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Department of Tourism and Hospitality

The Department of Tourism and Hospitality operates as part of the Kautz Gyula Faculty of Business and Economics and plays a key role in the education, research, and development of tourism and hospitality. 

The department aims to train professionals capable of successfully managing tourism and hospitality businesses while developing innovative solutions and sustainable development strategies for the industry.

The department’s work is supported by nationally and internationally recognized lecturers and renowned industry professionals. 

This broad professional collaboration ensures that students not only develop their tourism and hospitality expertise but also enhance their economic, business, and language competencies—essential for successful employment in the global labor market.

Viktória Kundi PhD, head pf department
Hotel Famulus - Széchenyi István Egyetem oktatószálloda

The practical quality of the training is ensured by the department’s tourism and hospitality-focused faculty members, the Hotel Famulus Training Hotel, and the university’s training kitchen. The four-star training hotel, as a dual partner of the university, offers students a unique opportunity to acquire professional knowledge in a real hotel environment.

Hotel Famulus is not just a training venue but also a business and conference center, providing insights into the processes of business tourism. Hospitality training also plays a prominent role, supported by the professional environment of the university’s training kitchen.

Research profile

The department’s research activities are innovative and practice-oriented, closely related to industry trends and challenges. Faculty members and researchers actively collaborate with domestic and international professional organizations, research institutes, and businesses to integrate up-to-date knowledge and new scientific findings into education.

Main research areas include:

Sustainable tourism and ecotourism

  • Environmentally friendly tourism developments
  • The impact of climate change on travel habits
  • Sustainable accommodation management

Hospitality and hotel management

  • Digital innovations in hospitality
  • Application of artificial intelligence and automation
  • Gastronomic tourism and the role of local products in hospitality

Health tourism and recreation

  • Development opportunities for thermal and health tourism
  • Market trends in wellness and spa services
  • The economic and social impacts of medical tourism

Active tourism and fishing tourism

  • Development of adventure tourism and sports tourism
  • Economic impacts of fishing tourism
  • Supporting rural tourism and local communities

Tourism marketing and digital strategies

  • Development of online tourism services
  • The role of social media and influencer marketing
  • Brand building for tourist destinations

International Collaborations

The department is committed to enhancing international experiences and partnerships, supporting the professional development of students and faculty while adapting to global trends. The Pannonia Scholarship Program provides students with opportunities to spend one or two semesters at European universities and tourism businesses.

The department’s international cooperation includes:

  • Partnerships with foreign universities, enabling students to expand their knowledge in tourism and hospitality management.
  • Collaboration with tourism organizations, educational institutions, and research centers, providing opportunities for joint research and professional projects.

 

Faculty participation in international conferences, contributing to the advancement of tourism and hospitality through their publications.

CEEPUS Summer School 2025
Photo: András Belovári

Practice-Oriented Education and Industry Relations

The tourism and hospitality industry is a rapidly changing field that requires strong practical skills, so the department places special emphasis on applied knowledge acquisition. Students benefit from opportunities such as:

  • Participation in real industry projects in cooperation with tourism enterprises.
  • Internships at leading hotels, travel agencies, and hospitality establishments.
  • Study trips and corporate visits, allowing students to learn industry best practices.
  • Interactive workshops and professional programs, enhancing their expertise and skills.

Our departmental news

Our further news

Departmental secretariat

Diána Pauli
Faculty secretarial assistant

Our Lecturers

Viktória Kundi PhD

head of department, associate professor

Éva Happ PhD

professor

Ferenc Darabos PhD

associate professor

Csaba Kőmíves Phd

associate professor

Marcell Kupi PhD

associate professor

Zsuzsanna Ivancsóné Horváth Phd

associate professor

Attila Albert Tóth PhD

senior lecturer

Katalin Vajda PhD

senior lecturer

Ádám Neumann

assistant lecturer

Anikó Husz PhD

master instructor

Máté Nagy

master instructor

Péter Princzinger PhD

master instructor

Eliza Raffai

technical assistant

Zoltán Szalai PhD

technical assistant