2024 Was Record Year for Tourism in Hungary

  • 14 Jan 2025 7:38 AM
2024 Was Record Year for Tourism in Hungary
Last year was another record year for Hungary's tourism sector, with both foreign and domestic guest numbers as well as tourism revenue rising to new highs, Zoltan Guller, head of the Hungarian Tourism Agency (MTU) said.

In 2024 guest numbers increased 11pc to 18m, including 9.3m domestic and 8.7m foreign tourists.

Guest nights came to 44.2m, with about half of guest nights spent by foreign tourists.

Budapest's Liszt Ferenc International Airport had around 17m passengers, up more than 17pc from a year earlier.

The capital attracted close to 6m foreign visitors, 24pc more than a year earlier, and accounts for 60pc of the total number of guest nights spent by foreign tourists in Hungary.

Revenue of tourist accommodations rose 16pc to HUF 1,050bn. Catering revenue was up 11pc at HUF 2,005bn.

Outside of the capital, spa towns Siofok, Hajduszoboszlo, Heviz, Balatonfured and Zalakaros were the most popular destinations. Lake Balaton attracted more than 3m guests, up 7pc from a year earlier.

SZEP voucher card top-ups came to HUF 454bn and card holders spent HUF 432bn, with spending on tourism up 9pc from a year earlier.

The tourism sector contributes close to 13pc to GDP. It is expected to account for 80pc of last year's EUR 5bn current account surplus, Guller said.

By 2030, the agency targets an annual 20m guests and 50m guest nights, while the tourism sector's contribution to GDP reaches at least 16pc. At the sector's current rate of growth, these targets could be achieved before 2030, Guller said.

Meanwhile, EU Presidency - Boka: 2024 Hungary presidency 'historic'

While Hungary's EU presidency in 2011 was very successful, the country's tenure in 2024 was "of historic importance", the minister of EU affairs told commercial TV2.

Janos Boka told a morning programme that Hungary's EU presidency in 2024 "was a great success despite the huge headwind the government was facing". Months before it took over the rotating presidency on July 1, Hungary had faced accusations that it would fail as EU president "because the task went to a country with a vision and policy for Europe that is out of line with mainstream policies."

Contrary to the interests of many EU players, Hungary's presidency had been very successful concerning decisions on legislature, policy and large-scale strategies, he said.

The success of the Budapest declaration, adopted last November on the bloc's competitiveness, would depend on whether incoming presidencies and European institutions take the goals of European leaders seriously, he said. Leaders of member states would have to maintain pressure on the European Parliament in order to push through decisions to restore competitiveness, he said.

The declaration also outlines concrete measures and deadlines on steps such as cutting red tape and drafting an action plan on cutting energy prices, he said.

Boka also praised the Hungarian contribution to Romania and Bulgaria becoming full members of the Schengen Area, adding that "Interior Minister Sandor Pinter has worked for a decade to bring this historic decision about during the Hungarian presidency," he said.

MTI Stock Photo - for illustrative purposes only

Source: 
MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

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