After 5.5 million people got the Covid-19 vaccine, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced the further ease of restrictions. Hungarian accommodations will not require vaccine certificates in the future, which resulted in a 27% increase in the number of reservations.
The number of reservations will probably increase even more, and this season might have even more traffic than in 2019, forbes.hu reported. The majority of the people are spending their vacation in Hungary, but 18% are planning to travel abroad.
The most popular foreign travel destinations are Croatia, Turkey, Greece, and Montenegro.
In Hungary, the higher-level quality services are more popular than last year, even though prices increased. Many people are looking for accommodation that has a pool, jacuzzi or wellness area. The demand for all-inclusive services is significant, and based on a survey by Szallas.hu, every second person eats at a restaurant or buffet. According to the survey, entertainment opportunities like music at dinner or sports broadcasts contribute to attracting customers.
Nationwide, prices for accommodation increased by 11.5% per night for one person, and near Lake Balaton, the prices got 8% higher.
Hungarians choose their holiday destinations based on price, discount, and their bucket list, but several people tend to return to their usual vacation venue. The most popular activities are going to the pool, sightseeing, going on trips, hiking, and enjoying wellness areas.
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Zoltán Guller, chief executive of the Hungarian Tourism Agency, said in a podcast that they have been using data-controlled strategies to boost tourism. They get data about the accommodation, services, prices, and activities of tourists. For example, approximately 50% of tourists who visit Hévíz are above the age of 55 and live in Budapest or other parts of Pest County. 96% of tourists at Hévíz visit the Lake Bath.
They also gathered data about foreigners. Czech tourists usually stay in the same settlements, while Polish tourists travel between different cities. On average, foreigners spend 46 minutes at the Buda Castle.
Guller also said that Hungary has an advantage over other countries in restoring tourism and can be the first to bring tourists back.