The start of low-cost flights to Hungary will boost tourism revenues this year in addition to gains from the improving world environment for tourism, the present of the Hungarian hotels body said on Monday.
Akos Niklai, president of the Hungarian Hotel Association (SZSZ), told Reuters that budget airlines, which began operating in Hungary in May, would add 50,000 guest nights this year to Budapest hotels alone.
"That is a very significant factor in itself, adding three to four percent to Budapest hotels' occupancy rates," Niklai said. "Although the overall picture is a mixed one, I expect several percent overall (hotel performance) growth this year."
Hungary opened up its air travel market as part of joining the European Union, attracting budget airlines from around Europe - Air Berlin, EasyJet, GermanWings, SkyEurope, Snowflake and WizzAir.
Tourist revenues are important in helping Hungary plug its current account deficit, which hit 6.48 billion euros ($8 billion) last year. Tourism brought in a net 1.24 billion euros.