Romania’s macroeconomic evolution and the decisions made to step market dives caused by financial crisis will affect development pace of tourism market in 2008, according to statements of Antonio Nitu, member IATA within National Association of Tourism in Romania and managing director at Aerotravel Lufthansa City Center.
“In actual conditions triggered by financial crisis’ sputters, we can only wait the outcomes of analysis made on the macroeconomic evolution of Romania, based on which we will estimate the overall volume of tourism market for 2009. For the moment we forecast similar trend next year but a different pace,” Antonio Nitu stated for Wall-Street.
Incomes from tourism exceed one billion euros
Last year, incomes from Romanian tourism mounted to one billion euros, and Romanians’ expenses abroad exceeded this value, especially after Romania’s accession to EU according to ANAT statistics. Internal tourism advanced 10%, ongoing tourism rose 25% from previous year and airplane tickets issued by tourism agencies neared to 350 million euros.
For 2008, sources in the market estimated a 20% growth fuelled by events such as NATO summit organized at Bucharest. Moreover, Antonio Nitu forecasted a 15% growth of business tourism in Romania that continues to outrank leisure tourism.
Even if for 2009 the market growth will be moderate, Antonio Nitu thinks the demand for wider tourist packages will climb together with purchase power of Romanians. This season, more Romanians than last year will spend winter holidays abroad.
“Until now, as compared to west European countries, in Romania, the bookings were made shortly before the vacation. Due to appetite for vacations in Alps or in exotic areas, Romanian client adopts purchase habits of Western inhabitants in order to have access to better prices, and to find vacancies.
Aerotravel
