The number of inbound tourists arriving to Hungary (including same-day excursionists) increased steadily until 2019, when it reached over 61 million. In the same year, 16.9 million international tourist arrivals staying for at least one night were recorded. However, as a consequence of the travel restrictions introduced because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the number of tourists in Hungary decreased to 32 million in 2020. By 2024, the number of inbound tourist trips made to Hungary increased to 51 million, still not reaching pre-pandemic levels. Most popular tourist attractions in Hungary Hungary’s most popular touristic regions are Budapest and Central Danube, Lake Balaton, and Western Transdanubia. Lake Balaton is the biggest freshwater lake in Central Europe, moreover, it is surrounded by volcanic hills that serve as the base for the country’s famous vineyards. Tourists in Hungary often visit the wine regions to take part in tastings, try horseback riding or take bicycle tours while enjoying the rural landscape. Tourism in Budapest The country’s capital, Budapest is without question one of the most popular tourist destinations, not just in Hungary but in the region of Central Europe. Besides being renowned for its thermal spas, Budapest features numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as the neo-gothic Parliament building, the Buda Castle Quarter, and even the M1 underground, which was the first one to be built in continental Europe. With all the prestigious historical sites, beautiful landscapes, and vibrant shopping streets, no wonder that so many people who come to Hungary do not leave without visiting Budapest.

The tourism industry in Hungary was severely affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak which led to a dramatic decrease in international guest arrivals in 2020. During April and May, only 3,000 international tourists spent nights in travel accommodation establishments in Budapest, respectively.

Key information about Hungary Visitor Arrivals

• Hungary Visitor Arrivals recorded 2,912,000 person in Dec 2024, compared with 4,504,000 person in the previous quarter
• Hungary Visitor Arrivals data is updated quarterly, available from Mar 2004 to Dec 2024
• The data reached an all-time high of 6,133,000 person in Sep 2018 and a record low of 587,000 person in Jun 2020

International tourism, receipts for travel items (current US$) in Hungary was reported at 3229000000 USD in 2020, according to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources. Hungary - International tourism, receipts for travel items - actual values, historical data, forecasts and projections were sourced from the World Bank on March of 2025.

In 2020, the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak had a negative effect not only on international but on domestic tourism as well. Consequently, the number of domestic tourist arrivals at accommodation establishments in Budapest decreased during the spring of 2020 and remained relatively low throughout the year.

Key information about Hungary Tourism Revenue Growth

• Hungary Tourism Revenue dropped 58.7 % YoY in Dec 2020, compared with an increase of 6.3 % YoY in the previous year
• Hungary Tourism Revenue Growth rate data is updated yearly, available from Dec 1996 to Dec 2020
• The data reached an all-time high of 33.8 % in Dec 2008 and a record low of -58.7 % in Dec 2020

Tourism receipts of Hungary plummeted by 58.69% from 10,225,000,000 US dollars in 2019 to 4,224,000,000 US dollars in 2020. Since the 13.85% surge in 2018, tourism receipts sank by 56.08% in 2020. International tourism receipts are expenditures by international inbound visitors, including payments to national carriers for international transport. These receipts include any other prepayment made for goods or services received in the destination country. They also may include receipts from same-day visitors, except when these are important enough to justify separate classification. For some countries they do not include receipts for passenger transport items. Data are in current U.S. dollars.

The annual number of inbound overnight tourist trips made to Hungary totaled 7.4 million in 2020, representing an over 56 percent decrease compared to the previous year. However, by 2024, the number of overnight trips made by international travelers increased to over 13 million.

International tourism was severely affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, which is reflected in the lowest inbound tourist expenditure recorded in Hungary over the observed period. Nevertheless, the industry recovered swiftly and in 2024, inbound tourist spending reached over 3.3 trillion forints.

Number of arrivals of Hungary plummeted by 48.46% from 61,397,000 number in 2019 to 31,641,000 number in 2020. Since the 4.92% rise in 2018, number of arrivals sank by 45.13% in 2020. International inbound tourists (overnight visitors) are the number of tourists who travel to a country other than that in which they have their usual residence, but outside their usual environment, for a period not exceeding 12 months and whose main purpose in visiting is other than an activity remunerated from within the country visited. When data on number of tourists are not available, the number of visitors, which includes tourists, same-day visitors, cruise passengers, and crew members, is shown instead. Sources and collection methods for arrivals differ across countries. In some cases data are from border statistics (police, immigration, and the like) and supplemented by border surveys. In other cases data are from tourism accommodation establishments. For some countries number of arrivals is limited to arrivals by air and for others to arrivals staying in hotels. Some countries include arrivals of nationals residing abroad while others do not. Caution should thus be used in comparing arrivals across countries. The data on inbound tourists refer to the number of arrivals, not to the number of people traveling. Thus a person who makes several trips to a country during a given period is counted each time as a new arrival.

Hungary - Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments: Foreign country was 9.96 % year-on-year in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Hungary - Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments: Foreign country - last updated from the EUROSTAT on March of 2025. Historically, Hungary - Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments: Foreign country reached a record high of 1146.80 % year-on-year in December of 2021 and a record low of -98.52 % year-on-year in April of 2020.

In June 2020, arrivals at accommodation establishments in Hungary decreased to around 345 thousand due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, down from 1.38 million recorded in the same period a year earlier. Arrivals include both residents and non-resident stays in tourist accommodation.

Pendapatan Pariwisata (Perubahan y-o-y) Hongaria dilaporkan sebesar -58.7 % pada 2020. Rekor ini turun dibanding sebelumnya yaitu 6.3 % untuk 2019. Data Pendapatan Pariwisata (Perubahan y-o-y) Hongaria diperbarui tahunan, dengan rata-rata 6.5 % dari 1996 sampai 2020, dengan 25 observasi. Data ini mencapai angka tertinggi sebesar 33.8 % pada 2008 dan rekor terendah sebesar -58.7 % pada 2020. Data Pendapatan Pariwisata (Perubahan y-o-y) Hongaria tetap berstatus aktif di CEIC dan dilaporkan oleh CEIC Data. Data dikategorikan dalam Global Economic Monitor World Trend Plus – Table: Tourism Revenue: Y-o-Y Growth: Annual.

Hungary - Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments was 5.38 % year-on-year in December of 2024, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Hungary - Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments - last updated from the EUROSTAT on March of 2025. Historically, Hungary - Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments reached a record high of 754.96 % year-on-year in April of 2022 and a record low of -96.34 % year-on-year in April of 2020.

Bulgaria Visitor Arrivals: EU: ow Hungary data was reported at 4,567.000 Person in Jan 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 4,634.000 Person for Dec 2024. Bulgaria Visitor Arrivals: EU: ow Hungary data is updated monthly, averaging 4,399.000 Person from Jan 2002 (Median) to Jan 2025, with 277 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 59,676.000 Person in Aug 2003 and a record low of 1,171.000 Person in Apr 2020. Bulgaria Visitor Arrivals: EU: ow Hungary data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by National Statistical Institute. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Bulgaria – Table BG.Q001: Visitor Arrivals: by Country.

After demonstrating relatively stable figures between 2015 and 2019, the number of employees in the Hungarian tourism sector dropped to approximately 317 thousand in 2020. In 2022, the number of people employed in the passenger transportation and food and beverage serving activities reached nearly 88 thousand and 118 thousand, respectively.

Os dados de Receita do Turismo: Variação Anual da Hungria foram registrados em -58.7 % em 2020. Este registro de uma queda com relação aos números anteriores de 6.3 % em 2019. Os dados de Receita do Turismo: Variação Anual da Hungria são atualizados anualmente, com uma média de 6.5 % em 1996 até 2020, com 25 observações. Os dados alcançaram um alto recorde de 33.8 % em 2008 e um baixo recorde de -58.7 % em 2020. Os dados de Receita do Turismo: Variação Anual da Hungria permanecem com status ativo na CEIC e são reportados pela fonte: CEIC Data. Os dados são classificados sob o World Trend Plus’ Global Economic Monitor – Table: Tourism Revenue: Y-o-Y Growth: Annual.

The number of tourist arrivals in accommodation establishments in Budapest has increased steadily since 2009 until 2019. Almost four million of these were international tourists. However, because of the travel restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the number of arrivals at accommodation establishments in Budapest decreased to one million in 2020. In the years following the pandemic, the number of tourists started growing again, peaking at 5.3 million visitors in 2023. Accommodation in Budapest Visitors in Budapest can choose from a wide variety of accommodation types depending on their personal preferences. In 2024, there were over 27 thousand hotel rooms in the Hungarian capital, not mentioning the numerous hostels, motels, Bed & Breakfasts, and Airbnbs. As of 2023, the revenue of hotels in Budapest per available room peaked at 82.3 euros, following years of decline due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Airbnb in Budapest Since 2014, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of accommodations available on Airbnb in Budapest. In 2020, there were almost 10 thousand available apartments on the platform, most of them being in District VII. Despite this, in the summer of 2020 new regulations were introduced in Hungary. These rules allowed local governments to limit the number of days apartments can be leased for, which will inevitably have a negative effect on Airbnb rentals.

Indonesia Visitors Arrivals by Residence: Hungary data was reported at 1,581.000 Person in Dec 2024. This records an increase from the previous number of 1,377.000 Person for Nov 2024. Indonesia Visitors Arrivals by Residence: Hungary data is updated monthly, averaging 1,108.000 Person from Jan 2017 (Median) to Dec 2024, with 96 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2,318.000 Person in Oct 2024 and a record low of 0.000 Person in Jun 2020. Indonesia Visitors Arrivals by Residence: Hungary data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Statistics Indonesia. The data is categorized under Indonesia Premium Database’s Tourism Sector – Table ID.QA003: Visitors Arrivals: by Country of Residence. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

Hungary - Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments: Hotels; holiday and other short-stay accommodation; camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks was 30488308.00 in December of 2023, according to the EUROSTAT. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for Hungary - Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments: Hotels; holiday and other short-stay accommodation; camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks - last updated from the EUROSTAT on March of 2025. Historically, Hungary - Nights spent at tourist accommodation establishments: Hotels; holiday and other short-stay accommodation; camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks reached a record high of 33199961.00 in December of 2019 and a record low of 14598682.00 in December of 2020.