Non-resident tourists spent an average of 2,632 lei per person in Romania in the first quarter of this year, according to data the National Institute of Statistics (INS) published Friday.
The total number of non-resident tourists staying in collective tourist accommodation facilities in the first three months of 2023 was 356,600, with their expenditure totalling 938.5 million lei, write Agerpres.
Business trips (including participation in congresses, conferences, courses, fairs and exhibitions) were the main reason for the stay spent by 58% of non-resident tourists arriving in Romania, their expenditure accounting for 61.9% of total expenditure.
Of the total business expenditure in the first quarter of 2023, the main share is represented by expenditure on accommodation (50.6%), followed by expenditure on restaurants and bars (18.5%) and on shopping (13.9%).
Among non-resident tourists arriving in Romania in the first quarter of 2023, 42% travelled for private purposes, their expenditure representing 38.1% of total expenditure. Private trips include trips for holidays, shopping, cultural and sports events, visiting friends and relatives, medical treatment, religion, transit and other activities.
Of the total expenditure for private purposes, the main share is spent on accommodation (45.6%), followed by shopping (16.2%) and restaurants and bars (15.3%).
38.1% of non-resident tourists organised their stay in Romania on their own, 37.9% organised their stay through a travel agency, 15.5% opted for other ways of organising their trip, while 8.5% organised their trip both on their own and through a travel agency.
The main means of transport used to arrive in Romania in the first quarter of this year was by plane, used by 80% of the total number of tourists, while 15.5% used their own cars, 3.5% coaches and buses, and 1% arrived by other means of transport (train, river boats, rented cars, motorbikes, etc.).
The number of non-resident tourists staying in private accommodation units (apartments and rooms for rent) was 1,200, their expenditure in Romania being 1.4 million lei.
Of the total expenditure incurred in Romania by non-resident tourists staying in private accommodation units, expenditure on accommodation (39.3%), expenditure in bars and restaurants (28%), expenditure on transport (14.6%) and expenditure on the purchase of products for personal use (8.5%) stand out.
Of all non-resident tourists staying in private accommodation units (apartments and rooms for rent), 80.2% had private and 19.8% business purposes.
In the first quarter of 2023, non-resident tourists staying in private accommodation units (apartments and rooms for rent) mostly organised their travel to Romania on their own (82.5% of the total). As means of transport they chose their own car (56.8%), coach and bus (16.7%), other means of transport (13.7%) and plane (12.8%).
