Tourism Department

Mr. Tamás BÉKÉSI

Head of Department

email adress: idegenforgalmi@bfkh.gov.hu

The Tourism and Warehousing Supervision Department of the Government Office of the Capital of Budapest is organisationally located within the Trade, Military Technology, Export Control and Precious Metals Authentication Department.
The Department of Tourism and Public Storage Supervision (hereinafter referred to as the Department) is responsible for the notification, registration, administration and control tasks of the authorities, as defined by law, related to the compliance with the legal requirements for the market entry of travel operators, time-share operators, tourist guides and horse riding service providers established in Hungary.
The Department is also responsible for the administrative notification, registration and control tasks related to the compliance with the legal requirements for the cross-border market entry of enterprises resident in an EEA State - travel agencies, time-share enterprises, tourist guides - without establishment in Hungary, on a temporary or occasional basis.

For travel operators

To protect consumers' interests, the relevant legislation requires travel operators engaged in commercial activities facilitating the provision of travel services or tour operators to provide insolvency protection. Consumers need to be able to obtain prior information on whether the service provider has the necessary conditions for the provision of such a high-value service.

In its role as a commercial authority, the Department:

• keeps an official register of tour operators,
• publishes on its website a list of undertakings banned from operating as tour operators and travel agents for one year,
• remove tour operators from the official register in the cases listed in the relevant legislation,
• monitor and control the continued existence of the legal conditions of registration and operation of the registered tour operators, the existence and extent of the insolvency security,
• may impose fines or prohibit operators from carrying out their activities in the event of infringement of the law,
• liaise with the competent authorities of other EEA States in relation to cross-border service providers.

For time sharing service providers

During the registration procedure and the control procedure, the Department examines, among other things, the mandatory content of the contract with the consumer and the product information and brochure required by law, and the eligibility of the company providing the holiday right. This will significantly increase consumer safety.
The Department checks that the conditions for registration are met and, in cases provided for by law, cancels the registration of a company providing long-term accommodation services ex officio, while prohibiting it from continuing to do so until the conditions for eligibility are met. It may also impose a fine if it is found that the legislation has been infringed.

For tourist guides

The Department carries out the administrative tasks related to the keeping of the register and issues tourist guides' cards.
It may impose fines in the event of infringement of the law; it may also remove the tourist guide from the register, prohibit him from exercising the activity and order the withdrawal of the tourist guide card.
In relation to cross-border service providers, as the authority responsible for the supervision of the service, the Department may request information from the competent authorities of other EEA States via IMI.

For equestrian (horse riding) service providers

Based on the Trade Act and the Ministerial Decree on Equestrian Service Providers, the trade authority is responsible for keeping and monitoring the register of equestrian service providers subject to registration.
The horse itself is an important element in the provision of equestrian services, and the legal definition and control of the conditions of keeping horses is therefore essential for the safety of the users of the service.
During the checks, the authority also verifies compliance with the legal requirements on animal husbandry conditions laid down in the relevant regulation, thereby protecting the interests and health of consumers.
In the event of non-compliance with the legislation, the authority may impose a fine or remove the horse service provider from the register or prohibit it from carrying out its activities.

Editor:

Mr. Tamás Békési  (Phone: +36-1-4585-538 Email: idegenforgalmi@bfkh.gov.hu)