The Russian-Speaking Population of Hungary during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The article analyzes the situation of the Russian-speaking communities in Hungary before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some data are given on the size and distribution of the Russian-speaking population of Hungary, the features of adaptation to new conditions and communication during the pandemic. It is shown that the most difficult period was between the first and third waves, when strict restrictions on movement were introduced in Hungary, many enterprises and organizations were closed, and university students switched to online learning. The impact of restrictive measures was especially felt by those compatriots who are involved in the tourism sector, owners of small businesses, where the transition to a remote mode of doing business was difficult for various reasons. Based on the data of Rostourism, as well as the Central Statistical Office of Hungary, the trends of tourist flows to Hungary from Russia in 2014-2020 are studied. Among European countries, Hungary was the first country to open for Russian tourists in the second half of 2021. Without being included in the top five European countries attractive to Russians before the pandemic, Hungary became a “window to Europe” in 2021 and significantly strengthened its position in terms of demand among Russians. The key attraction factors were the recognition of the Russian Sputnik-V vaccine, the possibility of entry by PCR test, the removal of the need for quarantine after arrival by the fall of 2021, relatively low prices in the country, and the opportunity to purchase inexpensive air tickets. In conclusion, it is concluded that the Russian-speaking communities in Hungary as a whole showed fairly good adaptability to the conditions of the pandemic.