Changes in the territorial focus of Hungary’s tourism competitiveness between 2004 and 2023

This study examines territorial tourism competitiveness in Hungary between 2004 and 2023, focusing on crisis periods such as the global economic crisis of 2008 and the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-2021.This study analyses the performance of the country's different regions using four main indicatorstourism development, efficiency, capacity utilization and embeddedness -underscoring the central role of Budapest and the growing importance of rural areas such as Transdanubia and Northern Hungary.This study reveals changes in the spatial distribution of tourism activity over time, focusing on how crises have influenced regional dynamics and highlighted the resilience of certain areas.Findings emphasise the need for sustainable tourism practices to support long-term resilience and competitiveness.Although Budapest retains its status as the dominant tourism hub, rural regions have showcased remarkable adaptability during crises, attributed largely to an increased reliance on domestic tourism and the demand for nature-based experiences.The regional development strategies proposed in this study focus on enhancing sustainability through infrastructure development, local economic integration and resource efficiency to achieve a more balanced distribution of tourism activity across Hungary.