Chinese tourists conquer Hungary: record numbers for 2025!

Chinese tourists conquer Hungary: record numbers for 2025!

On May 28, 2025, the Hungarian Tourism Authority will become aware of the impressive increase in Chinese tourists in Hungary. According to information from Xinhuanet Over 183,000 Chinese tourists visited Hungary in 2024, almost twice as many as in 2023. The Hungarian capital Budapest, especially Castle Hill, attracts many of these guests; There you can take unforgettable photos of the picturesque backdrop.

Oliver Csendes, CEO of Visit Hungary, highlights the relevance of the Chinese market and highlights the ongoing campaigns that highlight Hungary's cultural heritage and famous personalities. The Budapest Tourism and Culture Week 2025, which recently began, shows Hungary's commitment to strengthening tourist connections and showcasing cultural heritage.

Important measures to promote tourism

The Hungarian Tourism Authority is investing heavily in improving travel experiences for Chinese tourists. Csendes makes it clear that tourism and travel act as elements of peace and cultural exchange. There are currently 21 direct flights per week between Budapest and seven major Chinese cities. This connection is expected to further encourage the increase in Chinese visitors.

Forecasts suggest Hungary expects a 67 percent increase in Chinese visitor numbers in 2024 compared to last year. The number of overnight stays by Chinese tourists in Hungary rose to over 300,000 last year. At the same time, Hungary is working with digital platforms such as Trip.com and WeChat Pay to make the journey and stay more pleasant for tourists. Trip.com even has a dedicated Chinese language page for it.

Diplomatic and economic relations

As part of the Hungarian EU Council Presidency, ministerial meetings and a conference on the Europe and China tourism dialogue opened in Budapest. Minister of National Economy Márton Nagy emphasizes Hungary's “special role” in relations between China and the EU. This is in line with the aim of improving the EU's competitiveness.

Relations between Hungary and China are by no means new; In October 2022, Hungary celebrated the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations with China. In addition, Hungary has received official delegations from two Chinese provinces since the beginning of 2023 and was a guest of honor at the China International Investment and Trade Fair (CIFIT) 2024.

Under these circumstances, a new direct flight from China to Budapest has also been announced, which should further support the effects of the political initiatives. The Hungarian economy benefits significantly from the tourism sector, which accounts for 9% of the EU's GDP. In view of these developments, a further intensification of tourist relations between Hungary and China seems to be only a matter of time.