Romania's customs have started to record higher number of incomings as Romanians queue up to spend their holidays at home.

Over 72,000 people entered the country in the last 24 hours via the Nadlac customs in the Western part of the country.

This was four time the incomings on a regular day, and resulted in slowed down traffic on DN7, the 50-kilometer road which connects Nadlac to the city of Arad in Western Romania.

The customs authorities opened three times more entry lanes to keep up with the high number of Romanians returning home, and increased the staff on service. On the same day in 2012, only 53,000 people entered the country.

For some, the 50-kilometer segment to Arad was a three-hour ride. The Police expect the customs to be as crowded until Christmas' Eve, and recommend an alternative customs, at Vama Turnu, 18 kilometers from Arad.

Every year on Christmas and on Easter, the Nadlac customs, which connect Romania to Western Europe, is overcrowded, as many Romanians who work abroad return home to spend the holidays with their families.

editor@romania-insider.com