Over 50,000 Romanians will spend their winter holidays abroad, with two thirds choosing the New Year period to holiday and Austrian resorts as a destination. Although this means a 30% increase against last year, people going abroad account for only one third of tourists spending their holidays domestically.
People have started making reservations in good time although holidays are around 15% more expensive. This points to a change in Romanian consumers' habits as regards travel services, so that agencies say 20% of offered packages have already been sold.
"(...) This year, I believe demand for holidays abroad will rise by around 30%, with Austria still the favourite destination, while domestically the increase will stand at around 10-15%," says Traian Badulescu, a spokesman for the National Association of Travel Agencies in Romania (ANAT).
According to him, the price of a holiday starts from 200 euros, transport not included, and can reach as much as several thousand euros if the chosen destination is Cuba or Bora Bora.
"As for domestic travel, demand is much greater, despite the quite high prices (...)," says Badulescu. According to him, the number of accommodation facilities has reached around 7,000 agro-touristic pensions. In terms of international travel, the top destinations are Austria, Bulgaria, Italy, Switzerland, followed by warmer destinations such as Egypt, Turkey, Greece and Tunisia. Still, exotic destinations are the ones posting the highest increase in demand this year, as well as the biggest tariffs, with Romanians paying at least 2,000 euros for such a package. Next come warm destinations.
According to Ondina Dobriban, a programme manager with Paralela 45, 20% more accommodation places in Austria have been contracted this year, but nevertheless the number is half the demanded level.
Cristian Pandel, general manager of Christian Tours, says he expects the number of winter holiday packages to go up by 50%, though the packages are 15% more expensive compared with last year. He also specifies Romanians have started buying special packages for Christmas and New Year's Eve besides the ski packages in Austria and Slovakia.
Romanians are also interested in cultural circuits during the winter holiday period. "We have included cultural tours of 16 and 21 days in Australia and South Africa in our holiday offer, owing to Romanian tourists' high interest. The price of such a package starts from 3,400 euros," said Sorin Vaduvoiu, general manager of Perfect Tour travel agency.
As regards foreign tourists spending their winter holiday in Romania, their number is relatively small.
Agency offers
- 7 nights in London, transport and accommodation included, at a price starting from 640 euros
- Holiday in Russia or New York, with prices starting from 1,000 euros
- 7 nights' accommodation in Miami for 2,244 euros
- 16 and 21-day cultural circuits at prices starting from 3,400 euros
- 7-night holiday in Austria, at prices ranging between 350 and 500 euros
- 7 nights, transport and accommodation included, in Egypt, Dubai or Morocco, at prices starting from 1,000 euros
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