The Recentralization of Public Administration in Hungary After 2010: The Case of Changes in the Organizational Model of the Administration Responsible for Tourism

Abstract

This paper examines the changes in the model of government and local administration in Hungary, resulting from the process of recentralization initiated in 2010 by the right-wing conservative Fidesz Party, which holds a constitutional majority, and its leader, Viktor Orbán. These changes are illustrated using the example of the administration responsible for tourism. To this end, an analysis of the legal regulations contained in numerous legal acts sanctioning these changes was conducted. It was noted that one of the reasons for the reforms was the redefinition of the state's responsibilities in the field of tourism and the need for their effective implementation. It was indicated that the establishment of the Hungarian Tourism Agency in 2016 was of key importance in this regard, as it became the most important institution implementing the state's tourism policy. The research task was to answer the question: have the reforms allowed the state to implement its tourism policy more effectively? Based on the research, it seems that in this case, the answer is affirmative, as the strategically important tourism sector has recently seen a significant growth. However, we should not lose sight of the negative aspects of centralization trends, manifested primarily in the significant limitation of the autonomy of Hungarian local governments.