Hungary - Travel and Tourism Hungary - Travel and Tourism
Travel and Tourism
OverviewWhile global visitation to the United States is in most cases declining, Hungarian visitation from 2018 to 2019 increased at a shocking figure of 13.5%. For Hungarian travelers, the United States is a primary international destination. The main U.S. destinations for Hungarian travelers remain the major cities of New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Florida beaches, as well as the more popular National Parks. Also, there is a sizable number of Hungarians traveling to the United States for business purposes including conferences and trade shows. Close to 80,000 Hungarian residents traveled to the United States in 2018 and is on track to exceed these figures in the coming months of 2019. Hungary ranks third in Central-Eastern Europe in terms of travelers to the U.S. (behind Poland and the Czech Republic). Most Hungarians who travel for leisure still prefer to travel to the U.S. during the months of July, August and September. Since 2008, Hungary has been a member of the Visa Wavier Program, and therefore Hungarians can travel using the ESTA system without obtaining a visa, which is one of the reasons attributable for the increase of Hungarian visitors to the United States.
Hungary was without direct flights to the United States between 2012 and early 2018. In May 2018, the Polish national airline LOT launched two new transatlantic flights out of Budapest direct to New York and to Chicago four and two times a week, respectively. LOT Dreamliner aircraft are based in in Budapest. American Airlines also offers seasonal flights direct from Budapest to Philadelphia from early May until late October to capture the onward travel market with the route largely sold out. The huge local demand is also supplemented by travelers based in other Hungarian cities, eastern Austria, the Slovak Republic, western Romania, and Balkan countries – which accounts for an additional 8 million inhabitants living within a two-hour drive of Budapest’s Ferenc Liszt International Airport.
Opportunities
Travel agencies, tour operators, destinations and tourism marketing programs targeting Hungarian travelers are experiencing an increasing number of Hungarians traveling to the United States for leisure, business, and educational purposes. The number of Hungarians traveling to the U.S. has been increasing every year at a minimum 7-8 % annually since Hungary became a member of the Visa-Waiver Program and Hungarians can travel on ESTA. Overseas travel is also supplemented by the increasing disposable income of Hungarians who wish to explore unique destinations outside in the U.S. First time visitors tend to visit east and west coast cities while returning visitors prefer authentic U.S. places including cultural and natural sights, exploring musical traits and natural parks. The average Hungarian visitor spends at least 10 days in the U.S. and tends to rent a car to explore surrounding areas.
Trade Shows
Travel Show – February 27 – March 1, 2020 – Budapest
http://utazas.hungexpo.hu/en