Statistical data released by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) show that tourism traffic at accommodation establishments was higher – once again -- in the month of August 2015. In the observed period, the number of guests and tourism nights was up by 7.1 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively, while revenues at accommodation establishments rose by 16.6 percent, year-on-year. Tourism traffic was higher concerning eight out of Hungary’s ten largest sender countries; of these, three countries posted double-digit increases (United Kingdom: +20.9 percent, Spain: +16.7 percent, USA: +12.6 percent).
Arrivals from Austria and Germany were slightly lower, but these two countries still continue to be the top senders.
Although the fact that the pace of decline in the number of Russian guests has slowed down is an encouraging sign – which also confirms Hungarian tourism diplomacy and marketing efforts – the negative trend persists. Accordingly, Russia has slipped back from the third place on the ranking of sender countries (a position it held one year ago) to place twelve in August.
In light of available data it can be concluded that while the nationality of guests visiting Hungary has been changing, their number and spending propensity have been steadily improving.
This is not only true for the month of August: data for the initial eight months of the year are more favourable than they were in the same period of the previous year. In the period January-August 2015, 7.25 million guests spent 18.5 million tourism nights at accommodation establishments, which constitutes increases of 8.5 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively, year-on-year. Guests spent 13.6 percent more, altogether HUF 145.2bn, at accommodation establishments.
(Ministry for National Economy)
