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In September, international guests from 226 countries spent 1.8 million nights in Hungary. This number is thirteen percent higher than last year, based on the data of the Hungarian Tourism Agency. Overall results for the first month of autumn exceeded even pre-COVID figures, reports Magyar Nemzet.
Compared to September of last year, the first month of autumn this year saw a 10% increase in the number of tourists visiting Hungary. The number of 1.4 million guests exceeded the pre-pandemic figure by 2.4%, with almost 11% more guests arriving in the Hungarian countryside compared to 2019.
Data provided by the National Tourism Data Supply Center shows that tourists spent 3.4 million nights in Hungary in September, which was almost 6% higher than this time last year.
Budapest and Lake Balaton were the most popular destinations, while Hévíz was the most visited rural settlement in September.
The high season was also reflected in the average capacity utilization rate of hotels, standing at almost 60%.
Beach of Balatonberény at the southern shore of Lake Balaton. Photo: Facebook/Magyar Turisztikai Ügynökség
The data shows that the majority of the tourists were attracted to the countryside, with 2.2 million nights spent in hotels outside the capital. Thus, the first month of autumn has seen stronger rural guest flows than both last year and 2019.
Thermal Lake of Hévíz. Photo: Pixabay
In addition, more people decided to go on a holiday with a nearly 15% increase compared to 2019. A large proportion of these visitors were interested in the rural tourism offer, with a total of 1.5 million nights spent in rural accommodation, a 10% increase on the record year in 2019.
Compared to last year, accommodation establishments welcomed 22% more foreign travelers.
International guests came mainly from neighboring and nearby countries, but Israeli, Dutch, British, and Chinese tourists also stayed in the countryside.
In September, international visitors from 226 countries spent 1.8 million nights in Hungary, 13% more than last year. The top five markets in September were Germany, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Poland, and the United States. The vast majority came to the capital, where their one million nights spent were 17% up on a year ago.
Hotels in the capital experienced significant growth from all four main originating countries, with German tourist flows up by almost 20%, Czech by 15%, and Polish by 26% compared to a year ago.
However, the biggest increases were recorded from China and South Korea, where the number of nights spent increased nearly fourfold and doubled respectively.
Lake Balaton also welcomed a large number of tourists in September, with the most popular tourist region accounting for 19% of visitors. This was followed by Mátra-Bükk, the Budapest area, and Debrecen and its surroundings.
The Törökasztal (Turkish Table) rock formation in the Bükk Mountains near Sirok, Heves County. Photo: Facebook/Aktív Magyarország
After Budapest, the top ten towns with the highest number of overnight stays were predominantly spa towns: Hévíz, Hajdúszoboszló, Balatonfüred, Bük, Siófok, Zalakaros, Debrecen, Zánka, Szeged, and Eger. Balatonfüred, Zánka, and Hajdúszoboszló were the most preferred choices for Hungarian tourists, while foreigners preferred Hévíz, Bük, and Hajdúszoboszló. Hotels were the preferred choice for tourists, with 49% of domestic nights in September and 56% of foreign nights in hotels.
Via Magyar Nemzet, Featured image: Facebook/Magyar Turisztikai Ügynökség