Hotel revenues grew by 6.7% in the first six months, including an 8.5% increase in domestic guest nights and a 3.4% increase in foreign guest nights. Lower household debt, higher wages and the popularity of the “SZÉP card” holiday vouchers played a significant role in the trend, he said.

The drop in international tourism was in part triggered by fear of terrorism.

Tunisia and Egypt used to be popular Hungarian tourism destinations but the number of charter flights to them dropped significantly.

At the same time, spas in western Hungary have become increasingly popular among Slovak and Czech tourists in addition to Hungarians, Russians and Ukrainians.

Head of the tourism department at the Pallas Athene University Márta Kóródi said the number of domestic holidays comprising seven or eight guest nights steadily increased.

Thanks to hotel developments in recent years, Hungary now offers sufficient accommodation options to provide an alternative to foreign holidays, she added.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.