Hungary's tourism faces safety warnings at Sziget festival and falling Balaton visitor numbers

Organisers of the Sziget music festival have warned attendees not to walk across the Danube when the river is at low level. Videos on social media show people attempting the crossing, but the festival’s co‑ordinator Kádár Tamás says the floodplain forest on the island is a protected area and the terrain is hazardous because of fallen trees and branches. He urges festival‑goers to use the official entrances instead of risking injury.

In the Balaton region, tourist numbers on the lakeside beaches have dropped sharply. Hotels report fewer guests while private rentals see a modest rise, as rising energy and labour costs squeeze operators. Data from the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) show a shift from hotel to private accommodation and highlight the financial strain on businesses, contradicting earlier government claims of record tourism figures.