Statistical report on the hospitality industry

The report has been compiled by Károly Zerényi, presidential advisor of MVI. Tourism is one of the largest sectors of the national economy, with an 8.8% share of the gross output. The contribution of tourism sectors (including hotels and restaurants) to the GDP was 6%, and the number of people employed in these sectors was close to 400,000. There were fewer than 45,000 hospitality units in the country at the end of 2023, down 2,000 compared to 2022. The number of commercial establishments reduced by 2,200 if compared with the end of 2022.

In 2022 sales by hospitality units represented a value of gross HUF 1,921bn, 46% more than the low base of a year earlier. In the year 2019 – the year before the pandemic – sales by restaurants were at HUF 1,465 billion. According to preliminary data, gross sales revenue by hospitality units was HUF 2,326bn in 2023, up 21% on a year earlier, but with a significant increase in price levels. Commercial catering accounted for 90% of sales at HUF 2,084bn. Gross sales by commercial catering businesses were 21% higher than in 2022. Hospitality prices rose by 24.6% in 2023 amid economic difficulties, 7 percentage points above the average consumer price index (117.6%). Volume sales of restaurants and catering establishments were 1.8% lower than in 2022 and 5.3% lower than in 2019. //