MVI annual statistical status report on hospitality

By: Trademagazin Date: 2025. 07. 08. 11:35

The Hungarian Catering Industry Association (MVI) publishes its statistical status report on the hospitality industry annually, which, like in previous years, was prepared by Károly Zerényi, the MVI’s presidential advisor, mainly using data published by the Central Statistical Office and partly by HOTREC. The 2024 status report provides information on, among other things, the number of catering establishments, the volume change in catering turnover, employment and average earnings data, and the VAT rates applicable to catering services in a European comparison.

The decline in the number of catering establishments has slowed down, while previously it was about 2 thousand fewer annually, an average of 5–6 establishments per day, in the recent period (between 2023 and the end of 2024) this has decreased to 3–4 establishments per day. The number of catering establishments at the end of 2024 was 43.6 thousand, which was 1.3 thousand less than a year earlier and 7.8 thousand less than in 2019. The number of commercial catering establishments was 1.0 thousand less than on 31 December 2023, and the number of workplace catering establishments was 328 less than on 31 December 2023. The business closures mostly affected liquor stores, cafes and music and dance venues, as well as restaurants, buffets and fast food restaurants. In 2024, there were 45 catering establishments per 10 thousand inhabitants, 7 less than in 2019. In proportion to the population, the most catering businesses were in the counties around Lake Balaton (Zala, Veszprém and Somogy) with 62, 69 and 72, respectively, and the fewest in Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok and Pest counties with 27 and 32, respectively.

Based on preliminary data, the gross turnover of catering businesses in 2024 (2672 billion forints) exceeded the previous year by 5.5% and 0.4% respectively, and exceeded the 2019 turnover by 0.4%. The volume of commercial catering, which accounts for 89% of catering turnover, was 1.1% smaller, while that of workplace catering was 15% larger than in 2019.

Based on the 2023 satellite accounts, the number of people employed in tourism was 422 thousand, about a third of whom worked in catering. In 2024, 180.6 thousand people were employed in the accommodation and catering sector, 3.4 thousand fewer than the previous year and 14.7 thousand fewer than the pre-pandemic 2019 (195.3 thousand). The number and proportion of vacancies continued to decrease, thus easing the labor shortage in the sector. The average gross monthly salary of full-time employees in the catering sector was HUF 386 thousand (HUF 270 thousand net with benefits) in 2024, which increased by 13.8% compared to the previous year. At the same time, the average salary of those working in the catering sector remained one of the lowest, corresponding to 60% of the national average.