Tourism in Europe is a very well-developed industry, especially considering that Europeans do not need visas or other immigration formalities within the EU’s and Schengen’s borders. This is why it is recommended to invest in a travel agency in a European country, as each one can have its competitive advantages.
Those who want to invest on the Hungarian market can open a company in Hungary as a travel agency, as there are many opportunities here in the tourism industry. In this article, our consultants offer 7 reasons for opening a travel agency in Hungary; for more details and assistance on the process of company registration in Hungary, we invite you to address our team of specialists.
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Good location, at a crossroads between West and East
Hungary has a favorable location in Europe, between East and West; historically, it has been transited by the Romans, Habsburgs and the Turks – all of which have left a mark on the country’s history, its cultural heritage and beauty. This makes it a great location to open a travel agency.
Attractive touristic destinations
Tourism in Hungary has great potential for development and it’s one of the reasons to invest in Hungary. The country offers high quality accommodation and dining options at affordable prices. The central part of the country is the most visited because this is where the capital city is.
Other areas with relevant potential for touristic development include Lake Balaton with beautiful rural sites, the Transdanubia region or Northern Hungary with historic towns.
The country has a very good reputation as an international travel hotspot and this can be observed in the total number of visitors the country has received in the last years. We recommend investors to open a Hungarian company as a travel agency given the following highlights registered in this industry:
- in 2024, Hungary received a total of 18 million tourists (9,3 million domestic tourists and 8,7 million international visitors), according to the Hungarian Tourism Agency;
- in economic terms, the revenue from tourist accommodations in 2024 accounted for HUF 1,050 billion (marking an increase of 16% compared to the previous year), while the catering industry reported an increase of 11% on a year-to-year basis (accounting for HUF 2,005 billion);
- as mentioned above, Budapest is the main touristic landmark of Hungary, and this was seen in the tourism trends of 2024, when the number of visitors increased by 24% on a year-to-year basis (it attracted 6 million visitors, out of which 60% were foreign nationals);
- the momentum has been maintained in 2025 as well, as in the 1st half of the year, Hungary received more than 8,2 million visitors.
Cultural tourism in Hungary
Cultural tourism in Hungary is among the most important subcategories of tourism. It includes sightseeing in the most important cities, participation in various cultural events like traditional music festivals or arts and crafts fairs. Rural tourism is also becoming more popular because of Hungary’s numerous countryside attractions and national parks.
Wine tourism
Hungary has more than twenty wine-making areas and each produces its own characteristic liquor. Hungary has a wine region included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Tokaj Wine District. Wine tourism is dedicated to the traveler who wants to know more about the history and production methods of this liquor but also indulge in tasting high quality wines.
Wellness tourism in Hungary
Hungary is abundant in springs, thermal baths and other medicinal waters. Budapest is the only capital city in the world that holds the most thermal baths and medicinal springs but the potential for developing medical and curative tourism activities is also important in other parts of the country.
Budapest: the jewel of Hungary
Renowned publications like The New York Times or Time Magazine have named Budapest as one of the most beautiful capitals in the world. The city is extremely popular among tourists and the House of Parliament is a landmark known worldwide. Hungary also has other important tourist attractions. For example, it has numerous World Heritage Sites.
Investor friendly policies
The entire company formation process takes about five days and foreign investors who want to open a travel agency in Hungary can commence business activities in a very short amount of time. The Hungarian Government encourages and supports foreign investments in the country through a series of measures and tax incentives in certain parts of the territory.
The process of company formation in Hungary can be completed by foreigners following the same rules and laws applicable to local businessmen (differences can appear for those who arrive from third party countries, who need to comply with visa obligations).
It must also be noted that foreigners can own 100% of a company incorporated in Hungary, as local businesses can have full foreign capital without the obligation to associate with local businessmen (a right granted to both EU and non-EU investors).
For more information about investment opportunities in the country or detailed information about the legislation for foreign investments please do not hesitate to contact our company registration experts in Hungary. Our team can present more than these 7 reasons for opening a travel agency in Hungary and offer full assistance on the registration process.
Please mind that we offer other corporate services, such as accounting. For this, our accountants in Hungary are ready to assist small and large companies, as well as individual businessmen developing a business activity in their own name (sole traders).
Our accountants can provide tailored accounting services once the process of Hungarian company formation is completed with the help of our team, and the business can start its operations.