Accommodation Articles
Tourism market in the first half of 2021
According to the data provided by the National Institute of Statistics (INS), in the first half of 2021, the arrivals registered in the tourist reception structures increased by 52.4% compared to the same period last year. Arrivals of foreign tourists accounted for only 6% of the total. The occupancy rate is still low: accommodation net use index between January 1 and June 30 was 19.2%.
In June 2021, out of the total accommodation structures, 467 units were closed at the time of the statistical survey due to COVID-19, 2392 units were undergoing major repairs and 1297 did not complete the questionnaire for other reasons.
Arrivals registered in the tourist reception structures between January 1 and June 30 amounted to 3.27 million people, 52.4% more than the same period last year. Out of the total number of arrivals, between January 1 and June 30, 2021, the arrivals of Romanian tourists in the tourist reception structures represented 94%, while the foreign tourists registered a percentage of only 6%. Regarding the arrivals of foreign tourists, the largest share was held by those arriving from Europe (81% of all foreign tourists), and of these, 72.7% come from European Union countries.
The overnight stays registered in the tourist reception structures in the first six months of 2021 amounted to 6,556.6 thousand, increasing by 53.2% compared to those from January 1 to June 30, 2020. Of the total number of overnight stays, those of Romanian tourists represented 93.2%. Regarding the overnight stays of foreign tourists, the largest share was held by those who arrived from Europe (81.4% of the total number of foreign tourists).
The average length of stay in the first 6 months of the year was two days for Romanian tourists and 2.3 days for foreign tourists.
Accommodation net use index between January 1 and June 30, 2021 was 19.2% of total tourist accommodation structures, decreasing by 0.2 percentage points compared to January 1 – June 30, 2020. Largest use of tourist accommodation was registered in hotels (22.8%), accommodation on ships (21.9%), tourist villas (17.3%), bungalows (15.3% ), tourist pensions (14.6%), tourist chalets (14.1%), tourist stops (13.8%), agritourism pensions (13.7%), tourist houses (13.0%) and hostels (12 , 9%).
By counties, the highest values were recorded in: Brasov (424,600 persons), Bucharest (326,900 persons), Constanta (198,900 persons), Prahova (176,400 people), Bihor (169,700 people).
By country, most arrivals of foreign tourists came from Germany (23,900), Italy (18,70), France (12,700) and the USA. (11,800), Hungary (9,800).
Road and air transportation were the most used for the arrivals of foreign visitors in Romania, respectively 85.0% by road and 10.9% by air, out of the total number of arrivals.
The departures of Romanian tourists abroad, registered at the border points, were in the period analysed of 4.4 million departures, decreasing by 13.6% compared to the period 1.01.-30.06.2020. Road and air transport were the most used for departures abroad, respectively 75.2% by road and 24.2% by air.
Tourism industry, hard tried during the pandemic
With closed borders, increasingly tight lockdowns and restrictions appearing and disappearing overnight, restaurants, hotels, airlines and travel agencies have had to reinvent themselves and quickly adapt their business plans.
2020 was a time trial for most players in tourism and although 2021 was more promising due to the vaccination campaign, the perspective in the travel sector still remains unclear.
If before the pandemic the concept of “city break” was very popular and the offers were extremely varied at prices hard to match, the multiple restrictions, ever-changing travel conditions and the costs of PCR tests required by many countries, changed the tourists habits. These reasons were enough to make many of them to look for vacations in their own country or for longer trips. However, city breaks will not die. With the increase of immunization, the relaxation of restrictions, the demand for these short vacations, which are no longer a luxury, but a necessity will increase.
Until recently, Romania did not have direct flights to exotic destinations such as the Maldives, Kenya, Zanzibar (Tanzania) or the Dominican Republic. It took at least one stopover for a vacation to any of these countries to be possible. In the pandemic, however, such direct flights have appeared, which allow holiday consumers to spend a vacation in the sun, away from the oppressive air of the pandemic. Given that holiday options have narrowed sharply, travel agencies had to find quick solutions to continue their business. Charters to exotic destinations have become a life-saving solution for business. Moreover, Romanians seem eager to leave – anyway, anytime, anywhere – so the planes are full. In the first month of 2021, Romania was ranked fifth in the Maldives in terms of the number of tourists sent, almost 4,000 travelers.
At the beginning of the pandemic, there were many questions about Covid-19, one of them was how the disease was transmitted. People looked with skepticism at the airplanes, which are closed spaces that accommodate several hundred passengers. However, the aviation industry also had to adapt quickly and HEPA filters were introduced. Most aircrafts are now equipped with such filters, which block about 99.97% of airborne particles over 0.3 microns in size. In addition, the plane as transport mean has strong enough arguments not to feel threatened by its position among the means of transport preferred by tourists. It is more convenient to get to Istanbul or Athens in just one hour by plane, than by car, a road that would last for almost two days, with a one-night stop for accommodation.
Despite all the benefits that the aviation industry seems to have, it will take time for it to return to pre-2020 figures.
Entrepreneurs are optimistic and believe that although this difficult stage has not ended, there are positive signs that it will soon pass, and tourism will be one of the biggest winners in the long run.
