In April 2014, double-digit growth was recorded concerning the number of guests and tourism nights as well as revenues at accommodation establishments. Domestic tourism also increased dynamically: the number of tourism nights by domestic guests soared by 21.9 percent, while respective revenues jumped by 25.6 percent compared to April 2013. In the opinion of the Ministry for National Economy, the upward domestic tourism trend, which has been in place for several years now and which has continued this year, has bolstered and reinforced the tourism sector and it has also mitigated the still very pronounced seasonal fluctuation.

According to the flash report of the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH), in April 578 thousand guests spent 1.7 million tourism nights at accommodation establishments, up by 12.4 percent and 14.4 percent, respectively, in comparison to April 2013. Gross revenues at accommodation establishments increased to HUF 14bn, up by 14.3 percent.
This outstanding growth was attributable to the fact, among others, that the Easter holiday happened to be in April, whereas last year it was in March.

On the other hand, last year’s basis was relatively low. On the whole, however, growth in April 2014 was stable and robust and even higher than the very favourable tourism traffic increase figure registered two years ago.
The number of foreign guests, respective tourism nights and revenues received from them increased in April by 7.2 percent, 9.4 percent and 9.6 percent, respectively, year-on-year. The composition of inbound tourism has not changed: Germany, Russia and Austria are the first three sender countries in the ranking. In the month of April, inbound tourism traffic from all of these countries was markedly higher compared to last year, registering growth of 9.3 percent, 18.5 percent and 16.6 percent with regard to Germany, Russia and Austria, respectively.

In April, 334 domestic guests spent 727 thousand tourism nights at accommodation establishments where they paid fees of altogether HUF 4.5bn, constituting increases of 18.7 percent, 21.9 percent and 25.6 percent, respectively, compared to 2013. Domestic tourism growth continues to be significantly driven by the increasing popularity of the SZÉP Card: in January-April 2014, payments with SZÉP Cards at accommodation establishments totalled HUF 3.65bn, up by 27 percent compared to last year. These data are signalling that the expectations of the Ministry for National Economy regarding the SZÉP Card are being realized: relaxation, recreation and preventive care are gaining significance among employees.

The performance of the initial four months of this year, due to a weaker March, has been less volatile as main indicators show a compound increase of some 10 percent. In this period, 2.2 million guests spent 5.3 million tourism nights at accommodation establishments, registering increases of 9 percent and 8 percent, respectively, in comparison to the corresponding period of the previous year.

(Ministry of National Economy)