Tourism nights up 13.1% in March

In March 2018, compared to the same month of the previous year, the number of international tourist arrivals grew by 11% and that of international tourism nights by 10.1% to a little over 1 million, according to monthly data from the Central Statistical Office (KSH).

Turnover measured in tourism nights significantly increased in each type of accommodation. In hotels, accounting for nearly nine-tenths of tourism nights, the rate of growth was 7.5%. The number of foreign tourism nights increased in all tourism regions, especially in Central Transdanubia and Northern Hungary.

The number of domestic tourist arrivals increased by 15% and that of domestic tourism nights by 16.5%, likewise to slightly more than 1 million.

Turnover measured in domestic tourism nights increased in each type of accommodation. Growth was 16% in hotels, realizing eight-tenths of domestic tourism nights. The number of domestic tourist arrivals increased in each tourism region, with all regions seeing double-digit growth except the Northern Great Plain.

This year the calendar effect influenced the favorable change in domestic guest turnover in March, noted the KSH. The March 15 national holiday fell over a long weekend, while the Easter holidays also began with Good Friday before the end of the month.

Total gross revenues of commercial accommodation establishments increased by 18.9% to HUF 34 billion in March; within this, accommodation fee revenues increased by 19% (to HUF 19 bln), catering revenues by 29% (to HUF 8 bln), and other revenues by 8.5% (to HUF 7 bln) at current prices. The amount of accommodation fee revenues from foreign visitors increased by 17%, while revenue from domestic visitors rose by 23% compared to March 2017.

Room occupancy in hotels increased by 4.2 percentage points to 56.7% in March.  At hotels, gross room revenue per available room (REVPAR) jumped 18.1% to HUF 10,116, while the average room price was up 9.5% at HUF 17,852 at current prices.

As of March 31, 2018, compared to the same date of the previous year, the number of accommodation establishments operating in Hungary had increased by 93 to 2,573. The number of available rooms and beds did not change significantly.

Q1 sees 10.8% rise in guest nights

In January-March 2018, compared to the first quarter of 2017, the number of tourism nights spent in commercial accommodation grew by 10.8% to a total of 5.14 mln. Foreign guests spent 8.2% more nights (2.6 mln) and domestic guests 13.6% more nights (2.5 mln).

Room occupancy in hotels in the first quarter increased by 3.5 percentage points to 50.8%.

Total gross sales in accommodation establishments grew by 14.5% at current prices to HUF 86 bln. Within this, accommodation revenues increased by 14% and approached HUF 47 bln.

Data for accommodation establishments in April 2018 will be published by the KSH on June 12.