulated visions, objectives and took the first steps for their cooperative work.
2.workshop
There are many different discussions between tourism professionals about what tourists are really looking for today. Three things would certainly be on everyone's list: scenery, story and identity. In the second session, the participants identified the different types of local stakeholders and their networks in the area. Subsequently, these internal connections determined their external presentation and content.
3.workshop
What makes a brand passionate, reflexive or conscious? Why is this important? Our third workshop gave an insight of what today's tourist is looking for and how local and regional agents can respond to this. At the third meeting, participants formulated values, missions, and feelings corresponding to Lake Balaton and created services related to the region based on the visitor’s behaviors and attitudes. The participants were able to articulate the region and their own position in it in a way that is visible, distinctive and exciting.
4.workshop
The fourth workshop focused on creating experience routes (experience offerings) and the interconnected and coordinated communication of the service value chain. It was about delivering content that draws on captivation and authentic cultural values, which can represent experiential knowledge that helps local communities to thrive and survive. The teams analysed publications, explored and applied models, and brainstormed ideas. Their aim was to develop services that are based on authentic cultural values, promote the cohesion and survival of local communities and transfer experiential knowledge and experiences.
5.workshop
Space has a dual mission. The first is to create a real and unique profile, the second is to harmonise the interests of those who live there, those who come there and those who see opportunities there. How can both be achieved at the same time? This was the question addressed in the fifth session. At the end of the series participants concluded a 10+1 point "agreement" to continue the work that has been started during the mentor program.
As a testament to their dedication, the participants crafted a 10+1 point "agreement" to share, develop and take forward the ideas and suggestions they had made together. To facilitate ongoing collaboration, the participants established an online platform called "KözösStég, where they have been actively sharing their plans and experiences, motivating and supporting each other, and collaborating on cooperative projects that can only benefit the region.
The mentoring program was led by Gábor Bódis, tourism marketing and management decision-maker, university lecturer, founder of Hungary NEXT, whose invaluable support and guidance throughout the mentoring program played a pivotal role in our collective success.
Throughout the program, it was truly inspiring to witness passionate local actors eagerly sharing their experiences, perspectives, and collaborative ideas week after week. Together, we engaged in thought-provoking discussions, unleashed our creativity, and continuously worked towards realizing our shared values in line with the objectives of TÁJTÉKA, aiming to preserve the heritage and develop sustainable strategies for the future of the Balaton Uplands.
The TÁJTÉKA mentoring programme was made possible with the support of the Veszprém-Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture programme.
