KEY TAKEAWAYS

• 16 million tourists visited Hungary during 2023 and spent 41 million nights in accommodation.
• Last year, tourism in Hungary generated €2.2 billion (HUF 860 billion) from accommodation, 23% more than in 2022.
• During the summer season of 2023, Hungary’s tourism surpassed 2019 levels by 6%, reaching over 6.2 million visitors.

In 2023, Hungary welcomed nearly 16 million tourists. Of those, 7.1 million were foreign,  which is 18% more compared to 2022, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

Furthermore, MTÜ recorded 41 million nights spent in 2023, as reported by AboutHungary, a website managed by the Hungarian Prime Minister’s international communication office.

The tourism industry generated €2.2 billion (HUF 860 billion) from accommodation, representing a 23% increase compared to 2022.

Taking into account these figures, Guller anticipates continued growth in the sector this year. Regarding this, the MTÜ CEO, László Könnyid, asserted that this year’s guest nights may reach 43 million.

By 2030, MTÜ aims for 20 million guests and 50 million guest nights annually, with the tourism sector contributing at least 16% to the GDP, as reported by Budapest Business Journal.

Hungary’s Tourism Exceeded 2019 Levels Last Summer Season

In addition to this new record, tourism in Hungary also surpassed 2019 levels during the summer season of 2023. More specifically, the Hungarian country welcomed more than 6.2 million visitors between June and August 2023, surpassing 2019 levels by 6%.

During this period alone, tourism saw a three per cent rise in accommodation as well, recording a total of 17 million nights spent. Of those, nearly 2.6 million were international tourists and spent 7.2 million nights). Whereas about 6.3 million were domestic travellers, who spent 9.9 million nights in tourist accommodations.

MTÜ noted also that the number of tourists from Czechia, Poland, and Romania increased during this summer season. Meanwhile, revenues marked a 27%, reaching €805 million (HUF 312 billion).

In addition to tourists and revenue figures, Budapest Airport experienced a significant increase in passenger traffic. In 2023, 14.7 million travellers passed through Ferenc Liszt International Airport of Budapest, reaching 91% of 2019 levels.

Meanwhile, in terms of cargo, Budapest Airport transported nearly 50% more cargo than in 2019, the pre-pandemic year.

Among other things, last year, this airport was awarded the Best Airport in Europe by the Airport Council International (ACI).