More Turists from Abroad, Hungarian Spent Less Time on Holiday

In January-June 2008 the total number of international and domestic tourism nights nearly stagnated in public accommodation establishments, while the revenue of these grew by 2% at current prices.

The number of international tourism
nights rose by 1%, however the number of domestic tourism nights fell
by 2% compared with the same period a year ago. In January-June 2008,
1 523 thousand foreign guests spent 4 204 thousand nights in public
accommodation establishments. The number of guests grew by 6%, while
the number of tourist nights rose by 1% compared with the same period
in 2007. Out of the six major source countries, fewer tourists
arrived from Germany, Austria, the

United States of America and Italy,
while there was a significant increase in case of the United Kingdom
and Romania. A considerable growth can be observed in case of the
Czech Republic, Poland, Norway and Russia, too.

Regarding tourism nights in hotels, an
increase can be observed in the three and five star categories, while
occupancy rates were unchanged or fell in case of all other
categories. Over the survey period, public accommodation
establishments registered 1 792 thousand domestic guests

and 3 930 thousand domestic tourism
nights. The number of guests grew by 2%, while that of tourist nights
decreased by 2% compared with January-June 2007. One, four and five
star hotel categories had more domestic tourism nights; thus hotels
had a total increase of 2%. Boarding houses, which are beloved by
domestic guests and have a significant share in tourism nights,
reported 4% fewer tourism nights.

By travel purpose – in conformity
with seasonal trends – business travellers as well as conference
and congress visitors had a 36 percent overall share among tourists.
11% of leisure travellers primarily sought for health tourism
products. Most guests booked individually, only 29% booked through
travel agencies. E-booking is strongly emerging among travellers
(27%).

In the survey period, the hotels had an
average occupancy rate of 45%, which was the same as one year before.
The number of nights spent at Lake Balaton decreased by 1%, while
Budapest reported 3% more tourist nights compared with the same
period a year ago.

In January-June 2008, public
accommodation establishments had gross revenues of HUF 111 billion,
which reflect an increase of 2% at current prices. Accommodation
revenues were up by 3% and reached HUF 62 billion in the observed
period. The gross average room rate was HUF 15 301, a nearly
eightfold difference was registered between one and five star room
rates. The revenue per available room in hotels (REVPAR) was HUF 6
887, however a major difference can be seen here also, while five
star hotels enforced nearly thirteen-fold rates compared with one
star hotels. In January-May, the accommodation and catering price
index was up by 7% compared with one year before. When evaluating
revenue data, it must be taken into account that the HUF exchange
rate was weak in the first three months of this year, but since April
it has been rising continuously.

In January-June 2008, on the basis of
HCSO data, public accommodation establishments had revenues of HUF 5
608 million through exchanging holiday vouchers; exchanged vouchers
represented 5 percent in total revenues, and 26% in REVPAR. 83% of
hotels have exchanged holiday vouchers in June.

On 30 June 2008, 2 709 public
accommodation establishments were registered including 840 hotels
with 49 thousand rooms, 1049 boarding houses with 13 thousand rooms
and 820 other accommodation facilities (tourist and youth hostels,
holiday houses, camping sites). In June 2008, the available bed
places in public accommodation establishments were the same as a year
ago. In June, accommodation establishments operating in several
branches employed 31 thousand persons.