110,000 foreign tourists arrived in Romania on cruise ships on Danube

Approximately 110,000 foreign tourists visited Romania this year arriving by cruise ships on Danube, by 8% less compared to last year.

Most of tourists are German – 80%, while the others are French, Austrians and Norwegians, according to the representatives in tourism industry.

European countries, the main source for tourists choosing cruise holidays, have not been impacted, but the decrease of tourists is mainly due to the fact that many American tourists dropped this type of holidays, stated Gheorghe Marginean, General Manager of Karpaten Turism travel agency, with a market share over 80% on this segment, according to the manager’s estimates.

The representatives of the Danube Tourism Commission, the organization linking the countries on Danube flow, estimated that tour operators forecast an increase of bookings by approximately 10% in 2010.

The number of cruise ships sailing on Danube this year increased by 5.5% compared to last year, up to 115, stated Gerhard Skoff, the President of Danube Tourism Commission on Danube, Die Donau.

65 of the total number of cruise ships reached Danube Delta. In case the Rin – Main – Danube channel is completed, the number of tourists will definitely increase, stated the president.  

According to a study carried out in Germany by experts in this field, tourists will mainly book cruises as their favorite type of trip in 2018.

Sursa: Wall-Street [03.12.2009], Ziarul Financiar [03.12.2009]