2016 was best year ever in Hungarian tourism

Budapest, February 11 (MTI) – Hungary’s tourism industry had its best year ever in 2016 and projects similar results for this year, head of the Hungarian Tourism Agency Zoltán Guller said in Budapest on Saturday.

Commenting on figures released by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Friday, Guller noted that the number of guest nights rose 7.0 percent last year as total revenue of commercial accommodations was up 9.1 percent, with revenue from room fees climbing 11.1 percent.

The number of tourist arrivals in Hungary increased by 7.1 percent last year, more than the European average of 2.0 percent or the global average of 3.9 percent, according to data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Guller said. The pace of growth seen in Hungary exceeded that of the main rivals, Austria and the Czech Republic.

In order to make Hungary one of the top five European tourist destinations in two years and to double spending by foreign tourists, several developments are planned or have already been started including upgrades of 48 lakeside beaches at Lake Balaton for about 1.86 billion forints (EUR 6m), and replacing the pleasure boats on the lake with electric ones.