Budapest could be heading towards an overtourism problem similar to that of many other European cities, while other areas of Hungary experience the opposite issue.
In July, domestic tourism in Hungary continued to decline, while foreign visitors, particularly in Budapest, showed a significant increase, according to the latest data from the Central Statistical Office (KSH).
Despite a revival in tourism post-Covid, the drop in domestic tourism is becoming increasingly apparent.
Hungarian guests are either opting for international destinations or not travelling at all, leading to a growing reliance on foreign visitors for domestic tourism.
July saw 1.3 million domestic guests spending 3.9 million nights in Hungarian accommodations, marking a 0.5 percent decrease in guest numbers and a 0.3 percent drop in overnight stays.
Foreign guest numbers rose to 1 million, with these visitors spending a total of 2.8 million nights in the country, representing an 11 percent increase in guests and a 5.4 percent rise in overnight stays.
Since the end of the Covid pandemic, domestic tourism has seen dwindling guest numbers, especially during the summer season.
The number of foreign visitors is steadily catching up to that of Hungarians, and has already matched it during the winter season.
The count of domestic visitors in the capital remains steady throughout the year, while foreign visitor numbers exhibit significant seasonal variations.
Last August saw a record 888,000 foreign guest nights in Budapest.
However, data from July this year suggests that this record could be surpassed, despite last year’s figures being boosted by the World Athletics Championships.