Indicating a near-complete recovery to 2019 levels, 2023 was the first year the tourism industry operated entirely without pandemic-related restrictions, both globally and locally.
While the demand for accommodation in Romania in 2022 was partly influenced by the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the resulting wave of refugees, the 2023 figures more accurately reflected the state of the industry without any extraordinary factors.
For the first time in four years, the number of passengers flying to Romania surpassed 2019 levels, with hotel occupancy rates still lagging slightly behind.
The hotel sector is expected to accelerate its growth in the coming years, driven by both internal and external factors. Early data for 2024 shows similar results to last year, with an average occupancy rate of 24% for all types of accommodation and 32% for hotels in January-May 2024.
The rebound was also reflected in the financial results of the industry. The hotel sector’s turnover reached €1.7 billion in 2023, marking a 10% increase from 2019 and a significant 33% rise compared to the previous year’s performance.
