Hungary's tourism sector reached new heights in 2024, setting records with an all-time high in international visitors, a boost in domestic travel, and the highest revenue ever generated by accommodations, according to Zoltan Guller, president of the Hungarian Tourism Agency (MTU).
In a press conference earlier this week, Guller reported that Hungarian accommodations hosted over 18 million tourists last year, marking an 11% increase from 2023. This total included 9.3 million domestic visitors and 8.7 million international guests. He also noted that the increase in guest nights in Hungary “exceeded the European Union (EU) average by 150%.”
Domestic and international tourists equally contributed to the 44.2 million guest nights recorded, reflecting a well-balanced distribution, according to Xinhua news agency.
Guller credited the outstanding performance to targeted, data-driven tourism strategies, successful influencer campaigns, and the acquisition of Budapest Airport by Hungarian ownership.
Indeed, initial data revealed that Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport served around 17 million passengers in 2024, representing a year-on-year increase of more than 17%.
Furthermore, Budapest played a key role in the record-breaking year, drawing nearly 6 million international tourists, marking a 24% rise compared to the previous year.
Across the country, accommodation revenues increased from 906 billion forints ($2.37 billion) in 2023 to 1,050 billion forints in 2024, reflecting a 16% growth. Hospitality revenues also saw an 11% boost, reaching 2,005 billion forints.
Regional tourism providers benefitted greatly from the rising appeal of spa towns and Lake Balaton, which welcomed over 3 million visitors, a 7% increase, and accounted for one-fifth of rural tourism traffic.
Tourism continues to be a major contributor to the Hungarian economy, accounting for almost 13% of GDP and driving economic growth each quarter.
Guller expressed confidence in the sector's prospects, stating that Hungary is on course to reach its long-term objectives of attracting 20 million tourists, achieving 50 million guest nights, and raising tourism’s GDP share to 16% well ahead of 2030.