This is how Hungarians enjoy their vacations nowadays

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 07. 19. 12:07

Over the past year, a lot of contradictory information has come to light regarding the number of visitors to Lake Balaton. While, according to the data of the Hungarian Tourist Agency (MTÜ), traffic in the first half of July reached 98.6 percent of the 2019 level, Tamás Flesch, the president of the hotel association, claimed that fewer and fewer people can afford the Balaton holiday, and 30- 40 percent fewer guests arrive, who prefer to visit only on weekends.

MTÜ and Prime Minister Gergely Gulyás denied Flesch’s claims, stressing that Lake Balaton is still a popular destination. Telex reporters examined the situation on twelve beaches on a weekend in July, and according to their experience, attendance is indeed higher on weekends, Telex writes in its latest analysis.

The prospects for this season can be evaluated based on various surveys. According to Tárki’s May research, a third of Hungarians planned some kind of trip for the summer, and the majority of them targeted Lake Balaton. However, inflation and rising prices have a significant impact on the desire to travel: according to 60 percent of respondents, inflation affects their travel and restaurant visiting habits.

Based on data from Booking.com, Airbnb and Szállás.hu, during the investigation of accommodation prices, it was found that most accommodation is in the HUF 55,000-65,000 per night price category. The HUF 35-45 thousand category is the most common on Airbnb, while the HUF 25-35 thousand category is the most common on Szállás.hu.