The number of nights spent in Hungary has increased, mainly thanks to foreign visitors.Continue reading
The government’s tourism subsidies are of historic importance, as the measures will leave HUF 30 billion for the next six months for around 100,000 small and medium-sized tourism enterprises, the CEO of the Hungarian Tourism Agency said at a press conference in Budapest on Tuesday.
Péter Horváth added that this could also cover increased energy prices or wages. The CEO said that the fastest and most effective way to get government help was to suspend the obligation to pay the four percent tourism development contribution between October 1 this year and March 31 of next year.
He also called the planned abolition of the SZÉP card sub-accounts important. The Hungarian government decided to issue the Széchenyi Recreation Card (SZÉP Card) in 2011. Employers can give it to their employees with up to HUF 300,000 (EUR 740) per year, free of contributions and with favorable tax treatment. There are currently 3 sub-accounts (catering, leisure and accommodation), but the government has recently announced their abolition. As a result, it will be easier for card holders to use their money altogether, not on separate sub-accounts.
This year, employers spent 281 billion forints (EUR 692 million) in ten months, while cardholders spent 326 billion forints (EUR 803 million).
In October, one billion more forints were loaded onto accounts than in October last year, with 90 billion forints (EUR 221 million) available to users at the end of the month.
The aim is to make the card a driving force for domestic tourism in the winter months, benefiting rural operators.
The CEO of the Hungarian Tourism Agency stressed that the measures were preceded by consultations with professional organisations. The task is to listen to the feedback and requests of the industry and to continue the consultations so that the sector remains a driving force of the Hungarian economy, he stressed.
Péter Horváth said that
in the past 10 months, 33 million nights were spent in hotels, a third more than in the same period last year.
The figures are encouraging for this year, with tourism in full swing. By the end of this year, pre-bookings suggest that the sector could reach 37 million overnight stays, down marginally from 42 million in pre-crisis 2019. The increased interest and growing turnover also confirms that confidence in Hungary is undiminished, said the CEO.
Featured photo via Pixabay