Hungarian travel agencies seek relief from government

The Association of Hungarian Travel Agencies (MUISZ) has asked the government to extend payroll tax discounts and apply preferences for shortened working hours to the sector to reduce layoffs, business daily Világgazdaság said on Tuesday.

MUISZ wants the payroll tax discounts – which expired on June 30 – extended until February 28.

MUISZ president Judit Molnár told the paper that

the travel agencies are expected to lose 80 percent of their annual revenue in 2020, while keeping 80-85 percent of their staff on payroll during the past four months.

However, as the outlook for winter travel remains bleak – with many usually popular destinations designated “red”, or not recommended for travel, because of their rates of coronavirus infections – the crisis in the sector could grow worse without government intervention, she said.

Even travel agencies with strong financial backing could scale back staff to 50-60pc of normal levels in a best-case scenario, the paper said.

• Gül baba’s amazing tomb in Budapest received a prestigious international award – video

Read alsoWhy is it worth visiting Bugac puszta in Hungary? – photos, videos