Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán invites tourists to Hungary to spend the festive season in the country, to ‘experience Europe the way it should be,’ in a recently shared video on X. In the caption, Orbán reminded viewers that Hungary must pay a fine of €1 million daily for not allowing illegal migrants into the country, ‘for our safety, and yours.’
The video features beautiful shots of snowy Hungarian landscapes, the snow-covered rooftops of Budapest, the Christmas tree in front of the Parliament, and, most importantly, happy families. ‘Looking for a holiday destination this Christmas? Visit Hungary. It’s beautiful and the safest place in Europe,’ says the narrator. ‘Hungary: your safe space in Europe,’ it continues, concluding with a Merry Christmas wish.
Hungary has placed significant emphasis on promoting the country to tourists in recent years. In 2024, around 1.3 million guests stayed in tourist accommodation establishments in December, up about 11 per cent year-on-year. Foreign visitors accounted for around 715,000 arrivals (up 20 per cent) and around 1.7 million nights (up 15 per cent).
Accommodation turnover in December reached nearly HUF 90 billion, an increase of 22.3 per cent compared to 2023, while hospitality turnover reached HUF 166.2 billion, up around 10 per cent. Interestingly, around half of all overnight stays in December 2024 took place outside Budapest, with the Balaton region remaining popular. The Budapest Christmas market was named all-time best in Europe last year.
The country and its government have been in a constant stand-off with Brussels since 2015 over how to handle mass migration. Viktor Orbán took a firm stance ten years ago, deciding not to let illegal migrants in. He even built a border fence, which later influenced several Western leaders, including US President Donald Trump.
‘Many Westerners view Hungary as a part of Europe that has stayed the way Western European countries should have remained’
However, the European Union still has not significantly changed its migration policy. Since 2024, Hungary has been ordered by the Court of Justice of the European Union to pay €200 million for refusing to alter its asylum procedures. The court also ordered Budapest to pay a daily fine of €1 million until it complies with the ruling.
Many Westerners view Hungary as a part of Europe that has stayed the way Western European countries should have remained, instead of admitting millions of Muslim migrants. The video shared by Viktor Orbán resembles content produced by right-wing influencers who praise the country for its traditions, its protection of Christian values, and for remaining the ‘same’.
One of the most well-known creators producing such content posts under the username codevictorian on Instagram. A video from September about Hungary, highlighting its safety and rejection of illegal migration, attracted considerable attention, with nearly 300,000 likes and 3,000 comments.
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