“Tourism is undertaking an increasing role in generating Hungary’s gross domestic product (GDP), and accordingly it is in the country’s economic interests to continuously increase tourist traffic to Hungary”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said in a statement to Hungarian news agency MTI on Wednesday.

The Minister took part in a conference of tourism ministers from the cooperation initiative between China and 16 Central and Eastern European countries (China-CEEC, 16+1) in the South Dalmatian city of Dubrovnik.

“We would primarily like to achieve this increase with relation to countries from which high-spending tourists arrive, and the Chinese are among the highest spending tourists in the world”, Mr. Szijjártó explained, adding that last year Chinese tourists spent over 258 billion dollars worldwide.

According to the Minister, it is particularly good news that Chinese tourist traffic to Hungary is showing a dynamic increase. “Last year, 227 thousand Chinese tourists visited Hungary, 34 percent more than in the previous year. And during the first six months of this year 140 thousand Chinese tourists came to Hungary, a further year-on year increase of 11 percent”, he explained.

The fact that China’s national tourism agency has moved its regional centre to Budapest, as well as its 16+1 cooperation centre, is playing a significant role in this increasing level of tourism, he indicated.

“In the interests of further increasing the flow of Chinese tourists to Hungary, our foreign representations can now accept visa applications and issue Hungarian travel documents within 48 hours in 14 Chinese cities”, the Minister highlighted.

Mr. Szijjártó said that in his opinion it is also important to continuously increase travel links between the two countries in view of the fact that this is one of the fundamental prerequisites for increasing tourist traffic. “It is good news that in addition to the direct air passenger link between Budapest and Beijing, another air route between Hungary and China will be opening next summer”, he said. “Negotiations with China Eastern Airlines on the establishment of a direct air passenger route between Budapest and Shanghai are in their final stages”, he emphasised.

“It is also important that Chinese tourist traffic to Hungary should not be aimed solely at Budapest, but for Lake Balaton and the country’s excellent wine regions and thermal spas to also be included among the target destinations of Chinese tourists like Budapest”, he added.

(MTI)