With the peak summer vacation season approaching, Bank Austria has once again conducted its traditional “Vacation Euro” survey this year, which examines how much Austrian tourists get for the same amount of money abroad compared to Austria. The latest findings could give domestic tourism a positive boost, reports turizmus.com.
Among the most popular vacation destinations, Portugal proved to be the most affordable this year, where Austrian tourists get about a third more for their money than at home. Spain also fared extremely well, and as the survey confirms, Hungary also ranked among the top destinations.
The city of Pécs (southern Hungary). Photo: Pixabay
Based on calculations by Bank Austria, Austrian tourists have about 25% higher purchasing power in Hungary than in Austria, placing the country third in this year’s ranking of the most popular travel destinations offering the best value for money, behind Portugal and Spain.
This means that in Hungary, something that would cost 100 euros in Austria costs the equivalent of about 80 euros in forints. In other words: On a vacation at Lake Balaton, for example, an Austrian visitor’s money is worth 25% more on average than if they were spending it in Austria.
However, the study also points out that Hungary’s advantage has diminished somewhat compared to previous years. The primary reason for this is the appreciation of the forint, which means that the price difference in Hungary for Austrian tourists is no longer as significant as it was a year ago or, for example, a decade ago, when the exchange rate was still well above 150. Nevertheless, Hungary is still considered one of the most affordable travel destinations in Europe by Austrian travelers and continues to offer the best value for money among neighboring countries, confirms the blog of the Vienna-based consulting firm GD-Consulting.
Paddlers enjoying Lake Balaton. Photo: MTI/Máthé Zoltán
The survey also reveals that Austrian tourists have even greater purchasing power in Bulgaria, Romania, and the Czech Republic; however, these countries are not among Austrians’ most popular vacation destinations.
At the other end of the list is Switzerland, where 100 euros can only purchase goods and services worth the equivalent of 69 euros compared to Austria. The United States is also among the more expensive travel destinations, where Austrian tourists get about ten percent less for their money than they do at home.
The study highlights several interesting trends. For example, Japan has become significantly more affordable for European tourists in recent years due to the weak yen, so that costs there can now be expected to be roughly on par with Austrian price levels. In contrast, extremely high inflation in Türkiye has significantly eroded tourists’ purchasing power, even though the country remains one of the more affordable travel destinations.
Scenic Szentendre by the Danube near Budapest. Photo: Pexels
Analysts at Bank Austria emphasize that the “Vacation Euro” is primarily intended to compare expected costs and does not replace considerations such as safety, healthcare, or the quality of the travel experience. However, the study clearly shows that
Hungary will remain one of the most attractive and price-competitive destinations for Austrian tourists during the 2026 summer season, particularly among neighboring countries.
GD-Consulting adds that since Austrians primarily prefer nearby destinations that are easily accessible by car during the summer, and price is playing a greater role in travel decisions this year than in the past, the latest figures released at the start of the season could give domestic tourism a positive boost.
Via turizmus.com; Featured image: Pixabay
