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The performance of Hungarian tourism in 2022 exceeded all expectations; the sector is still on an upward trajectory, and performance this year may exceed the results achieved in the record year of 2019, Zoltán Guller, Chairman of the Board of the Hungarian Tourism Agency (MTÜ), said at a press conference in Budapest on Monday.
He said that 14.2 million guests spent almost 40 million nights in Hungary last year, an increase of almost 40 percent compared to 2021, and only five percent below the 2019 level. Almost four million people visited the capital, and more than 10 million the countryside. Domestic tourists accounted for 73 percent of rural tourism, while 82 percent of visitors to Budapest were foreigners.
In summer, Hungarians mainly visited the ever so famous and loved Lake Balaton, where they spent almost 8.8 million nights, followed by the Mátra-Bükk region in northern Hungary with 2.6 million nights. Budapest topped the list of the most visited towns, followed by Hajdúszoboszló, Siófok, Hévíz, Balatonfüred, and Zalakaros, many of which have thermal baths which attracts tourists.
One of the most visited regions in Hungary is Lake Balaton and its surroundings. On the shores of the lake lies Keszthely, where the Festetics Palace, pictured, is visited by many tourists every year.
Zoltán Guller also added that foreign tourism is starting to recover: most tourists continue to come from Germany, followed by the Czech Republic, Romania, the United Kingdom, and Poland. However, the lack of American, Chinese, and especially Russian tourists can be gravely felt, as they were not arriving in the numbers “they could have,” Guller pointed out. In terms of spending, Germany is also in first place, with German tourists generating around 35 billion forints in revenue for the country. The United States is second in this ranking, with the United Kingdom in third place.
In 2022, hotel revenues amounted to HUF 668 billion (EUR 1.7 billion), 52 percent higher than in the previous year even after adjusting for inflation. In catering, turnover rose by 42 percent to HUF 1,490 billion (EUR 3.8 billion) in 2022. This amount is also 24 percent higher in real terms than in 2021.
Guller also pointed out that the January data is very promising, with 1.5 million guest nights already spent in the country by January 27, and another 200,000 guest nights booked for the coming days. The figures show an increase of 100,000 nights compared to the same period in 2022.
Tourism is still on an upward trajectory, and if conditions do not deteriorate, the sector’s performance in 2023 in Hungary will exceed the 2019 figures, Guller stated.
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