Numerous hoteliers have already noticed a decrease in the number of bookings from tourists for the March-April 2020 period, with the first cancellations of stays being recorded in the last week.
According to a study conducted at the beginning of the week, 86% of respondent hoteliers believe that the coronavirus epidemic constitutes a real threat to domestic tourism.
Hotels with over 50 rooms are the most affected, especially if they are located in large cities in Romania where coronavirus cases have already been recorded, according to data from the hotel booking platform TravelMinit.ro.
On the other hand, guesthouses and small hotels reported that the impact of the virus is not yet felt in bookings. All stated that since the first announcements of the virus spreading, they have taken increased measures to sanitize common areas and accommodation spaces.
According to the study, to increase the number of bookings for April – May, hoteliers are open to flexible booking policies – 41.3% of surveyed hoteliers are willing to extend the advance payment period, 36.2% to refund the advance paid in full/partially within a set timeframe, and 34.6% would even waive the advance to increase the number of bookings.
The largest decrease in the number of bookings compared to the same period last year was noted for the Easter period, namely 76.7%, followed by the May 1st mini-vacation and the summer season.
86% of respondent hoteliers believe that the most affected periods are March and April. Cancellations were mostly from Romanian tourists (79.1%), and 66% of respondents believe there is no possibility of reselling the rooms left vacant after cancellations.
If before the spread of the coronavirus in Europe, 90% of the platform’s clients intended to travel domestically or abroad, currently, less than half would still make that decision.
In addition, 41.3% of the tourists who responded to the study would choose to travel only within Romania, 20.5% stated they would make both domestic and international trips, and 36.6% no longer have any intention of traveling in the upcoming period.
84.3% of respondents canceled at least one reservation due to the spread of the coronavirus, with 55.2% of canceled vacations being abroad, 36.1% within Romania, and in 8.7% of cases, the canceled reservations were both domestic and international.
Source: Profit
Frequently Asked Questions
How has the coronavirus affected Romanian hotel bookings?
Bookings for March-April 2020 have seen a significant decline, with the Easter period recording a 76.7% drop compared to the previous year.
What measures are hoteliers taking to encourage bookings?
Hoteliers are adopting flexible policies, including extending advance payment deadlines, offering partial or full refunds, and even waiving advance payments.
Which types of accommodation are most affected?
Large hotels with over 50 rooms in major cities are the most impacted, while small guesthouses have reported a lower immediate impact.