Hungary’s appeal among both domestic and international travellers is steadily increasing, the Ministry for National Economy (NGM) said on Thursday. Citing fresh data from the Central Statistical Office (KSH), the ministry reported that almost 1.7 million guests stayed in the country in October, an 11 per cent rise compared with the same month last year. Visitors spent a total of 3.8 million nights in commercial accommodations, up 10 per cent from October 2024.
Tourism has repeatedly broken records this year: between January and October 2025, 16.8 million guests booked 40.5 million nights at Hungarian accommodations.
To ensure the sector’s continued growth, the government has introduced new measures. Through the Kisfaludy Tourism Loan Centre, low-interest loans at a fixed 2.5 per cent rate are now available to strengthen the competitiveness of small tourism operators. At the same time, over 1,000 billion forints in development projects are planned around Budapest’s Liszt Ferenc International Airport to further enhance Hungary’s attractiveness.
According to KSH and the National Tourism Data Supply Centre, October brought notable gains in both domestic and international arrivals. Some 821,000 domestic travellers stayed at Hungarian accommodations, an 11 per cent increase year-on-year, while 833,000 foreign visitors represented a 12 per cent jump compared with 2024.
Budapest accounted for 44 per cent of the country’s tourism traffic. The capital recorded around 1.7 million guest nights in October, a growth of more than 14 per cent year-on-year.
Accommodation providers nationwide generated over 104 billion forints in revenue in October, up 14 per cent in nominal terms. Restaurants and catering services earned 186 billion forints, more than 10 per cent ahead of last year’s October figure.
The first ten months of 2025 delivered strong overall results: 16.8 million guests visited Hungary, nearly 7 per cent more than in the same period of 2024, while guest nights rose to 40.5 million, a 4 per cent increase.
To secure long-term development, the government has launched the KTH Start loan programme, offering 1 to 10 million forint working-capital and investment loans at a fixed 2.5 per cent rate to small tourism enterprises. Additionally, more than 1,000 billion forints in airport-related investments are planned, including Terminal 3, a rail link and a new six-lane road connecting the airport with Budapest.
The government aims to double passenger traffic at the airport by 2035, boosting inbound tourism. With its outstanding performance, tourism remains a key driver of the Hungarian economy, generating over 13 per cent of GDP and providing livelihoods for nearly 400,000 families. The NGM said the new measures will strengthen the sector’s competitiveness and further enhance Hungary’s international appeal.
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