Romania saw the highest increase rate in the number of overnight stays in local hotels of the 28 EU member states last year. The country’s hotels recorded 23.4 million nights booked by local and foreign tourists, up by 15.9% compared to 2014.

The number of nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments in the European Union (EU) is estimated to have reached a new record level of around 2.8 billion nights, up by 3.2% compared with 2014, according to the EU’s statistical office Eurostat.

Spain ranked first among the EU countries, with 421 million overnight stays, up by 4.3% compared to 2014, followed by France (413 million nights, +2.8%), and Italy (385 million nights, +1.8%). Germany was fourth, with 379 million overnight stays, up by 3.3%. Data for the United Kingdom is not available.

Despite the high growth rate in overnight stays, Romania’s number is still low compared to other countries in the region. Hungary had 26.9 million overnight stays, up by 3.4%, the Czech Republic recorded 47.7 million nights spent in its hotels, 10% more compared to 2014, and Poland had more than 71 million overnight stays.

The number of nights spent by tourists in Bulgaria was 21.5 million, slightly lower than in Romania, and 1.1% lower than in 2014.

When it comes to the number of foreign tourists checking into local hotels, Romania’s numbers are even lower compared to those of other countries in the region. Foreign tourists spend 4.5 million nights in Romanian accommodation units in 2015, up by 18.3% compared to 2014 (also the highest growth rate in the EU).

By comparison, foreign tourists spent 13.4 million nights in Bulgarian hotels, 12.8 million nights in Hungarian hotels, 13.7 million nights in Polish hotels, and 23.4 million nights in Czech hotels. Even small countries like Slovenia, Cyprus, and Malta had more overnight stays by non-residents than Romania.

Spain ranks first at this chapter as well, with 267.7 million nights spent by foreign tourists in its hotels, up by 3.1% compared to 2014. Italy is second, with 190.8 million overnight stays, and France comes third, with close to 134 million nights. Austria, Germany, Greece, and Croatia were the other popular destinations for foreign tourists.

Romania attracts 1.75 mln foreign tourists in nine months

More tourists visit the Bran Castle and Rasnov Citadel in central Romania

Tripadvisor.com users select their favorite hotels in Romania

editor@romania-insider.com