The 2025 China Tourism and Culture Week in Budapest became a pivotal platform for enhancing travel connectivity, as Hungary reported a striking 79% year-on-year increase in Chinese arrivals during Q1 2025 (totaling 43,000 visitors). Hungarian National Tourist Office’s Anna Mária Horváth highlighted tourism’s strategic economic role, targeting 14.2% GDP contribution this year. With seven direct air routes now bridging Budapest with Beijing, Shanghai, and five other Chinese cities through 21 weekly flights, Air China’s representative Na Yaxuan outlined plans to further optimize flight schedules to accommodate growing demand.
Streamlined Policies and Innovative Products Drive Market Expansion
China’s recent visa facilitation measures took center stage, with Budapest Tourism Office Director Li Huixin detailing expanded visa-free transit policies and digital payment integrations tailored for European travelers. The dialogue unveiled specialized tourism products including:
“Danube to Yangtze” cultural trails pairing Budapest’s Castle District with Beijing’s Dongcheng hutong neighborhoods
Health tourism packages combining Hungarian thermal spas with Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies
Business travel circuits linking China’s tech hubs with Hungary’s automotive innovation centers
Institutional Framework Strengthens Regional Collaboration
The China-CEE Tourism Coordination Center’s Hanna Taylor announced new digital tools including a multilingual tourism matchmaking platform and joint guide training programs. “Our 2025 target is to increase bilateral tourism flows by 35% through coordinated marketing and improved connectivity,” Taylor stated. The event also marked the launch of a Sino-Hungarian culinary tourism initiative, spotlighting Hungary’s Tokaj wine regions alongside China’s Sichuan cuisine heritage – a flavorful symbol of the deepening people-to-people exchanges between the regions.
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