The company's Managing Director László Somodi told MTI this Thursday that the disruption is putting significant pressure on Hungary’s tourism sector, with losses estimated at around HUF 10 billion and some 110,000 passengers affected. 

River cruises account for around 6% of foreign visitors staying at tourist accommodation in Hungary, underlining the importance of the sector to the wider tourism economy.

The impact extends beyond cruise operators, as river cruise passengers contribute to spending on hotels, restaurants, excursions, attractions and other tourism services. Somodi said the estimated HUF 10 billion loss demonstrates the wider economic consequences of the disruption.

Low water levels have also affected Mahart-PassNave's domestic services. During the summer, the company modified or suspended several routes, including services connecting Budapest with Szentendre and Visegrád, as well as the Visegrád–Esztergom route.

The prolonged low-water conditions have made navigation increasingly difficult in some sections of the Hungarian Danube, affecting the operation of passenger vessels and the planning of cruise itineraries.

Somodi said the company has been consulting the Ministry of Transport and Construction, the Hungarian Tourism Agency and relevant water-management organisations about the situation.

He added that water-level problems of several tens of centimetres could be addressed through smaller interventions, but more prolonged and substantial periods of low water would require broader measures.

He stressed the need for a long-term solution to the impact of low water levels on Danube navigation, saying greater predictability would be important for the tourism industry and other businesses dependent on river traffic.

Mahart-PassNave has not yet seen this year's disruption reflected negatively in bookings for 2027. However, the company considers reliable navigation conditions essential to the long-term competitiveness and planning of Hungary's river tourism sector.

MTI Photo

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