Free Balaton beaches closing in on paid competition

With the school holidays beginning, summer has started in earnest, and that means families will be heading to Lake Balaton and the strand, or beach. Although there is a trend toward paid beaches, one-third of Balaton strandok continue to be free to use, and the level of service they offer is nearing that of paid beaches, writes Népszabadság.

János Lázár, secretary of Balatoni Szövetség, an association of lakeside governments, said the improving quality of free beaches was down to local businesses realizing that development of services is necessary to attract and keep guests.

Hot showers, for example, are no longer considered a luxury at free strands, though operators are not required to install them. However, there are regulations which apply to both paid and free lakeside establishments, resulting in comparable levels of service. Operating permits - a requirement for both - are issued only if there are bathrooms, regularly emptied trash containers, areas for changing clothes and adequate parking spaces.

Lázár said that there are 80 strands operated by local governments of which 25 are free to enter. In addition, most company holiday resorts and hotels have private strands often open to the public sometimes, for an entrance fee.

Of course, there are considerable differences between one free beach and another. At the Gödrös strand, for example, which lies on the Northern shore at the northeastern part of the Tihany Peninsula, the paper reports that space is limited, and parking costs Ft 500 (€2) for the day. Another disadvantage is that guests have to cross a busy main road to access the parking lot and the snack bars. However, a few kilometers away in Örvényes, parking is free at the local strand and there are free-to-use games both on the shore and in the water.

There are twice as many free strands on the Southern shore as on the Northern, which creates competition on the shallower side of the lake. In Balatonszemes, guests can watch the summer's sporting events on a giant screen while in Zamárdi, the safety of bathers is protected by civilian guards watching over the area from a tower, while highly qualified doctors are on duty at the first aid station.

It is worth noting that swimming in the lake is forbidden where there is no marked bathing place. This includes private plots on the lakeside and deserted public places such as bays or near ports. Water police can issue a fine if someone is caught bathing at these locations.

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