Amerikai Magyar Szó, 1988. július-december (42. évfolyam, 27-48. szám)
1988-10-13 / 38. szám
Thursday, Oct. 13. 1988. AMERIKAI MAGYAR SZO 11. Which way is Hungarian spa tourism going? In the past ten years the significance of tourism has been revalued in the eyes of Hungary's social and economic administrators. The general public has also been reacting with greater sensitivity to matters connected with it. The main reason why the evaluation has been favourable is that Hungary's international tourism has been developed evenly and rapidly for a long period. This has had favourable political and social effects, and increasingly important economic ones. Tourism earned Hungary about US $1.8 billion in convertible currency between 1980 and 1986. After deducting the foreign currency used by Hungarians going abroad, the contribution to the balance of payments was $1.1 billion, equal to about 35% of the foreign trade balance in the same period. In 1987 tourism developed substantially more than expected for several reasons. Convertible-currency income, at $555 million, was above the sum forecast for 1960, and 50% more than in the previous year. The surplus was $369.5 million, and it is hoped that the trend will continue. The dynamic development of tourism is helped by the favourable international assessment of the country, by a relatively good supply of goods and law-and-order situation, but it has been decisively due to the investments made in previous years, particularly the hotel and other facilities built under a Hungarian-Austrian credit scheme. These investments have raised the quality of service to visitors and considerably improved our competitive position on the international market. In terms of its thermal and medicinal water reserves, Hungary ranks fifth in the world list, and advantage compounded by a fortunate geographical position. Researchers say there is a hot water ocean under the Carpathian Basin, and in theory a hole bored anywhere on 70% of the country's territory will yield water at a high temperature. Based on these geological endowments, a tourist infrastructure and high-standard health facilities have been brought to commercial spas over the last 10-15 years, while care has been taken to preserve and build on the long traditions at many resorts. The Danubius Hotel and Spa Company opened its first spa hotel of an international standard in 1976, and has added four more since. These spa hotels help to relieve the more crowded parts of the country and lengthen the tourist season. Guests, we are glad to say, have been delighted with them. But there is untapped demand for high- standard spa facilities. We hope to build further spa hotels of an international standard, involving foreign capital either as loans or stakes in joint ventures. The six or eight hotels envisaged in the coming years will be in Budapest, Transdanubia and N and E Hungary. In fact spa hotel developments are given priority support by the treasury and the tourist authorities. Give this page to a friend! Budapest As a City Of Museums By MARY SIMONS Budapest is a city of museums. Some , brim with archeological treasures, others I with monumental sculptures, paintings i from all parts of Europe, beguiling examples of folklore, fabulous arts and crafts collections, and galleries of exhibits that portray the social, economic and agrarian history of Hungary. The Castle District on the Buda side of the Danube is a museum unto itself. Severely damaged during World War II, the area has been restored and the medieval street plan and reconstructed houses and shops make it ideal for wandering. Buda Castle, home of the Hungarian National Gallery, is the architectural capstone of the district. Its vast collections include Hungarian painting and sculpture from about A.D. 1000 to the present. There are several very intricate late Gothic winged altars, 19th- and 20th-century sculpture, which is displayed on the landings of the grand staircase, plus enough paintings to give visitors an ample idea of the thread of Hungarian artistic development. Curators emphasize works by Mihály Munkácsy, Pal Szinnyei Merse, Laszli Mednyánszky and Karoly Ferenczy. In the same building are the Museum of the Hungarian Workers' Movement and the Museum of Budapest history. The workers' museum gives a look at working conditions from the middle of the 19th century until about 1975. Displays show how 19th- century miners lived. There are also political posters, realistic busts of labor leaders and modern graphics. The history museum shows art and artifacts of archeological PAUL ROBESON The biographical play "Paul Robeson" has opened in New York at the Golden Theatre. Perhaps for our younger readers we should explain who Paul Robeson was. For starter, as the only black at Rutgers University, he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and made All America on the football team two years running. He then graduated from Columbia Law School but found the prospects for a black lawyer very slim. It was the early 1920's and the Harlem Renaissance was under way. His dramatic talent became evident in Eugene O'Neil's play, "All God's Children Got Wings" and "Emperor Jones". His career was under way. But the stage was only one of his talents. His magnificent bass voice thrilled millions. He starred in films and soon found his niche as a spoke- man for his people. He was fighting for civil rights before it was fashionable. He became a world figure on a par with Charles Chaplin, George Bernard Shaw and Pablo Picasso. His role is played be Avery Brooks. Perhaps you have seen Mr. Brooks in the T.V. series "Spenser" where he plays Hawk Spenser's bald assistant. Let it be said that Mr. Brooks does a fine job. A one-man show is hard work for an actor. There is no one to react to. All the dialogue is his. More important he has to keep the audience interested. He gives a mesmerizing performance. His baritone is not Robeson's but darn close. You will enjoy his "Old Man River", it is a pleasure to hear. We recommend it highly and you don't have much time. It is there for 4 weeks. The Golden Theatre is at 252 W 45 St. and historical interest ranging from 13th- century busts of knights to varied examples of the decorative arts - majolica plates of the 15th century, stove tiles carved with figures of palace guardsmen, marble friezes and royal seals. A permanent display entitled "One thousand Years of Our Capital" includes historical documents and some delicately carved 14th-century busts that were found in the city. Another museum in the Castle District springs straight from the Hungarian soul. Housed in what was once the Fortuna Hotel, an imposing building from the 18th century, is the Hungarian Museum of Com merse and Catering. Its centerpiece is a confectioner's shop, dated 1833. A counter fashioned of cherry is inlaid with mahogany in a swirl pattern. Glass cupboards hold hundreds of knickknacks and boxes, decorative figures and china of the period. The furniture from a 19th-century country inn includes the bar, set off by a railed partition from the original taproom, a trestle table and ornately carved benches. Nearby, close to the Vienna Gate, is the Museum of Military History, with a splendid collection of standards, banners, flags and uniforms. (To be continued) PLAY REVIEW
