BBC’s “The Apprentice” Could Attract Masses of Visitors to Hungary

The latest series of the BBC’s top-rated business-styled reality game show, The Apprentice, has just aired in the UK. The latest episode featured Budapest’s emblematic locations, as well as Danube shipping and the wine culture of Etyek, Magyar Nemzet reports.

Millions of viewers around the world follow the BBC’s long-running British public service broadcaster on television and the internet. The Apprentice has been growing in popularity since 2005, with its last series watched by more than 6.5 million people in the UK. During the show, the contestants’ skills are assessed by a panel of well-known business people through a series of tasks. The latest episode of the series is set in Budapest and surrounding areas, including the Fisherman’s Bastion, Matthias Church, St. Stephen’s Basilica, Buda Castle Garden Bazaar, Vörösmarty Square, the Vigadó Concert Hall and Margaret Island.

The participants also had the chance to test their skills in tasks based around tourist attractions.

Some of them had to organize and sell Danube boat programs, while others had to organize and sell wine tours in Etyek.

The Hungarian Tourism Agency (MTÜ) helped the production in the selection of locations and tasks.

“The episode of the BBC reality show filmed in the country is invaluable publicity for Hungary just at the beginning of the city visit season, points out the website. “A high-profile television program is an excellent way to raise awareness of our country, as data shows that 12 percent of British tourists are primarily inspired by press products when choosing a destination. The presentation of Hungarian destinations in the UK, Hungary’s third and Budapest’s number one destination market, is an excellent opportunity to reach travelers and contributes significantly to further increasing the attractiveness of our country for tourists,” said Bálint Erdei, Deputy CEO responsible for strategic implementation at the MTÜ.

According to data from the National Tourism Data Center, almost half of British travelers to Hungary are aged 19-34, who mostly visit the Hungarian capital, but also like to visit Lake Balaton and the surrounding areas of Budapest.

UK tourists are mainly attracted by Hungary’s rich cultural and gastronomic offer and its unique spa culture. Last year, the sector welcomed 1.3 million more overnight stays from the island nation, an increase of almost 20 percent compared to 2022. British tourist arrivals in the first two months of the year are already 21 percent higher than last year, the MTÜ said in a statement.

Via Magyar Nemzet, Featured image: Facebook/Magyar Turisztikai Ügynökség