Romania recorded a 6.7% decrease in the number of tourists in the first quarter of 2026, ranking second to last in the European Union regarding the evolution of this sector. This negative dynamic comes in the context where, at the EU level, the number of nights spent in tourist accommodation establishments increased by 3.4%, reaching a total of 471.1 million nights, 15.6 million more compared to the first quarter of 2025, according to Eurostat data.
Romania’s poor performance is surpassed in a negative sense only by Lithuania, which reported a 12.9% decrease. The data also indicates a strong dependence of the local market on domestic tourism, given that only 22.4% of the people who booked accommodation in the country were foreign tourists. At the opposite end, Ireland recorded the highest percentage increase in the EU, of 35.3%, followed by Malta (+11.1%), Denmark (+9.3%), and Croatia (+9.0%). In absolute figures, the largest increases in the number of accommodation nights were reported in Italy (+5 million), Spain (+2.6 million), and Germany (+2.0 million), while the most significant absolute decrease was recorded in the Netherlands, with a drop of 0.7 million nights.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Romanian tourism decrease in Q1 2026?
Romanian tourism recorded a 6.7% decrease in the number of tourists during the first quarter of 2026.
How does Romania rank in the EU regarding tourism evolution?
Romania ranks second to last in the European Union, with only Lithuania performing worse with a 12.9% drop.
What percentage of tourists in Romania were foreign visitors?
Only 22.4% of the people who booked accommodation in Romania in Q1 2026 were foreign tourists, showing a high reliance on domestic tourism.