Romania is becoming a tourist attraction for more and more foreigners, who choose either the Black Sea coast or the mountain resorts of Valea Prahova or Poiana Brașov.
Brasov. PHOTO Archive Truth
Even destinations such as Brașov, Sibiu, Cluj, Iași or Sighisoara are not bypassed by them.
Germany occupies, year after year, the first place in the ranking of countries from which foreign tourists come to Romania, with 218.3 thousand people in 2023, which is why it is and will remain a priority market, promoted at international tourism fairs.
According to Eurostat, nights spent in accommodation units in the EU cost 2.9 billion, an increase of 6.1% compared to 2022 and 1.4% compared to 2019.
“The number of foreign tourists in Romania had an important increase of 23% compared to 2022, approaching Slovakia and the Czech Republic, which lead the ranking, with an increase of 29%. At the opposite pole, Croatia, newly entered Schengen, had a growth of only 2%, while Luxembourg stagnated”. stated Traian Bădulescu, tourism consultant and spokesperson of the National Association of Tourism Agencies (ANAT).
For 2024, tourism operators have high expectations for the number of tourists who will cross our threshold, with values over 2019.And this forecast would have been much more optimistic if Romania had been included in the Schengen area and by land, a fact that would have led to greater interest from foreign tourists, for domestic tourist destinations”,
the spokesperson of ANAT also appreciated.
More than 100 thousand visitors to the ITB Berlin International Tourism Fair
The Berlin trade fair is undoubtedly the most important B2B tourism event in the world, both by the number of participants and by the 5,500 exhibitors from 170 participating countries. The event took place between March 5-7, 2024.
Romania, participated with a delegation composed of 38 co-exhibitors. Diversified tourist offers were promoted: from cultural, gastronomic and wine tours, hiking and travel, to relaxing stays in spa areas or on the Romanian Riviera.
Ecotourism was present through various offers that combine sports with relaxing tourism, with the family, in nature, one of the most appreciated areas being the Danube Delta, a unique treasure in Europe due to its rich biodiversity, a natural habitat for birds from all over the world.
They talked about the implementation of artificial intelligence and the labor shortage, about responsible tourism.
Adrian Voican promoted, in Berlin, together with other agencies, Romania
“In mid-June, Romania will host the #ECTAA – The European Travel Agents' and Tour Operators' Associations meeting. We have the promise of support from the “European ANAT” both for long-term financing and for know-how related to technology and sustainability. On June 12, a workshop on guaranteeing tourist packages will take place in Bucharest. European solutions will be presented with an emphasis on the responsibility of tourism for biodiversity and climate justice, with practical examples of sustainable solutions, i.e. exactly what was emphasized in Berlin this year”, said Adrian Voican, vice-president of ANAT and president of BIBI Group4Travel.
