"Hungary had nearly 17 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2008, 2% less than in H1 2007, the Central Statistics Office (KSH) reports. The total length of stay of foreign visitors was nearly 40 million days in the first six months, 8.6% less than in the same period last year.International tourism services provided for foreign visitors generated HUF 449 bn in H1, up 12% yr/yr. The number of visits by Hungarians to abroad was 7.9 m, largely unchanged from H1 2007 (+0.1% yr/yr), and spending there totaled HUF 302 bn, 28% more than in Jan-June 2007. The balance of international tourism services, excluding passenger transport, came in at HUF 136 bn, down 12% yr/yr.
The number of “same-day" foreign visitors dropped 3.2% yr/yr in the first half, while the number of “overnight" foreign visitors rose 2.7% from H1 2007.
More than two fifths of foreign visitors that came to Hungary only for one day were just passing through. Nearly all of those who came from France, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom were transit visitors. 19% of the visitors came with touristic motivation, which marks a one percentage point increase from H1 last year. The most visitors with touristic motivation came from Austria and Slovakia.
82% of long-stay visitors came with touristic motivation, 17% whom came for business reasons.
The most frequented touristic destination of long-stay visitors was Budapest (43%) and the Western Transdanubia region (27%)."
Source: Portfolio Online Financial Journal
28.08.2008