Romanians to spend one billion euros on vacations abroad

Tourism revenues are forecast to total some €1.5 billion in 2007. The Czech Republic, a country much smaller than Romania, estimates €4 billion worth of revenues in this sector. Major tourism companies were betting on more charter flights to increase their sales. However, although the number of charters increased, the flights are almost never completely booked, so the rise was some 40 percent instead of the double that tour operators had expected.

The low revenues are also a result of Romanians' appetite for vacations abroad. "The most sought for destinations are Greek islands and Bulgarian beach, where the number of tourists doubled year-on-year, to some 200,000 tourists for each destination," according to the spokesman of the National Tourism Agencies Association (ANAT), Traian Badulescu. Turkey ranks third, 60-70 percent more requests from Romanian tourists.

A total of one million Romanians are to spend their holidays abroad, for an average €500 per tourism package. Of this money, tourists pay a fee and transportation costs to the local tour operator, while the reminder is cashed in by hotels in the destination country. Tourists spend an extra €650 on average during the vacation.

In total, Romanians are to contribute to other countries' GDP with almost €1 billion. Meanwhile, foreign tourism in Romania is also increasing, although many still avoid the country because of "negative publicity, the poor condition of beaches, local taxes and poor accommodation," according to Calibra tourism agency manager, Bikfalvi Martin.

In spite of this, the number of foreign tourists in Romania "is to rise some 25 percent in 2007," Badulescu said. According to the ANAT spokesman, some 500,000 foreign tourist are to spend their holidays in Romania, paying a total of €500 million for their vacation expenses.

Badulescu said Romania has become an interesting destination for German, French, Austrian, American, and Japanese tourists. Scandinavian and French tourists have special charter flights for the Romanian seaside.

Revenues
In 2006, Romania has recorded €1 billion in revenues from tourism, while the Chech Republic, some €4.9 billion. Bulgaria posted revenues worth €2.6 billion from tourism.