Surprising: Russians choose Hungary in growing numbers!
The popularity of Hungary and the Philippines increased the most among the Russian holidaymakers, who spend much more money during their stay than before.
Russians like Hungary
Based on the analysis of OneTwoTrip, Russian news outlets wrote that the number of Russian holiday bookings abroad has increased by 26% since 2023. Mandiner wrote that Russian media outlets were surprised to find that Hungary and the Philippines are among the most popular destinations for the increasing number of Russian holidaymakers. Compared to 2023, the number of Russian travellers to these two countries quadrupled.
Based on statistics, Greek, Japanese, French, Portuguese and Vietnamese destinations are also popular. According to an expert asked by Kommersant, the reasons are the new flight routes like Hungarian Wizz Air’s direct flights from Kutaisi to Budapest, Rome, Athens, Milan, and Lárnaka.
Based on the analyses, an average Russian trip lasts 12 days in Hungary. Moreover, they spend 35% more money here than in 2023. Meanwhile, the average inflation in Hungary was “only” 17.6% in 2023, so it seems welcoming Russian guests is profitable in Hungary.
Russian tourists disappeared due to EU sanctions
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the following EU sanctions, Russian tourists almost disappeared from Hungary. We wrote in May 2023 that it was difficult for Russian tourists to come to Hungary because the EU banned all Russian airlines and private planes from its airspace in 2022.
”The direct flight between Budapest and Moscow has stopped, you can only get here by taking very long detours. Recently, tourists mainly come to us from Buaku and Istanbul. But they can also come via Dubai, Belgrade and Astana,” explained tour guide Júlia Sarlai, one of the leaders of the Association of Hungarian Tour Guides.
Read also:
- Wizz Air launches “All You Can Fly” pass: Unlimited flights with some fine print – read more HERE
- Unexpected: Russia may build a third nuclear power plant in Hungary by 2035!
Featured image: depositphotos.com
It’s 1956 and everything Russia is welcome in Hungaristan… Brother Putin and Comrade Viktor… Diktating together again.
It’s 1956 all over again. Welcome Russia!
Hungary is the perfect gateway to Europe for Russians. They may spend more money than an average traveler as those who can travel from Russia are wealthy. But I highly doubt they spend it here in Hungary. Easy to travel to real luxury places where Russian oligarchs and their family&friends would rather spend their holiday.
Maybe a few spies among them too, as the Hungarian government doesn’t care who comes from Russia into schengen. Illegal migrants from Russia are welcome!
Coming to Orbanistan – BB Gabor- Soviet Jewellery (1980) Nyet nyet soviet, soviet jewellery
I said a nyet nyet soviet, soviet jewellery
Nyet nyet soviet, soviet jewellery
I said a nyet nyet soviet, soviet jewellery
I wanna go go go go go go go go go, but they say “Stay!”
The KGB is coming to put me away
I said no no no no no no no no no
They shouted “Yes!”
They snapped the soviet jewellery around my wrists
And why not. Hungary welcomes visitors and other LEGAL migrants. It is safe precisely because of that. There is a reason those bleating on about “Orbanistan” choose to continue living here rather than head to Western Europe, so “enriched” by the “New Europeans.”
As for 1956, if it does happen again, it’ll be E.U.’s tanks on our streets, nor Russian.
REMEMBER : another NAIL in Hungary’s COLLAPSE in relationship with the European Union, in that we REMAIN, the only Member of the European Union, that has NEVER placed Sanctions on RUSSIA.
Orban – his Fidesz Government – have SCUTTLED – sold us out as a country, that see’s us in, the CHAOS as a country we are, and it’s WORSENING.
Hungary needs Russian tourists like a fish needs a bicycle. Please spend your Russian mafia money somewhere else.
I agree with the comment above, that Hungary is being used as a transit country to elsewhere in Schengen. If I were Russian I’d also be applying for a Schengen visa at the Hungarian consulate in Moscow, feigning a wish to holiday there. If we’re being realistic other than Budapest itself, the rest of Hungary probably isn’t worth the cost and effort of buying expensive flights via Istanbul or Dubai without also planning onward travel to elsewhere in Europe. De facto these are wealthier Russian holidaymakers, only they can afford the 1000+ USD cost of the flights and they’re naturally drawn to more glamorous destinations.