Developing a Micro Cluster Model for Suburban Tourism: The Case of Wekerle Estate, Budapest

Abstract

This research shifts the focus to suburban tourism within the context of urban tourism thus making metropolitan areas less congested and showcasing urban authenticity for tourists. It proposes a micro cluster model for suburban tourism and illustrates its applicability in a suburb of Budapest called Wekerle Estate. The suburb was developed at the beginning of the 20th century by adopting the garden city concept and still boasts a lively community. However, it needs a framework to embrace tourism in a sustainable way. The qualitative research uses the ethnographic method to explore what Wekerle Estate offers for tourists and where its weaknesses are
in terms of hospitality. Based on the findings a micro cluster model is prepared in this study and it gives recommendations for Wekerle Estate to evolve as an authentic tourist destination. This paper contributes to the research of suburbs from the urban tourism angle that has so far been neglected in the field of tourism.