The arrivals of foreign visitors to Romania increased by 7.5% in February this year, compared to the same period last year, to 917,500 people, according to the data of the National Institute of Statistics (INS), published on Thursday.

Arrivals in tourist reception structures with accommodation functions, including apartments and rooms for rent, increased by 4.2% in the mentioned period, to 847,500 people, the arrivals of Romanian tourists representing 84.4%, and those of foreign tourists 15.6%.

Cumulatively, in the first two months of this year, the arrivals registered in the tourist reception structures totaled approximately 1.62 million people, an increase of 1.2% compared to the January – February period of last year. The arrivals of Romanian tourists represented 84.4%, while the arrivals of foreign tourists represented 15.6%. At the border points, the arrivals of foreign visitors in Romania were 1.89 million people, an increase of 4.2%.

Most foreign tourist arrivals came from Italy (33,900 people), Germany (21,800 people) and the United Kingdom (16,000 people).

The highest number of tourist arrivals in tourist reception structures was recorded in Bucharest (261,900 people), Brasov (227,400 people) and Prahova (99,400 people).

Overnight stays registered in tourist reception structures (including apartments and rooms for rent), in February 2024, totaled 1.63 million, up 5.2% compared to February 2023. From the total number of overnight stays, the of Romanian tourists represented 81.8%, while the overnight stays of foreign tourists registered a percentage of 18.2%.

In the first two months of 2024, overnight stays totaled 3.07 million, up 1.1% compared to the same period last year. The overnight stays of Romanian tourists in tourist reception structures with accommodation functions represented 81.5%, while the overnight stays of foreign tourists represented 18.5%. Overnight stays recorded higher values in the Capital (530,300 people), Brasov (445,200 people) and Prahova (205,700 people).

The average length of stay was 1.9 days for Romanian tourists and 2.2 days for foreign tourists, in February 2024. In January and February, the average length of stay was 1.8 days for Romanian tourists and 2, 3 days with foreigners.

The net utilization index of tourist accommodation places, in February 2024, was 25.2% on total tourist accommodation structures (including apartments and rooms for rent), down by 0.5 percentage points compared to February 2023 After the first two months, the index was 23.1%, down 0.9 percentage points compared to the same period last year.

On the other hand, the departures of Romanian visitors abroad, registered at the border points, in February this year, totaled 1.39 million people, an increase of 14.4% compared to February 2023, while, after in the first two months, the departures of Romanian visitors were 2.99 million people, an increase of 10.3% compared to the period January – February 2023.

AGERPRES