Mikóháza

The title of the tender: The development of wine and brandy tourism in the historical Tokaj-Hegyalja /Rozvoj turizmu viazaneho na víno a destiláty v historickom území Tokaj-Hegyalja

ID number of the tender: HUSK/0801/1.3.1/0143

The local governments of Mikóháza, Sátoraljaújhely and Kistoronya have applied for a tender within the Hungary – Slovakia Cross-border Co-operation Programme 2007-2013 with the title of ” The development of wine and brandy tourism in the historical Tokaj-Hegyalja” and they have won more than 1,7 million EURO financial aid. The tender focuses on the sustainable development of the area, the development of tourism and human resources and the cross-border cultural and innovative cooperation. As tourism is one of the most important and growing economic sectors of the area, it can be said that the project is really up to date. Taking this fact into consideration the co-operative partners have created an agreement to describe the members of the cooperation and the general and concrete aims:

• Creation of a high quality tourism with a Slovakian – Hungarian cooperation to facilitate the prosperity of the cross-border wine tourism.

• Exploitation of the outstanding potential of wine tourism even in the peripheral areas of Tokaj –Hegyalja.

• Creation of new workplaces, the increase of employment and reduction of unemployment rate by the multiplier effect of tourism.

Concrete aims:

• Creation of new wine tourism centres in the partner villages and towns included a joint Hungarian-Slovakian tourist centre.

• Increase of tourism and the number of guests in the partner villages and towns.

• 50 % of the guests should get to the cross-border partner too, as a result of the cross-border cooperation.

The investments and developments within the project would contribute to the positive image and fame of Tokaj-Hegyalja. The works have started. According to the project, the historic wine cellars of Mikóháza called “Alsó és Felső pincesor” are going to be renovated. The roads in front of the cellars and the footbridges across the brook are also going to be renovated. Public places and squares with benches and information charts are going to be created, and it is planned to open the “House of Brandy” with an information centre to provide information to the guests about the cross-border history of wine and brandy. The total cost of the investment is 797.621 EURO. The several developments in Mikóháza could serve as a starting point for the foundation of gastro tourism as the new public squares would provide enough space for festivals, where visitors could taste local drink and food.

In Sátoraljaújhely the “Ungvári” wine cellars will be reconstructed adding them open air resting areas, playground, tourist information charts and inner road system. A drainage network and fences are also will be built around them. The total cost of these investments is 340.000 EURO.

In Kistoronya (Slovakia) a showroom called House of Tokay Wine will be opened, where several indoor and outdoor exhibitions, a souvenir shop and a conference room would be found. The function of the showroom is to introduce and promote the traditions, the products and the production processes of the wine region of Tokay. The total cost of the House of Tokay Wine in Kistoronya is 650.604 EURO.

All of the members of the partnership emphasized the importance of the cooperation, and according to this, they have agreed on a joint development, implementation and financing. During the process of implementation they will synchronise their marketing and they also ready to publish joint brochures and websites. Promotional items with a unified image would be preferred by them and they will take part in festivals, exhibitions and other events jointly.

The introduction of the parts of the project

1. The development of the infrastructure around the Wine Cellars of Mikóháza

The following works will be done in Mikóháza on the area of the “Alsó” and “Felső” wine cellars owned by the Local Government:

• Gardening, creation of public squares (the set of a pergola, information charts, benches and toilets; renovation of footbridges).

• Road works, cleaning of the brook (these works will be done in front of the cellars, otherwise they could not be reached in wet weather),

• The opening of a smaller showroom called The House of Brandy, which could serve as an information centre, too.

2. The overall infrastructural development of “Ungvár” wine cellars in Sátoraljaújhely

The investments are planned to be realized in two stages. As the first phase “Ungvár” wine cellars and their environment will be developed and the works of the second phase will affect the valley of cellars called “Pincék völgye”. The main gate and the concierge office would be renovated, and a stone fence would be built with information tables by the project. The other security fences included the hedge near the main entrance would also be renewed. The less attractive sight of the private gardens on the side of the town would be also hidden by a wall fence. It is also planned to set a sewage system to the existing buildings, and the modernization of the water and electrical network would be also essential (e. g. the change of the overhead cables by underground cables, the building of a new road covered by rubble with drainage, the cleaning and maintenance of the existing drainage ditches).

3. The House of Tokay Wine, Kistoronya (Malá Tŕňa)

In Kistoronya (Slovakia) a showroom called House of Tokay Wine will be opened, where several indoor and outdoor exhibitions, a souvenir shop and a conference room would be found. The function of the showroom is to introduce and promote the traditions and the present of the wine region of Tokay by the products and the viticulture of the area.

The parts of the building

Exhibition rooms

Conference room

Souvenir shop with products of the primary producers

Wine cellar

Attic

General aims:

• The creation of a high quality tourism with a Slovakian – Hungarian cooperation to facilitate the prosperity of the cross-border wine tourism.

• Exploitation of the outstanding potential of wine tourism even in the peripheral and less-known areas of Tokaj –Hegyalja.

• The strengthening of the small and medium-sized businesses and the creation of new workplaces, the increase of employment and reduction of unemployment rate by the multiplier effect of tourism.

Concrete aims:

• Creation of new wine tourism centres in the partner villages and towns included a joint Hungarian-Slovakian tourist centre.

• By the fifth year after finishing the project the number of the visitors in the towns and villages of the partnership should reach the 10.000 guests in Mikóháza (it is 1000 guests/ year now) , the 17.000 guests in Sátoraljaújhely (it is 10.611 guests/year) and the 14.000 guests in Kistoronya / Mala Trna (it is 5000 guests/ year at present).

• 50 % of the guests should get to the cross-border partner too, as a result of the cross-border cooperation.

Expected achievements:

• The surrounding of the wine cellars in Mikóháza and Sátoraljaújhely will have been renovated, new public squares and open air exhibitions will have been created. Street lighting will have been set in Sátoraljaújhely, a new road will have been built in Mikóháza, and the brook will also have been cleaned. As a result of these work Mikóháza and Sátoraljaújhely will have become ready for the increasing tourism.

• In the centre of Mikóháza The House of Brandy will have been opened, which will demonstrate the viticulture and brandy culture of the area, and it will also serve as an information centre for tourists to provide further information about the history of wine and brandy and the cross-border facilities of wine tourism.

• In Kistoronya (Slovakia) a showroom called House of Tokay Wine will have been opened, where several indoor and outdoor exhibitions, a souvenir shop and a conference room would be found.

• Joint wine tourism programmes will have been organized.

• The members of the partnership will synchronize their marketing activity.