NGM: SZÉP card holders spent nearly 12 percent more on their cards in the first quarter of 2025 than last year

The ministry explained that thanks to the 1.5-year dynamic growth in real wages, families’ confidence is gradually strengthening. The government also supports families’ carefree vacations with the SZÉP card, which strengthens domestic tourism and the economy through increased demand and expanded consumption. Card holders used a total of about 96.7 billion forints by the end of March, spending increased significantly, by nearly 12 percent compared to last year.

In March, the total value of SZÉP card usage exceeded that of March 2024 by nearly 5 percent. Cardholders spent the most on SZÉP cards at accommodation at Lake Balaton, where this amount accounted for 12 percent of domestic accommodation spending in March.

Following the record year of 2024, the SZÉP card is one of the most important drivers of domestic tourism this year as well. According to data from the National Tourism Data Service Center (NTAK), the total value of SZÉP card top-ups between January and March 2025 exceeded 105.1 billion forints, and cardholders used a total of about 96.7 billion forints from their cards by the end of March, thus SZÉP card spending increased significantly, by 11.9 percent, compared to the same period in 2024.

In March 2025, the total value of SZÉP card top-ups exceeded 51.8 billion forints, cardholders used a total of nearly 37 billion forints from their cards, so SZÉP card payments increased by 4.6 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. The most was spent on SZÉP cards at accommodations at Lake Balaton, where this amount accounted for 12 percent of domestic accommodation spending in March.

Accommodations in the Gyula and surrounding tourist area owed their revenues to the SZÉP card to the largest extent, where SZÉP card spending accounted for 15 percent of accommodation revenues from domestic guests. All this significantly contributed to the fact that accommodations nationwide recorded 6.2 percent more revenue in March this year than at this time last year.

The government is particularly supporting the carefree vacation of Hungarian families with the SZÉP card, which allows them to use their cards more and more widely. The number of acceptance points exceeded 154 thousand in March this year, which represents a 7 percent increase compared to the third month of 2024.

The government is working to make the SZÉP card available to families not only in physical form, but also digitally, thereby facilitating the use of the preferential fringe benefit.