The decline followed a 11.8% increase in April.
Foreign guest nights fell 2.8% from a year earlier to 938,000 in May, and domestic guest nights fell 10.4% yr/yr to 673,000.
In January-May, guest nights increased 3.6% yr/yr to 5.986m, with foreign guest nights rising 6.3% yr/yr to 3.169m and domestic guest nights up 0.8% at 2.817m.
In the entire last year, guest nights were up 1.7% compared to the previous year, totalling 19.03m.
The total number of guests was 669,000 in May, down 4.2% in twelve months, with foreign guests totaling 346,000, up 1.2% from a year earlier. Domestic guests numbered 323,000 in May, down 9.3% yr/yr.
In the first five months of 2011, the total number of guests was 2.475m, up 4.2% from a year earlier, with foreign arrivals increasing 8.2% to 1.193m and domestic guests up 0.8% at 1.282m.
In 2010, guest nights were up 1.7% compared to the previous year, totaling 19.03m. Foreign guest nights rose 1.4% to 9.36m last year, while domestic guest nights were up 1.6% at 9.67m.
The average hotel occupancy rate was 41.0% in January-May 2011 and 48.5% in May alone, up from 46.7% in April.
As in April, five-star hotels had the highest occupancy rates: of 59.4% in January-May 2011 and 73.6% in May alone, while four-star hotels had an average occupancy rate of 47.1% in the first five months, and 56.5% in May alone.
Gross revenue from accommodation, including catering and other services, rose 7.5% yr/yr to HUF 84.26 billion in the first five months of 2011, and May revenue rose 3.9% in twelve months to HUF 22.39 billion. The January-May figure included HUF 44.66 billion, and the May one included HUF 12.72 billion in accommodation charges.
Accommodation fee revenue from foreign visitors rose 13.6% from a year earlier to HUF 28.93 billion in January-May and revenue from domestic guests was up 2.0% at HUF 15.74 billion in the first five months, resulting in 9.2% more combined revenue from accommodation fees.
In the first five months, the average exchange rate was unchanged from a year earlier. In May alone the average HUF/EUR exchange rate was 266.8, 3.4% firmer than one year earlier.
The gross average rate charged for a hotel room was HUF 13,950 in January-May, while the gross REVPAR (revenue per available room) was HUF 5,726.
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