Hungarian Baths Association Expects Record Number of Visitors This Year
The Hungarian Baths Association expects that the number of visitors to domestic baths may exceed the 2019 record this year, and an average increase of 5 percent in ticket prices can be expected this year, the organization said at its press conference in Budapest on Wednesday.
Péter Zámbori, vice president of the Hungarian Baths Association, said: 33 million guests visited Hungarian baths in 2023, 5 percent more than last year, but this was still about 10 percent less than in 2019.
He drew attention to the fact that traffic data clearly shows that Hungarian baths are key players in domestic tourism.
The total revenue of the spas was approximately 238 billion forints in 2023, the annual data for 2024 is not yet available, but the net revenue from spa services has been continuously increasing since 2019. The net average price of spa tickets was 2,300 forints in 2019, and last year it was close to 4,000 forints - he indicated.
The proportion of card payments has already reached 70 percent in spas, and the SZÉP Card plays a major role in this - he added.
Zoltán Balogh, Secretary General of the Hungarian Spa Association, said that the organization is initiating a rethink of health insurance subsidies. The financing of spa treatments that can be used twice a year has not changed for 13 years, but the costs have increased drastically, and it would be necessary to develop a financing method accessible to everyone - he emphasized.
Speaking about the challenges facing spas this year, he highlighted that compliance with the government decrees published at the end of 2023 will be a task for all Hungarian spas and will fundamentally determine the developments of the next period.
Szilvia Czinege, chairwoman of the marketing and communication committee of the Hungarian Spa Association, said: for years, the association has been organizing programs with the involvement of its member spas that contribute to making the diversity of Hungarian spas known to the widest possible audience and to popularizing bathing.
This year, the spas are preparing for World Water Day on March 22 with various events, and they will continue the School on the Beach program between June 10 and 20. This year, they will also organize the Night of the Beaches, the National Water Pistol Battle and the Sauna Weekend, and they are preparing in particular for World Tourism Day on September 27.
The Hungarian Baths Association has 108 bath operators, but many operators operate multiple facilities; more than half of the 220 Hungarian baths are members of the association.
/Via MTI/