Number of tourists choosing Romania as destination to exceed 12 mil in 2017

Romanian tourism is on the rise by approximately 10 pct in 2017 according to official data, and the overall number of tourists choosing Romania as destination is estimated to exceed 12 million this year, a figure which hasn't been achieved since 1990, Deputy Chairman of Romania's National Association of Travel Agencies (ANAT) Adrian Voican said. 

According to him, the number of foreign tourists will also hit an all time record of over 2.6 million. 

"Romanian tourism is on an upward trend this year, according to official data, by approximately 10 pct. On the one hand, the number of foreign tourists is likely to reach over 26 million, and on the other hand, the number of Romanian tourists is growing. In the first nine months of 2017 the number of Romanian tourists to Romanian destinations has increased by one million, to 9.5 million. According to all estimates, the overall number of tourists choosing Romania as destination will reach 12 million this year - a figure which hasn't been reached since 1990. Interestingly, spa tourism is an evermore appreciated destination, and our sales on this segment have doubled this year," Adrian Voican stated in a press release. 

According to the data centralised after the end of the Romanian Tourism Fair (TTR), Romanians have shown a growing interest in domestic destinations, at the autumn edition of the fair, the main tourist itineraries for the 2017 winter season being over 90 pct booked. The most sought-after destinations were Calimanesti-Caciulata, Baile Felix, Baile Govora, Valea Prahovei and Bran-Moeciu. 

For the 2018 summer, on the occasion of the Romanian Tourism Fair, early bookings have started and the resorts topping the bookings are Mamaia, Eforie Nord and Jupiter. 

Bibi Touring touroperator having on offer exclusively Romanian destinations provided over 10,000 tourist packages in 100 resorts and places in Romania. Over the fair's four days, Bibi Touring Touroperator recorded a 50 pct rise of sales as compared to 2016, the fair's most successful offer being "One-month holiday in Romania": seven days at Baile Govora (spa resort), one week in Predeal (mountain resort - ed.n.), seven days in Neptun (sea-side resort - ed.n.) and one week in the Danube Delta. 

Christian Tour reported over 3 million-euro sales in the four days of the Romanian Tourism Fair, by 70 pct more as compared to last year's edition of the event hosted by the Romexpo exhibition complex in Bucharest. Thus, the company attracted over 7,000 buyers at the fair and in the travel agencies across the country who booked mainly a holiday for the 2018 summer season but also purchased Christmas holidays in Romania and Europe, as well as New Year's Eve packages to exotic destinations. 

Paralela 45 registered sales by one third higher at TTR, as compared to November 2016. Thus, the discounts displayed and the new destinations launched for next summer led to the increase of the travel agency's sales by 950,000 euro, on the occasion of the Romanian Tourism Fair and 17 November's Black Friday. Most bookings were made for the winter holidays and for next summer, the tourists looking for accommodation packages at four and five-star hotels, presently featuring advantageous prices.AGERPRES .