The report confirms that nearly 19,000 foreign participants from 125 countries took part in the three events – an outstanding result in the region. They emphasised that the number of foreign runners has risen steadily and dynamically over the past three years, with the total number of foreign participants in the three major events more than doubling since 2023.
A questionnaire survey of several hundred people conducted after last year and this year’s races revealed that foreign runners bring an average of 1.8 companions with them, meaning that thanks to BSI events, more than 50,000 foreign visitors came to Budapest during the year. The survey also showed that tourists do not only stay in the Hungarian capital during the event, as they spend an average of more than three nights here, choose quality accommodation, spend an average of EUR 350-500 per person, and almost half of those surveyed travel to Budapest by plane.
“We are proud that our events have become a key driver of tourism in Budapest. When nearly 19,000 foreign runners choose Budapest, it is not only a sporting success, but also a factor in the national economy. These runners and their companions fill hotels and restaurants and spread the good reputation of the city around the world. As a result of positive experiences and personal recommendations, more and more runners are choosing Budapest from the huge range of international competitions on offer every year,” said Árpád Kocsis, managing director of BSI.
The announcement also states that over the past three years, most of the participants in the major autumn races have come to Budapest from Great Britain, while most of the foreign participants in the shorter spring races have come from neighbouring countries and Germany. In addition, participation by Spaniards, Norwegians, and Israelis has doubled in one year compared to 2024, and compared to the 2023 figures, almost three times as many entries have been received from all three countries. BSI events are also prestigious internationally, as evidenced by the fact that runners from the United States are among the ten most populous foreign teams every year.
Source: Hungary Today
