ABSTRACT
Climate change may strongly modify the habitat conditions for many woody plant species. Some species could disappear from their natural habitats and become endangered, while others could adapt well to the changed environmental conditions and continue to survive successfully or even proliferate more easily. A similar process can occur within the artificial urban environment as the hitherto popularly planted urban trees may suffer from the extremities of the urban climate. However, among the planted taxa, there are species that spread spontaneously and appear as weeds in extensively managed gardens. In our study, we evaluated the native and non-native species involved in spontaneous spreading in the institutional garden of Buda Arboretum (Budapest) during the COVID-19 period in 2020–2021 when entry was prohibited, and maintenance went on in a restricted, minimal level. We investigated the correlation between spontaneously settling and planted individuals, and then performed multivariate analyses for native and non-native spreading plants for spatial and quantitative data. During our studies, we observed the spontaneous spreading of 114 woody species, of which 38 are native and 76 are non-native. Taking the total number of individuals into account, we found that, in addition to the 2653 woody species planted, a further 7087 spontaneously emerged weeds developed, which creates an additional task in the maintenance. © 2023 by the authors.
ABSTRACT
This article assesses the European Court of Human Rights' possible responses to post-COVID-19 misinformation laws. These laws are intended to protect society but may become dangerous weapons if used by governments wishing to silence opponents. We identify four categories of speech restrictions that appeared during the COVID-19 pandemic. We then present the recent misinformation laws from Council of Europe member states as well as various potential arguments when cases appear before the Court, and assess their potential weight. We also analyze the expected post-pandemic development of the European Convention on Human Rights' Article 10 jurisprudence. © 2023 Lex localis.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: In general, the demand for medical tourism is influenced by several factors. The first is an aging population with a growing health problem and discretionary income and leisure. The second is changes in health behaviours that focus on disease prevention. Research seeks the answer to the changes in the demand for medical tourism in recent years in health spas. Method(s): We conducted secondary research, based on official data of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office. We examined the types of baths, the passenger traffic of the baths, the services used with National Health Insurance Fund Administration (NHIFA) support, the turnover of the baths Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, data for the year 2020 were not taken into account, so we are examining the period between 2012 and 2019 for health spas in Hungary. Result(s): During the period under review, between 2012 and 2019 the demand of spas showed an increase of 15 %, which was 6.6 million people. The number of visitors to the spas increased by an average of 945,000 per year, which means an average increase of 2.5 %. 92.6 % of spa visitors used the services without NHIFA reimbursement in 2012, which increased to 94.7 % by 2019, an annual average increase of 0.3 %. In connection with the turnover of the baths, there is no data for years 2012 and 2013, in the period between 2014-2019, it increased by 56.31 million HUF, an average increase of 11.26 million HUF per year. Conclusion(s): The continuous development of health spas resulted in the growth of spa favourites in Hungary. The increase in the number of spa favourites would mean to increase the scope of the NHIFA supported treatments and the degree of subsidies, which consists of the aspirations and suggestions of the Hungarian Baths Association. Copyright © 2022
ABSTRACT
Natural gas prices worldwide increased on the back of the COVID economic recovery in 2021. European prices skyrocketed when the dominant external supplier, Gazprom, started to withhold supplies in Q4 2021. This analysis uses market modelling to assess and compare the effectiveness of various measures to mitigate the gas - and by extension energy - price crisis in the short and longer term. First, the realization of the 5th PCI package adopted by the European Commission in November 2021 would significantly reduce EU prices, especially in the Eastern Member States that tend to be more dependent on the single external supplier. At the same time, the billions of euros that would be poured in risk becoming stranded assets in the long-term with tightening climate regulations. Secondly, uniform voluntary demand response has significant potential to reduce prices, especially in the Eastern Member States. Thirdly, the introduction of European strategic gas reserves can bring temporary price relief but is not a cost-efficient solution. However, security of supply considerations can outweigh the negative economic outcomes.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: In general, the demand for medical tourism is influenced by several factors. The first is an aging population with a growing health problem and discretionary income and leisure. The second is changes in health behaviours that focus on disease prevention. Research seeks the answer to the changes in the demand for medical tourism in recent years in spa hotels. Methods: We conducted secondary research, based on official statistics of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office. We examined the number of beds available, the number of accommodation providers operating, guest traffic and the number of overnight stays. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, data for the year 2020 were not taken into account, so we are examining the period between 2012 and 2019 for spa hotels in Hungary. Results: During the period 2012-2019, the average proportion of spa hotels among hotels was 3.32 %. The guest turnover of the spa hotels increased by 360,000 in the period under review, a growth of 51,000 was an average annual. During this period in 2677 increased rentable beds in the hotel spa, which represents 3.39 % of the average annual capacity growth. The distribution of the number of guest nights in spa hotels compared to hotels and commercial accommodation was the lowest in 2013 and the highest in 2015. The distribution of guest nights in spa hotels could be increased to a greater extent compared to hotels than compared to commercial accommodation. Conclusions: Overall, the demand side of tourism responded positively to the recent developments of spa tourism. Among foreigners and domestic people, the spa hotels of the settlements affected by medical tourism are becoming increasingly popular.
ABSTRACT
This paper is a summary of the annual evaluations and forthcoming tasks by the heads of the Department of Land Administration and Geoinformation in the Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Land Registration and Mapping in the Office of the Prime Minister, and the Hungarian Society of Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing. One of the most important tasks in the sectorial management of surveying and mapping was to prepare the modification of laws regulating the operation of this sector in 2021 too. The enacted laws and regulations created the legal framework for the establishment of a transparent land ownership structure and for the effective liquidation of the undivided common land ownership as a forced community, which has been one of the biggest obstacles to this. The forming of transparent and clear land ownership as well as the implementation of the e-real estate project are tasks that are of primary importance in the life of the supreme authorities in the new year. A new task is the development of the Earth Observation Information System and the creation of the conditions for the application of new aerial remote sensing technologies and devices. The activity of the Hungarian Society of Surveying, Mapping and Remote Sensing was greatly affected by the new waves of the Covid-19 pandemic, which hit Hungary too in 2021. The Society has maintained its viability and effectively moved its activity of realizing its objectives to the virtual space offered by the internet. The online conferences and corporate events bear witness to the success of this transformation. © 2022, Hungarian Society of Surveying, Mapping and Remote sensing. All rights reserved.