A subsidy program to strengthen tourism competitiveness is launched with a budget of 15 billion | News

A support program to strengthen the competitiveness of players in the tourism sector is being launched: the most important goal of the complex, three-pillar 15 billion HUF support program package is to improve the quality of services and stimulate the economy of rural service providers through targeted programs – announced Minister of National Economy Márton Nagy at a press conference in Budapest on Tuesday.

He added: the new sectoral support program has three elements, at the suggestion of MTÜ and the service providers, in the first, the competitiveness of rural catering enterprises is supported with a budget of HUF 13 billion. 1 billion forints will be spent on the modernization of the Tourinform offices, and 1 billion forints will be spent on the Muzsikáló Hungary 2024 Program, which serves to preserve gypsy music in cafés.

He emphasized that tourism is a strategic sector and its contribution to economic growth is crucial. The development of competitiveness requires support programs – emphasized the minister.

Márton Nagy pointed out that last year the sector achieved a full recovery after the epidemic, and this year a permanent increase in guest nights is expected, which is supported by the moderation of inflation, the rise of real wages, and the improving economic outlook. Last year, the number of guest nights increased to 41.8 million, exceeding the number achieved in 2019. The number of guests rose to 16.2 million, similar to 2019. The incomes of accommodation and catering both exceeded the results of 2019 before the epidemic, he said.

The SZÉP card remained the engine of domestic tourism: last year, the top-up was 445 billion forints, and the value of all spending was 449 billion forints, after 355 billion forints and 385 billion forints in the previous year, he explained.

This year, 42.8 million guest nights are expected nationally, according to the ministry’s expectations, which is a 2 percent increase compared to 2023 and a 3 percent increase compared to 2019. According to their forecast, by 2030, the sector can achieve an annual GDP contribution of 16 percent and 50 million guest nights.

Zoltán Guller, the chairman of the board of the Hungarian Tourist Agency (MTÜ), said: last year was a record year, the trend continues, this year could be a record year as well. According to the data so far, 3.3 million guests have already arrived between January and mid-April this year by 15 percent, and the number of guest nights has increased by 13 percent to 8.3 million. In the first 100 days, the sales revenue of hotels increased by 18 percent to HUF 188 billion, and the revenues of catering establishments increased by 14 percent to HUF 480 billion, he said.

According to his description, in the first tender, starting with a budget of HUF 13 billion, small and medium-sized enterprises in the catering industry in the countryside can receive development support of HUF 1 million, thus providing around 13,000 enterprises with the opportunity to modernize and purchase equipment. Any year-round catering establishment – with the exception of fast food restaurants, mobile catering establishments, and workplace catering – can apply, which has at least one closed business year and is registered with the National Tourist Information Center (NTAK).

The second tender supports the modernization of Tourinform offices, according to plans, 35-40 offices may receive support. Currently, there are 90 offices across the country, they handle 2 million guest inquiries every year, and they play a prominent role in the organization of local tourism.

In the third, Musical Hungary 2024 Program, they plan to support around 500 musicians, according to their data, around 120-130 bands currently nurture the tradition of gypsy music in cafés.

The new sectoral support programs will start in the coming weeks, he said. The tender is conducted within a simplified framework, on an electronic interface that can be started from the NTAK system, in order to ensure that the funds reach the businesses as quickly as possible – explained Zoltán Guller.

In response to a question, Márton Nagy said: he will propose intervention in the case of fuels, the form of which has not yet been decided. He called it important that the Hungarian fuel price be based on the “regional average”.