Tourism in Romania

Tourism in Romania focuses on the country's natural landscapes and its rich history. The number of tourists is growing every year and tourism is becoming an increasingly important source for Romania's GDP with 6-7 million people now visiting yearly. Romania's economy is characterized by a huge potential for tourism. Number of tourists grew from 4.8 million in 2002 to 6.6 million in 2004. Similarly, the revenues grew from 400 million in 2002 to 607 in 2004. [ The Europa World Year Book 2007, 48th edition, volume II, published by Routledge, London 2007, page 3746] Tourism in Romania attracted €880 million in investments in 2005. [ [http://www.gandul.info/2005-12-29/social/turismul] ]

Tourism is a significant contributor to the Romanian economy. In the 1990s the government heavily promoted the development of skiing in the Romanian Carpathians. Domestic and international tourism generates about 4% of gross domestic product (GDP) and 0.8 million jobs. Following commerce, tourism is the second largest component of the services sector. In 2006 Romania registered 20 million overnight stays by international tourists, 4% higher than in the previous year and an all-time record. Two-thirds of all major trade fairs from Central Europe are held in Romania, and each year they attract 2 to 3 million business travelers, about 20% of whom are foreigners. The four most important trade fairs take place in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iaşi, Timişoara.

In the year 2006, 14,122,798 tourists vacationed in Romania. The total revenue was $4.2 billion and with an average expenditure of $679 per tourist. Over the years, Romania has emerged as a popular tourist destination for many Europeans, often competing with Greece, Italy and Spain. Romania destinations such as Constanta and Mamaia (sometimes called the "Romanian Riviera") have become very popular among European tourists.

Romania has a highly developed tourism infrastructure, making it a good market for tourism-related equipment and services.

Activities & Must sees

* camping and hiking in the Carpathian Mountains
* skiing at Poiana Braşov and on Valea Prahovei
* the Black Sea Romanian resorts (see also Mamaia)
* the medieval churches and monasteries of Moldavia and Bukovina (see also Painted churches of Northern Moldavia)
* the Danube Delta, the best preserved delta of Europe
* Sighişoara town and medieval festival
* the medieval Castles of Transylvania
* the folklore and traditions of Maramureş (see also Wooden churches of Maramureş and Merry Cemetery)
* rural tourism
* (Băile Herculane, Băile Felix, Sovata)
* visiting the cultural cities of Braşov, Iaşi, Timişoara, Cluj-Napoca, Bucharest and Alba Iulia
* museums
* the Iron Gates (Danube Gorge)
* Haţeg Island
* Mocăniţe: scenic narrow-gauge railways of Romania

Unique Places

*Berca Mud Volcanoes, in Buzău County
*Scărişoara Cave
*Merry Cemetery, in Săpânţa, Maramureş County
*Palace of the Parliament, Bucharest
*Transfăgărăşan road

Festivals

*Callatis Festival, Mangalia
*George Enescu Festival
*Golden Stag Festival, in Braşov
*Sibiu Jazz Festival in Sibiu
*Stufstock

Foreign visitor arrivals in 2004

"Note:" figures refer to arrivals at frontiers of visitors from abroad and include same day visitors (excursionists). [ Data available from World tourism Organization and made available by europaworld.com.]
*Hungary: 2,603,500
*Moldova: 1,212,800
*Bulgaria: 375,400
*Ukraine: 309,800
*Germany: 296,100
*Italy: 230,600
*Serbia: 220,300
*Turkey: 195,300
*Poland: 132,900
*Slovakia:88,700
** Total: 6,600,100

Hotels and restaurants

In 2006 it is reported that this industry added gross value of $8,074 million to the Romanian economy in 2005.

ee also

*UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Romania
*Castles in Romania
*Protected areas of Romania
*Transportation in Romania
*Aviation in Romania

ee also

External links and references

* [http://www.romaniatravel.com The Tourism Authority official website]
* [http://www.rotravel.com/index.htm Romanian Travel]
* [http://www.turism.ro Tourism in Romania]
* [http://www.mysteriousjourneys.com Historical and cultural tours]
*en icon ro icon [http://www.deltadunarii.ro/ Tourism in the Danube Delta]
*en icon ro icon fr icon de icon [http://www.antrec.ro/ ANTREC]
*en icon ro icon [http://www.ici.ro/romania/ Tourism in Romania]
*dmoz|Regional/Europe/Romania/Travel_and_Tourism/

Travel guides

* [http://www.romaniatravel.com/index.php Official site of the National authority for Tourism]
* [http://www.otp-airport.ro/ Bucharest Airport Henri Coanda - Romania main Airport]
* [http://www.baneasa-airport.ro/ Bucharest Airport Aurel Vlaicu]
* [http://www.mk-airport.ro/ Constanta Airport Mihail Kogalniceanu]
* [http://www.infofer.ro/ Information of Romania Passenger Timetable]
* [http://www.autogari.ro/ Information over Romania Buses Transport]
* [http://www.totaltour.ro/en Information on accommodation in Romania]
* [http://www.romania.net/ Information from Romania]
* [http://www.alpinet.org/ Alpinet - Romania mountain guide]
* [http://www.incogniterra.org Romania, Terra Incognita - reveals the hidden beauties of Romania]
* [http://www.spirit.ro The Spirit of Romania - Journals, stories, travel photography]
* [http://www.romania.org 1st portal about Romania estd. 1996]
* [http://romania-travelguide.info Romania Travel Guide]