This article was first published in Hungarian on the website of our sister publication Magyar Krónika.
The peak season of the Balaton shipping company BAHART has come to an end. By the end of August, the company’s ships had transported more than two million passengers, a remarkable achievement. The growth was driven by alluring new ships, a rich programme offering, and discounts.
BAHART’s ferries carried 1.229 million passengers, while passenger ships transported 791,000 passengers by the end of August. The ferry routes between Szántód and Tihany carried more than 500,000 passengers this season. Balaton shipping also appeared on the ‘Best of Balaton’ list, which features the most popular programmes around the lake.
According to BAHART’s CEO Gábor Veigl the traffic generated by the new ferries and catamarans exceeded expectations. With the introduction of new ships the company reached two million passengers by the end of August, an unprecedented number. The developments have not only enhanced the tourist experience but also play an important role in transportation between lakeside towns, helping to reduce vehicle traffic and harmful emissions.
Passenger ship traffic also expanded significantly, with 134,000 more passengers transported this season compared to last year. The new catamaran, Tomaj, was the most popular, chosen by nearly 120,000 passengers, while among nostalgic ships, Jókai and Helka were the favourites. The Fonyód–Badacsony route saw outstanding traffic in sightseeing cruises, and ships departing from the ports of Balatonfüred, Keszthely, Siófok, and Balatonalmádi were also popular.
The busiest period of the summer season was the long weekend between 17 and 20 August, during which nearly 30,000 passengers were transported by ferries and passenger ships in a single day. The Balaton-crossing event on 21 July also saw exceptional traffic, with over 16,000 people boarding the ships. In addition, bicycle traffic increased significantly: 11 per cent more cyclists travelled on ferries and 15 per cent more on passenger ships compared to last year.
Online ticket sales also increased, with a 30 per cent rise compared to the previous year. One quarter of tickets were purchased online or through ticket machines in the ports.
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