Tourism consultants and industry players estimated that over 150,000 tourists would spend the National Day mini-holiday on December 1st within the country, with the most sought-after locations being mountain and spa resorts, as well as rural tourism, where nearly all accommodation spots are occupied.
„Over 150,000 tourists are expected in domestic resorts, marking the highest figure to date for the December 1st holiday. As a premiere, Romanian tourists have begun booking their mini-vacations much further in advance than in previous years, with many reservations taking place in September. Just as May 1st represents a sort of pre-opening of the summer season, December 1st introduces tourists to the winter atmosphere,” stated Traian Badulescu.
Slightly fewer tourists choose city breaks in major European cities or Christmas market tours—travel packages offered by agencies that include cities such as Vienna, Budapest, Prague, and Bratislava, Badulescu points out.
Representatives from Paralela 45 specified that, domestically, available spots are almost exhausted. Internationally, Dubai was in high demand and is currently completely sold out, with only spots for Christmas and New Year’s Eve still available. External tours overlapping with this interval were also highly requested and sold out as early as the beginning of November. Furthermore, individual stays in European capitals are extremely popular, said Dan Dumitru, Marketing Director at Paralela 45.
He states that this year, December 1st mini-vacations were sold well in advance, in a higher proportion than last year, also due to Black Friday campaigns and promotions from the Tourism Fair.
Representatives of the National Association of Rural, Ecological, and Cultural Tourism (ANTREC) also say that accommodation in guesthouses in Bran-Moeciu, Fundata, and Rasnov is 95% occupied.
Additionally, offers for the seaside also attracted tourists during this period. Aurelian Marin, General Manager of the tour operator Paradis-Vacante de Vis, one of the largest operators on the Romanian coast, stated that Black Friday sales were four times higher than last year.
Source: Profit
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most popular domestic destinations for the December 1st holiday?
Mountain resorts, spa towns, and rural areas like Bran-Moeciu and Fundata are the top choices, with occupancy rates reaching 95%.
Which international destinations are Romanians choosing?
Dubai is a top favorite and is currently sold out, alongside European city breaks to capitals like Vienna, Prague, and Budapest for Christmas markets.
What factors contributed to the record number of bookings this year?
The increase is driven by earlier booking habits starting in September, Black Friday discounts, and promotions offered during the Tourism Fair.