More than 155,000 Romanians have spent some EUR 36 million on New Year’s Eve holidays in Romania and abroad, according to data from the Romanian Tourism Employers Federation (FPTR).

Over 147,000 Romanians have spent the New Year’s Eve in local resorts, the number being 3.5% lower than the one registered last year. They’ve spent more than EUR 31 million on these holidays, 1.5% less than in the previous year, reports local Mediafax.

The largest number of bookings has been registered in the rural areas, 52,000 tourists choosing to spend the New Year’s Eve in guesthouses, down by 8% year-on-year. Decreases in the number of tourists have also been registered in the mountain resorts (36,000 tourists – a 2% decline year-on-year) and in the big cities (30,000 tourists – a 5% decline year-on-year).

On the other hand, spa and seaside resorts, and the Danube Delta have welcomed more tourists on New Year's Eve.

When it comes to the tariffs, the data shows that they’ve increased by 5% on average, compared to the year before.

The most popular areas in Romania were the Prahova Valley, Poiana Brasov, Paltinis, Ranca, Straja, Calimanesti, Baile Felix, and the rural areas in Bran-Moeciu, Maramures, and Bucovina.

Some 8,200 Romanians booked their the New Year’s Eve holidays abroad through travel agencies, down 5% year-on-year. They’ve spent EUR 4.8 million on touristic services, an amount similar to the one registered the year before.

German and British tourists spend the New Year’s Eve in Romania’s Hotel of Ice

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com