NGM: Hungarian tourism started 2026 with vigor

By: Trademagazin Date: 2026. 02. 26. 10:40

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In 2025, domestic tourism had a record year, with an ever-larger number of guests – 20 million – spending an ever-larger number of guest nights in Hungarian accommodation. This year has also started well, with the number of guests in January increasing by 5.3 percent and the number of nights spent by them increasing by 3.6 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. This is a favorable starting point for further growth in domestic tourism in 2026, the Ministry of National Economy (NGM) wrote in its commentary on the latest statistical data.

As they added, the government is strengthening this with measures such as the KTH Start loan with a fixed interest rate of 2.5 percent, the KTH Start 2=3 promotion, and the 5+1-point hospitality industry action plan.

The government is strengthening this with wage increases, tax cuts, and by reducing price increases, it contributes to keeping more money in families’ pockets, so that they can spend more and more on recreation according to their own decision. Hungary’s popularity among domestic and international travelers is growing steadily: in January this year, nearly 1.1 million guests spent a total of 2.4 million guest nights in Hungarian accommodations. The number of guests increased by 5.3 percent, while the nights they spent increased by 3.6 percent compared to the same period in 2025 – the ministry cited data from the Central Statistical Office.

The ministry’s statement stated that tourism is one of the most important driving forces of the Hungarian economy, accounting for more than 14 percent of GDP and providing a livelihood for nearly 400,000 families. The government aims to further improve the quality of services, which is why it is strengthening the competitiveness of the tourism sector through the Kisfaludy Tourism Credit Center with loans at an extremely favorable interest rate of 2.5 percent.

The government has also launched the KTH Start 2=3 campaign, where the smallest tourism service providers can apply for additional non-refundable state support – up to 1 million forints – for Start Investment or Working Capital loan applications between 1-2 million forints. In addition to all this, the government has developed a 5+1 action plan worth more than 100 billion forints, which will help domestic restaurants and pastry shops with tax cuts, wage reductions and preferential loans.

The Ministry of Tourism also mentioned that the Liszt Ferenc International Airport is one of the most important cornerstones of domestic tourism, which is why the government is implementing a development worth 1 billion euros within the framework of the TERMINAL+ project. The government’s goal is for the airport to be able to serve 25 million passengers a year with high standards by the end of the decade, which will further strengthen Hungary’s international reach.