Record Traffic Expected in Balaton Shipping This Summer

The Balaton Shipping Company (Bahart), which expects to break previous traffic records, has expanded its summer schedule, launched online ticketing, renewed its image and renovated its fleet for this summer season, according to the announcement at its shipping season launch press conference on Friday.

CEO Gábor Veigl said that in the first five months of the year, ferry traffic had exceeded last year's record by 35%, with nearly 90,000 passengers, while the number of bicycles transported had increased by 50%. Since the start of the shipping season, the ferry between Szántód and Tihany has already carried more than twice as many passengers as in 2021.

There has also been a return to boat rentals and partner events, with bike and foot races, spinning ferries and vintage car parades now on offer, he added.

The recently launched online ticketing facility will be promoted with a 15% discount in June, he said.

He added the peak summer season, which starts on July 2, will see about 10% more sailings than in recent years, meaning 8-9 sailings a day on the main routes. Cruise and nostalgia boats will depart from 17 ports, cruise and nostalgia boats from 15, while 9-9 ports will offer a magic boat and party boat program.

The CEO said that Bahart, which is 75% state-owned and 25% owned by 21 lakeside municipalities, with a share capital of around HUF 11 billion, closed last year with a turnover of nearly HUF 4 billion and an outstanding pre-tax profit. More than HUF 2.5 million of the profit, which the owners have decided to use for development, comes from property sales. Excluding these, the result of more than HUF 400 million is well above the average of previous years thanks to the increasing turnover and efficiency measures.

"This year, turnover is expected to exceed HUF 4 billion, as our three main sectors, ferries, scheduled shipping and the sailing port sector, are expected to perform stronger than last year," the CEO pointed out.