The National Institute of Statistics (NSI) published on September 5, 2025 the data on tourism for the period January-July 2025, which shows a balanced market: moderate decreases on the domestic market and increases in the foreign tourist segment.
Developments January-July 2025
- Total arrivals: -1% compared to 2024;
- Overnight stays: +0.3%;
- Employment: 31.8% (compared to 32.1% in 2024);
- Foreign tourists: +4.5% arrivals, +4.3% overnight stays.
Top destinations: Bucharest (1.117 million arrivals), Constanta (945.4 thousand) and Brasov (768.1 thousand). In terms of overnight stays, Constanta (2.802 million) leads, followed by Bucharest and Brasov. Most foreign visitors come from Germany, Italy and Israel.
Situation in July
- Arrivals: -3.7%;
- Overnight stays: -4.7%;
- The decrease comes exclusively from domestic tourism (-4.4% arrivals, -5.3% overnight stays);
- Incoming stays on the upside: +0.6% arrivals, +0.1% overnight stays;
- Occupancy rate: 38.2% (vs. 39.6% in July 2024).
In the first three months of the summer season (May-July), the seaside attracted 740,978 arrivals, 5.9% more than in 2024, contradicting claims of “dramatic declines”.
Dragoș Răducan, President of FPTR:
“Tourism analysis should be based on official data, not on impressions. The INS shows clearly: July meant a punctual decrease, but the first 7 months confirm stability and growth of foreign tourists. We are not talking about a collapse, but a period that can be turned into an opportunity.”
Domestic tourism is feeling the effects of tax increases, rising costs and lack of government strategy, but incoming tourism is showing positive signs, even without sustained external promotion. The main poles remain Bucharest, Constanța and Brasov.
The FPTR, which represents 34% of the tourism workforce (3,286 employers, 59,255 employees), calls on the authorities to develop coherent public policies, based on statistical data, to capitalize on the real potential of the sector.