Tourism, catering

Tourism is the activity of people who travel from their usual environment to another place, where they spend no more than one year for recreational, business or other purposes, but do not engage in gainful activity. 'Tourism and catering' includes statistics on the transit traffic of border crossings in Hungary, on the demand side of inbound, domestic and outbound tourism as well as on tourists, their journeys and related spending. In addition, it contains statistics on the capacity, guest turnover and revenues of commercial accommodation establishments and non-profit and for-profit other accommodation establishments in Hungary, as well as the characteristics of catering units operated in Hungary.

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HCSO Monitor

The collection of interactive figures provides up-to-date information on the latest domestic and international socio-economic trends. The decisive part of the figures included in HCSO Monitor are downloadable in both image and data formats (PNG, SVG and CSV). Feel free to browse the data in HCSO Monitor, updated many times a week!

Number of tourist arrivals (1.7 million) up 3.5% year-on-year and tourism nights (nearly 3.9 million) up 1.9%, Tourist arrivals at tourist accommodation establishments, May 2025

In May 2025, 1.7 million guests spent nearly 3.9 million tourism nights at tourist (commercial, private and other) accommodation establishments . The number of tourist arrivals was up by 3.5% and tourism nights by 1.9% compared to a year earlier. In January-May 2025, the number of domestic and international guests arriving to tourist accommodation establishments was 3.5% and 15% higher than in the same period of the previous year.

Statistical Pocketbook of Hungary, 2024

The tables and charts in the latest edition of the Statistical Pocketbook of Hungary provide a comprehensive insight into the development of social and economic trends in Hungary during the year 2024. It aims to provide a summary picture of the country's situation in all possible areas based on preliminary indicators. Within the number of employees, this year's pocketbook also includes employed persons working less than 60 hours, and the gross revenues at tourist accommodation establishments.

Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport turns 75

In 2025, Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport celebrates its 75th anniversary. The airport, which started operating in 1943, was rebuilt after suffering severe damage in the Second World War and the inauguration ceremony of the new complex took place on 7 May 1950. The initial passenger traffic of 50 thousand rose to 17.6 million in 2024, surpassing the record year before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Michelin-star restaurants

The star rating system, published by the Michelin Guide in 1936, is one of the most prestigious gastronomic awards in the world. In 2024, France and Tokyo had the highest number of Michelin-starred restaurants among countries and cities respectively. The first Hungarian restaurant to receive a Michelin star was in 2010, and the list has been expanded to include restaurants in Budapest and in rural areas. In addition, some domestic restaurants have been awarded Green Star status in recent years.

Tourism Satellite Accounts, 2023

Based on preliminary data, the share of tourism-specific activities in the gross output of the national economy in 2023 was 6.3%, or 9.3% if multiplier production effects are taken into account. The value added of the tourism sectors increased by almost one fifth, while the value of gross fixed capital formation invested in the sector decreased by 30% compared to the previous year. In 2023, tourism expenditure in Hungary (HUF 4104 billion) increased significantly.

Busójárás of Mohács, winter sending-off, spring welcoming festival

The Carnival season starts on 6 January every year and lasts until the day before Ash Wednesday, the 40th day preceding Easter. This period is all about merriment, balls, cheerful feasts. The Busójárás of Mohács is one of the best known among the numerous traditions in Hungary, where winter is ousted by the parade of specific masks and fur wearing people (Busós) and by lighting bonfires. The 2025 Busójárás is going to take place between 27 February and 4 March.

Statistical Yearbook of Hungary, 2023

The yearbook provides an overview of Hungary's demographic, social and economic processes, environmental characteristics and their changes over time, with the help of tens of thousands of data of 500 tables, graphs and maps. Innovatively, the Tourism, catering chapter in the volume includes the gross receipts of tourist accommodation establishments by type of accommodation. Another change is that this year the Regional data chapter already presents territorial data by tourism area, giving greater emphasis to tourist destinations.

Snapshots, 2023 - Tourism, catering

Domestic tourism in 2023 was characterised by recovery and growth following the coronavirus pandemic. In total, foreign citizens made 13 million overnight trips to Hungary, 6.0% more than the number of days spent in the country, and their spending was 36% higher than in the previous year. The time spent by Hungarians on domestic overnight trips increased by 4.7%. The volume of turnover in food service establishments was 2.4% lower than in 2022.

Hungary, 2023

Geopolitical tensions continued to overshadow economic developments in 2023, with the gross domestic product falling by 0.9%. Inflationary pressures gradually eased, but the 17.6% annual increase in consumer prices led to a decline in real earnings and consumption, and negatively affected investment decisions. Despite the economic difficulties, employment has reached a record high. In 2023, the number of deaths and births continued to fall, in addition to the decrease in the number of women of childbearing age.

International trips, Quarter 4 2023

The number of trips made by foreigners to Hungary was 11.1 million, while the number of trips made by Hungarians abroad was 4.9 million in Q4 2023. This represents an increase of 2.4% for the former and 13% for the latter compared to the same period last year. Foreign visitors to Hungary spent HUF 732 billion at current prices, up 35%, while spending by Hungarians travelling abroad increased by 47% to HUF 385 billion in the same period.