NGM: the SZÉP card is still the engine of domestic tourism

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 07. 18. 12:30

The popularity of the SZÉP card continues to grow, as shown by the fact that in the first half of 2024, the total value of top-ups increased to more than HUF 230 billion, which thus exceeded the result of the same period of the previous year by 12 percent – the Ministry of National Economy (NGM) pointed out in its statement on Thursday.

In addition to the amount of top-ups, the number of cardholders and acceptance points also shows a dynamic increase. Compared to June last year, the number of users increased by 8 percent to more than 2.8 million, while the number of acceptance points increased from 137,000 to nearly 147,000 in one year, NGM explained.

As an important means of payment for Hungarian households, the SZÉP card supports the undisturbed recreation of families, while also strengthening the domestic tourism and hospitality industry by expanding demand and increasing consumption, they wrote. In the first six months of 2024, cardholders used a total of nearly HUF 202 billion, which is more than two and a half times the amount of SZÉP card payments compared to 2019, the ministry’s analysis highlighted.

At the end of June 2024, about HUF 127 billion were available on SZÉP cards, which represents an additional potential source of income for the domestic tourism industry.