10% drop on Romanian outgoing this year

According to a study of Travel Advisor Media, this year outgoing tourism will decline approximately 10% on tourists’ number and 12-15% on sales.

Traian Badulescu, general manager of Travel Advisor Media and spokesman for the National Association of Travel Agencies, ANAT, stated for Antalya there is a decrease by 7% of tourists’ number, while for Spain and Greece decreases are up to 12%, depending on travel agency operating these destinations.

Romanians prefer destinations not far away from home, where they can go by their own cars. Thus, Bulgaria is very solicited as a destination.

Badulescu stated tour operators estimate at least stagnation of Romanian tourists’ number if not a slightly increase between 5 and 10% for Bulgaria.

The favorite resort in Bulgaria of Romanian tourists is Albena. If in 2004, 1,780 Romanian tourists were registered, in 2008, 52,500 Romanian tourists visited the resort, accounting for 25% in the total number of tourists choosing Albena.

Badulescu stated that operators expect stagnation or even 10 % increase of tourists on Romanian seaside for 2009.

Sursa: Bloom Biz [25.06.2009], Cotidianul [24.06.2009], Daily Business [24.06.2009], Wall-Street [25.06.2009]