Although Romanian tourism stagnated in 2024, the coast remained the preferred summer destination, even in the context of rising accommodation prices. Big cities, such as Brașov and Cluj-Napoca, along with mountain destinations, continue to rank in the top.
The Romanian coastline in the summer of 2024 YouTube collage
An analysis of the Travelminit.ro platform shows that the most sought-after destinations in Romania in 2024 are mountain regions and large cities, including Brașov, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu and Sinaia.
This year, Romanians preferred traveling in key periods, such as the weekend after the start of the school holidays on June 21, the extended Saint Mary’s weekend in August and the last two weekends in July.
In the summer season, the average duration of stays on the Romanian coast was 4.6 nights, maintaining an average price of 544 euros for two people, despite the general increase of about 8% in the rates for one night’s accommodation compared to the previous year.
The SPA sector stood out with a remarkable growth of 16%, and a two-night stay for couples had an average cost of 811 lei, showing an upward trend compared to 2023. In addition, four-night family trips also they noted increases, with notable costs in mountain destinations (2,038 lei), in SPA destinations (2,183 lei) and in cities (1,832 lei).
Domestic tourism in Romania between challenges and adaptability
Despite the challenges faced by domestic tourism in Romania, the demand for coastal destinations, as well as for mountain destinations, remained quite high. Recent data from Travelminit.ro and Litoralulromanesc.ro, which officially merged on October 1 under the Szallas Group umbrella, offer a detailed look at the evolution of Romanian tourism. With the end of the summer season, this information is essential for analyzing the forecasts for the rest of the year and for 2025, based on the experiences accumulated in the first 9 months.
Even if domestic tourism stagnated compared to the previous year, the Romanian coast kept its status as a favorite destination for summer vacations, maintaining average costs in line with those of the previous season. Recent analysis indicates an increase of approximately 8% in the average price per night for accommodation, with the SPA/Balneo sector having the most significant expansion of 16%.
Average accommodation prices and preferred domestic destinations in 2024
The most popular destinations in Romania include mountain regions and big cities, such as Brașov, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Sibiu and Sinaia.
Average prices for accommodation have increased, and a night costs on average 169 lei in mountain areas, 191 lei in SPA destinations and 161 lei in cities.
For couples, a two-night stay cost, on average, 811 lei, reflecting an increase of 6.5% compared to the previous year. Four-night family trips also saw an overall increase of 8.7% compared to 2023, with significant prices in mountain destinations (2,038 lei), SPA (2,183 lei) and cities (1,832 lei).
The most sought-after travel periods this year included the weekend after the start of the school holidays, the start of summer, the St Mary’s long weekend and the last two weekends of July.
How much the seaside sales have increased this year
And as the Romanian coast remained the main domestic destination for Romanians in 2024, despite the challenges generated by the impact of inflation on holiday budgets, tourists had to adapt by choosing to go to the sea in the high season.
The company Litoralulromanesc.ro recorded an increase in sales of approximately 20% compared to 2023, reporting sales of over 270 million lei, compared to 224 million lei in the previous season.
The volume of tourists also increased by around 14%, with more than 265,000 people booking their stay at the sea in 2024 through the mentioned travel agency, of which 38% paid with the holiday card.
“The results exceeded our growth forecasts, which is all the more remarkable as the market for sea holidays has stagnated in 2024. The growth is due to the confidence of tourists in the services we have been offering for over 20 years. In addition, in 2024, we expanded the property offer, including more than 100 new units in the portfolio. Our tourists benefited from a more varied offer and additional advantages, such as free access to an adventure park in Neptun, a program that we will maintain in 2025. Also, the number of online bookings increased this year, one of our goals being the continuation of the automation processes of booking flows”mentioned Ionuț Nedea, the founder of Litoralulromanesc.ro.
What expectations did the Romanians have?
In the summer of 2024, Romanian tourists turned to comfort and relaxation, predominantly choosing 3- and 4-star hotels on the coast. The demand for all-inclusive packages has exploded, and those who prefer a complete experience have opted for offers that include accommodation, breakfast and additional services, such as access to swimming pools, private beaches and children’s playgrounds.
The average length of stay remained constant at 4.6 nights, and the average value of the accommodation package remained at 544 euros for two people, similar to the previous year.
Top seaside resorts
In the list of preferred resorts, Eforie Nord and Mamaia were ranked in the first two places, with Mamaia having a significant increase in bookings compared to 2023, and Neptun-Olimp occupying the third place.
Although there were no major changes in the satisfaction of tourists, the feedback of over 15,000 visitors was positive, it was also noted following the analyzes of online platforms. Hotels received excellent ratings: cleanliness was rated 8.50 out of 10, service 8.19, and hotel positioning received an impressive 8.92. Staff scored an 8.46, while value for money stood at 8.08. However, accommodation facilities averaged below 8, with a rating of 7.80, similar to 2023.
How tourism will evolve in Romania
According to data provided by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), while foreign travel is increasing, domestic tourism manages to remain stable. “This constant demand underlines the importance of keeping tourists in Romania and improving the local offer. However, international challenges continue to exist, forcing us to innovate and adapt”recognized Timea Imecs-Ambrus, CEO of Travelminit.ro.
Integrating Litoralulromanesc.ro into the Szallas Group as of October 1, the company’s representatives are confident that they will be able to offer extensive and personalized services.
“This collaboration will allow industry partners to reach a wider audience and travelers to benefit from a greater variety of options, from seaside holidays to mountain getaways. Together, the two platforms will transform the travel experience into a more fluid and engaging one, strengthening Romania’s attractiveness as tourist destination top”says Piotr Furmanski, CEO of Szallas Group.
program “holiday card” will continue until 2026 to encourage Romanians to explore the local beauties. Over the next two years, more than 20 units are expected to open in the hospitality sector, adding nearly 2,000 new rooms.
