The number of tourism nights decreased by 70% compared to March 2020
As a result of border crossing restrictions and Covid-19 protection measures1 for commercial accommodation, domestic tourists spent 66% fewer tourism nights in commercial accommodation establishments2 (hotels, boarding houses, camping sites, bungalow complexes and community hostels) compared to the same period of the previous year. International guests spent 74% fewer nights. The decrease in the observed indicators is even more significant compared to the period before the outbreak, with 89% fewer tourism nights compared to the same period in 2019. The number of domestic tourism nights increased by 14 thousand compared to the previous month.
In March 2021, compared to the same month of the previous year:
42 thousand domestic guests (76% decrease) spent 136 thousand tourism nights (66% decrease). 62% of nights were spent in hotels, a 71% decline. The turnover in boarding houses and community hostels was just over half (59% and 55% respectively) of the turnover in March of the previous year. The Balaton tourism region saw the largest decline.
The number of foreign arrivals and tourism nights fell by 79% and 74% respectively, with 24 thousand guests spending 88 thousand tourism nights in accommodation establishments. Most guests stayed in hotels, however, the number of nights spent there decreased to 23% compared to March 2020. Budapest and the Balaton tourist region recorded the largest declines (95% and 82%, respectively).
Total gross sales revenues were down by 70% (to HUF 4.5 billion) at current prices.
In March 2021:
1,208 commercial accommodation establishments, including 483 hotels and 523 boarding houses were open for part or all of the month.
Domestic guests spent 61% of all tourism nights.
In January-March 2021 compared to the same period of the previous year:
Commercial accommodation establishments registered 86% fewer tourism nights, a total of 579 thousand. Domestic guests spent 82% and foreign guests 90% fewer tourism nights (374 thousand and 205 thousand, respectively) in commercial accommodation establishments.
Total gross sales revenues of commercial accommodation establishments decreased by 87% at current prices and amounted to HUF 11.1 billion.
Summary data, March 2021
| Indicator | Value | Change compared to same period of previous year, % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | January–March | March | January –March | |
| Tourism nights spent by domestic tourists, thousands | 136 | 374 | –66.2 | –81.8 |
| Tourism nights spent by international tourists, thousands | 88 | 205 | –73.9 | –90.4 |
| Tourism nights, total, thousands | 224 | 579 | –69.7 | –86.2 |
| Revenues, total, billion HUFa) | 4.5 | 11.1 | –70.4 | –86.6 |
a) At current prices.