Current Issues in Tourism Policy Making in Hungary
Dr Andrea NemesDirector General
Tourism and Catering Department
Current Issues of Tourism Policy in Hungary
3
National Tourism Development Concept 2014-
2020
4
Objectives
5
Szechenyi Recreation Card (SzRC) – A Means for
Encouraging Domestic Tourism
6
What is SzRC?• Through the tax system the Hungarian state
encourages the employers to give non-wage benefits as they can be provided to the employees under more favourable taxation conditions than salaries.
• A net wage of 100 forints costs now 196 forints to the employers, while a net fringe benefit of 100 forints costs only 135.7 forints to them.
• The fringe benefit system can provide additional resources to important social and economic policy objectives, as all the benefits are earmarked.
• SzRC is a type of fringe benefits which can be used for purchasing tourism-related domestic services.
7
Accommodationsub-account (750
EUR)
Cateringsub-account (500
EUR)
Leisuresub-account (250
EUR)All types of accommodation services
Spa and lido tickets
Domestic travel package
Restaurants and canteens
Cultural services: e.g. festival,
concert, theatre, museum ticketsSport services: fitness center,
swimming pool, ski resort ticket, rental of sports
equipmentAmusement park and zoo ticketsCertain types of
health care services
etc.
+
8
The System of SzRC andIt’s Results Until 31 July 2013
EMPLOYER
ISSUER
EMPLOYEE
SERVICE PROVIDE
Rcashvoucherservice
Employer: 21,897
Employee: 858,114
Service provider: 49,049
Amount transferred to SZEP Cards in 2013: EUR 153 million
Amount spent from SZEP Cards in 2013: EUR 129 million
Tourism Trends in Hungary - Statistics
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Number of Guest Nights at Commercial Accommodation, 2007-2012
Source: HCSO
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Hungary’s TOP 10 Sending CountriesCountry Guest nights
at commercial accommodat
ion, 2012
2012/2011 (%)
1. Germany 2 146 491 +3.12. Austria 804 268 -0.63. Italy 624 459 +18.14. Russia 614 077 +32.95. United Kingdom
608 112 +12.8
6. the Czech Republic
538 591 +4.8
7. Poland 485 062 +8.38. the Netherlands
459 543 +36,6
9. USA 450 573 +0.110. Romania 419 030 +0.9
Source: HCSO
Russian Tourists in Hungary - Statistics
13
Number of Russian Guests at Commercial Accommodation, 2007-2012
Source: HCSO
Guests2012/201
1+28.9%Guest nights
2012/2011
+32.9%
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Russian Tourists in Hungarian Spa Hotels
• According to the number of guest nights Russia is the 2nd most important source market
• In 201226 517 guests → +85% to 2011201 344 guest nights → +80% to 2011
• Average length of stay: 7.6 nights
Source: HCSO
15Source: HCSO
Russian Tourists at Commercial Accommodation, January-July 2013
Numberof
Guests
Jan-Jun 2013/Ja
n-Jul 2012 (%)
Numberof Guest Nights
Jan-Jun 2013/Jan-Jul 2012 (%)
CommercialAccommodation
103 576 +19.4 417 351 +21.8
From which: Hotels
100 549 +19.7 405 854 +22.6
~1/3 of Russian guest nights realized in spa hotels, where the average length of stay was 9 nights, while the number of guests was 14 625 and the number of guest nights was 132 149
Tourism Policy Priorities on the Russian Market
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Direct flights between Hungary and Russia
• Scheduled flights on the route Budapest-St. Petersburg and between Hévíz and Moscow are expected to be launched in the near future
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Visas
• Our objectives are– assist in simpler and faster procedures for the
reception and consideration of visa applications– outsourcing of visa applications to attract
more tourists and to facilitate the access for visas
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Medical Treatment, Rehabilitation
• Exploring opportunities for co-operation
• Our aim isto assist Hungarian spa resorts, spas and
tour operators in meeting the increasing demand of the Russian market
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Ministry
Ministry
forfor Natio
nal
Natio
nal
Economy
Economy
Tourism
Tourism and Caterin
g
and Catering
Department
Department
Dr Andrea N
emes
Dr Andrea N
emes
Director G
eneral
Director G
eneral
Email:
Email:
u
u
Thank you for your attention!