Hungary as a destination 1960–1984

Abstract

This study examines the effects of macrostructural determinants on the choice of Hungary as a destination during the 1960–1984 period. It uses annual international tourist arrival and tourist-night data. General exit visa restrictions make a strong negative impact, while administrative constraints on travel to the West by some socialist states increase the likelihood of travel to Hungary. The analysis confirms that the home country's world-system position and military-political bloc affiliation simultaneously affect the direction of tourist flows. It also indicates that “behind” contemporary effects, there exists a layer of essentially invariant regional-historical flow patterns: East-Central European origins increase the propensity to participate in international tourism in Hungary.