Wildlife tourism as a developing recreational activity option in Hungary's North Great Plain region and Bihar-Bihor Euroregion

and Abstract : According to recent statistical data outdoor adventure activities play an important role in today’s tourism industry. This growing tendency based on several factors. Primarily there are more and more people seeking for these types of outdoor activities. Young couples tend to establish family in a later age, typically in their thirties. They have more time for active leisure activities such as hiking and nature walking. In addition, they likely to spend a growing amount of money for any unique touristic experience. Nature walks sometimes combined with other nature-based activities such as discovering wildlife in a given area. Not only are the younger, but older generations also opened to outdoor recreational activities and sports too. There are several options for observing wildlife depending on the geographical location; some of them may offer significant physical challenges. Hungary’s North Great Plain region is predominantly flat, while the Bihor region in Rumania is a real mountainous terrain. Hortobágy and the Tisza lake areas offer unique opportunities for birdwatching in Europe. Like any other recreational activity, bird watching is proved to be beneficial for both physical and mental health. Wildlife tourism and avitourism represents serious health-recreational and touristic potential. There is a constant need for quality nature-based sevices, especially associated with wildlife tourism.