The steep drop in oil prices, amid the easing of tension in the Middle East, is beginning to reflect in the consumption behaviour of Romanians, generating an increased interest in vacations and a wave of bookings, similar to the one recorded after the lifting of pandemic restrictions, according to data with tour operator Christian Tour.
"The steep drop in oil prices, the largest in the last six years - after the US and Iran agreed on a two-week truce that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz - is already beginning to reflect in the consumption behaviour of Romanians, especially in tourism," according to the operator.
The interest in vacations increased significantly in the first hours after the truce news was carried in the public space.
"Oil prices fell by up to 19% in a single day, amid the de-escalation of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, which quickly generated a wave of reactions among Romanian tourists: phones have started ringing because people want to book holidays. It is a clear signal that Romanians are reacting quickly to the prospects of a recovery of the international situation. For the tourism industry, this obviously means lower operating costs", says Cristian Pandel, CEO and founder of Christian Tour.
The company estimates that this trend will increase moving forward, especially after the Easter holidays, when, traditionally, there is a new peak in bookings. As demand increases, rates will follow an upward trend, so tourists are advised to take advantage of this window of opportunity and book their holidays in advance, in order to benefit from the best rates currently available.
The current development is comparable to the moment of the reopening of tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted, when demand increased rapidly in a short period, or about two months after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
"Christian Tour has been in the holyday industry for almost three decades, during which time we have gone through many crises. In fact, we have been living for several years in a continuous flow of breaking news, as if there are no more breaks between major events that change the global mood: pandemic, wars, geopolitical tensions, economic statements with immediate impact. Each of them inevitably produced a wave of emotion, fear and uncertainty, followed by a spectacular comeback. After the pandemic especially, the holiday culture changed radically; while before the leave was a break, later it became a necessity. Every time after such a shock, the desire to live life without fear reappears", according to Pandel.
An internal analysis made by Christian Tour on the dynamics of bookings in March, after the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East, highlights the fact that Romanians were more cautious in booking a stay for the summer season, being concerned about the international context and the economic effects.
However, interest in stays in the Mediterranean area, especially in destinations in Greece, Turkey and Spain, as well as in Egypt, remained high. Instead, pilgrimages to Israel stopped, as did trips to the United Arab Emirates, destinations to which departures usually do not take place in April, according to company data.
At the same time, there is a predisposition of Romanians to choose vacations through a travel agency to the detriment of traveling on their own.
"The way we, as an agency, acted in a difficult context, finding options to bring home tourists stranded in the MiddleEast, convinced even those who did not use travel agencies that they can rely on professionals with experience in the field."
At the moment, the occupancy rate for planned stays during Easter, which coincides with the students' holidays, is already very high, with many of the charter flights to foreign destinations being fully booked.
This year at Easter, topmost in Romanians' preferences as destinations outside the country is Egypt, especially Hurghada, to which weekly flights have been supplemented. In second place is Turkey, which attracts through the quality-price ratio and all-inclusive packages.
Christian Tour has been in business for almost 30 years on the Romanian tourism market, operating one of the most extensive networks of agencies at national level and a diversified portfolio of domestic and international tourist services, from charter operations and thematic circuits, to exclusive programmes, family packages and cultural or exotic experiences.
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