The state of play – in numbers

Every year the experts of the Guild of Hungarian Restaurateurs (MVI) prepare a study that evaluates the situation in the sector. This year’s statistical analysis is even more detailed and comprehensive than the one made last year. The study reveals that tourism is one of the most important sectors in Hungary’s economy: its contribution to the nation’s GDP is 9.8 percent and 12 percent of the active population (nearly 500,000 people) work in the sector.

In 2016 Hungarians could visit almost 52,000 hospitality units, 713 less than in 2015. From these 89 percent were commercial places, while 11 percent were workplace, event hosting and public sector catering units. Last year the total gross revenue of hospitality units was HUF 1,007 billion – 9.8 percent more than in the previous year.

Consumer prices in the sector augmented by 2.8 percent in 2016; volume sales augmented by 6.8 percent if compared with 2015. The sector’s consumer price index was 233.1 percent between 2001 and 2016. If the whole of the economy is considered, the change was smaller than this at 177.5 percent. Food sales represented 73.3 percent of the total turnover.

The average gross wage of those working in the hospitality sector was HUF 148,000, 7 percent higher than in 2015 and representing 56 percent of the national average. The study also reveals that in 2014 there were 12,000 sole traders and 13,000 companies active in the sector. It is noteworthy that 99.9 percent of these business belonged to the SME category. //