In 2023, the latest year for which public data is available, seaside resorts welcomed 1.1 million tourists, according to the NSI. Ten years ago, the number of tourists in these destinations was just 678,000.
Accor and Marriott are two of the international groups that have announced projects in two seaside resorts, namely Baile Felix and Călimănești.
The company Turism Felix, which manages five hotels in the resort of Baile Felix in Bihor County, has announced the signing of a franchise agreement with Accor for the affiliation of Hotel International – Baile Felix to the Mercure brand.
Baile Felix is one of the resorts that have benefited from many investments in recent years, so that it is one of the most sought-after seaside resorts in the country, both by Romanians and foreigners.
On the other hand, the Marriott hotel group has chosen Călimănești, a resort that still needs significant investment to bring it up to current standards.
Ivan Kiseev, senior director, International Hotel Development CEE & CIS, Marriott International, recently told Ziarul Financiar that Marriott will open seven hotels in the next few years in Timisoara, Sibiu, Cluj-Napoca, Brasov, Călimănești and Arad.
Interest from the big international brands is also there for other resorts, with tourism growing significantly in recent years. This growth is also confirmed by statistical data, according to which the number of accommodation units has doubled in a decade, from 451 units in 2014 to 937 units in 2024, data from the National Institute of Statistics show.
In a decade, not only the accommodation capacity has increased, but also the number of tourists arriving in these destinations, which have become increasingly popular among Romanians. In 2023, the last year for which public data is available, the seaside resorts welcomed 1.1 million tourists, according to the INS. Ten years ago, the number of tourists in these destinations was just 678,000. Incidentally, 2023 brought a record number of tourists to the seaside resorts, the INS data show.
Several seaside resorts benefit from private and public investment, including Baile Felix, Baile Herculane, Sovata, Borsec, Lacu Sărat, Călimănești and others. Along with the initiatives of local entrepreneurs, major international brands have become increasingly interested in concluding collaboration contracts for the affiliation of hotels in the spa resorts.