Tourism in Romania
Encyclopedia
Tourism in Romania focuses on the country's natural landscape
s 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 7-9 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 8.9 million in 2008. The revenues grew from 400 million in 2002 to 607 in 2004. Tourism in Romania attracted €880 million in investments in 2005.
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 Constanța
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.
Spas and health resorts (Băile Herculane
, Băile Felix
, Sovata
)
}: 1,735,000
}: 786,000
}: 395,000
}: 331,000
}: 238,000
}: 177,000
}: 131,000
}: 98,000
}: 92,000
}: 80,000
}: 71,000
}:66,000
}: 672,000
}: 265,000
}: 244,000
}: 92,000
}: 117,000
}: 81,000
TOTAL WORLD : 7,498,000
Natural landscape
A natural landscape is a landscape that is unaffected by human activity. A natural landscape is intact when all living and nonliving elements are free to move and change. The nonliving elements distinguish a natural landscape from a wilderness. A wilderness includes areas within which natural...
s and its rich history. The number of tourists is growing every year and tourism is becoming an increasingly important source for Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
's GDP with 7-9 million people now visiting yearly. Romania's economy is characterized by a huge potential for tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
. Number of tourists grew from 4.8 million in 2002 to 8.9 million in 2008. The revenues grew from 400 million in 2002 to 607 in 2004. Tourism in Romania attracted €880 million in investments in 2005.
Tourism is a significant contributor to the Romanian economy. In the 1990s the government heavily promoted the development of skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
in the Romanian Carpathians
Romanian Carpathians
This is an overview of the geological subdivisions of the Romanian Carpathian Mountains. The Carpathians are a "subsystem" of the Alps-Himalaya System and are further divided into "provinces" and "subprovinces"....
. Domestic and international tourism
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
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
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
are held in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, 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
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
, Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
, Iaşi
Iasi
Iași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
, Timişoara
Timisoara
Timișoara is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian cities, with an estimated population of 311,586 inhabitants , and considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat, Timișoara is the main social, economic and cultural center in the...
.
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 Constanța
Constanta
Constanța is the oldest extant city in Romania, founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Dobruja region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanța County and the largest city in the region....
and Mamaia
Mamaia
Mamaia is a resort on the Romanian Black Sea shore, considered to be Romania's most popular resort. It is situated immediately north-east of Constanţa...
(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
- Camping and hiking in the Carpathian MountainsCarpathian MountainsThe Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest mountain range in Europe...
- Skiing in the mountain resorts on the Prahova ValleyPrahova ValleyPrahova Valley is the valley where the Prahova river makes its way between the Bucegi and the Baiu Mountains, in the Carpathian Mountains, Romania. It is a tourist region, situated about 100 km north of the capital city of Bucharest.Geographically, the Prahova river separates the Eastern...
: SinaiaSinaiaSinaia is a town and a mountain resort in Prahova County, Romania. The town was named after Sinaia Monastery, around which it was built; the monastery in turn is named after the Biblical Mount Sinai...
, BuşteniBusteniBuşteni is a small mountain town in the north of the county Prahova, in the center of Romania. It is located in the Prahova Valley, at the bottom of the Bucegi mountains, that have a maximum altitude of 2505 m. Its name literally means tree-logs in Romanian. One village, Poiana Ţapului, is...
, PredealPredealPredeal is a town in Braşov County, Romania. It is the highest town and one of the most important mountain resorts in Romania, being located on the Prahova Valley at over...
, Poiana BrașovPoiana BrasovPoiana Braşov is the most popular Romanian ski resort and an important tourist centre preferred by many tourists not only from Romania, but also from Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and other European states....
(nearby), ArieşeniArieseniArieşeni is a commune located in Alba County, Romania. It has a population of 1,921. The commune is composed of eighteen villages: Arieşeni, Avrămeşti, Bubeşti, Casa de Piatră, Cobleş, Dealu Bajului, Faţa Cristesei, Faţa Lăpuşului, Galbena, Hodobana, Izlaz, Pănteşti, Pătrăhăiţeşti, Poieniţa,... - Black Sea Romanian resorts (see also MamaiaMamaiaMamaia is a resort on the Romanian Black Sea shore, considered to be Romania's most popular resort. It is situated immediately north-east of Constanţa...
) - Medieval churches and monasteries of MoldaviaMoldaviaMoldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
and BukovinaBukovinaBukovina is a historical region on the northern slopes of the northeastern Carpathian Mountains and the adjoining plains.-Name:The name Bukovina came into official use in 1775 with the region's annexation from the Principality of Moldavia to the possessions of the Habsburg Monarchy, which became...
(see also Painted churches of Northern MoldaviaPainted churches of northern MoldaviaThe Churches of Moldavia are eight Romanian Orthodox churches in Suceava County, Romania in northern Moldavia, built approximately between 1487 and 1583.Since 1993, they have been listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site...
) - Danube DeltaDanube DeltaThe Danube Delta is the second largest river delta in Europe, after the Volga Delta, and is the best preserved on the continent. The greater part of the Danube Delta lies in Romania , while its northern part, on the left bank of the Chilia arm, is situated in Ukraine . The approximate surface is...
, the best preserved delta of Europe - SighişoaraSighisoaraSighişoara is a city and municipality on the Târnava Mare River in Mureş County, Romania. Located in the historic region Transylvania, Sighişoara has a population of 27,706 ....
town and medieval festival - Medieval Castles of Transylvania
- Folklore and traditions of MaramureşMaramuresMaramureș may refer to the following:*Maramureș, a geographical, historical, and ethno-cultural region in present-day Romania and Ukraine, that occupies the Maramureș Depression and Maramureș Mountains, a mountain range in North East Carpathians...
(see also Wooden churches of MaramureşWooden Churches of MaramuresThe Wooden Churches of Maramureş in the Maramureş region of northern Transylvania are a group of almost one hundred churches of different architectural solutions from different periods and areas. They are Orthodox churches. The Maramureş churches are high timber constructions with characteristic...
and Merry CemeteryMerry CemeteryThe Merry Cemetery is a cemetery in the village of Săpânţa, Maramureş county, Romania. It is famous for its colourful tombstones with naïve paintings describing, in an original and poetic manner, the persons that are buried there as well as scenes from their lives...
) - Rural tourism
Spas and health resorts (Băile Herculane
Baile Herculane
Băile Herculane is a town in Romanian Banat, in Caraş-Severin County, situated in the valley of the Cerna River, between the Mehedinţi Mountains to the east and the Cerna Mountains to the west, elevation 168 meters. Its current population is approximately 6,000...
, Băile Felix
Baile Felix
Băile Felix is a thermal spa resort near the commune of Sânmartin in Bihor County, Transylvania, Romania. They are among the best known and most quality thermal spas in the country...
, Sovata
Sovata
-History:It formed part of the Székely Land region of the historical Transylvania province. The first data about Sovata are from 1578. By 1583 it already was a village....
)
- Cultural cities of SibiuSibiuSibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt...
, BrașovBrasovBrașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania....
, IaşiIasiIași is the second most populous city and a municipality in Romania. Located in the historical Moldavia region, Iași has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Romanian social, cultural, academic and artistic life...
, Târgu Mureş, TimişoaraTimisoaraTimișoara is the capital city of Timiș County, in western Romania. One of the largest Romanian cities, with an estimated population of 311,586 inhabitants , and considered the informal capital city of the historical region of Banat, Timișoara is the main social, economic and cultural center in the...
, Cluj-NapocaCluj-NapocaCluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
, BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
and Alba IuliaAlba IuliaAlba Iulia is a city in Alba County, Transylvania, Romania with a population of 66,747, located on the Mureş River. Since the High Middle Ages, the city has been the seat of Transylvania's Roman Catholic diocese. Between 1541 and 1690 it was the capital of the Principality of Transylvania... - Museums
- Iron Gates (DanubeDanubeThe Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
Gorge) - Haţeg IslandHateg IslandHațeg Island was a large offshore island in the Tethys Sea during the Cretaceous period. It was situated in an area corresponding to the region around modern-day Hațeg, Romania...
- MocăniţeMocanitaA mocăniţă is a narrow gauge railway in Romania, most notably in Transylvania and nearby regions. Archetypely, they are situated in mountainous areas and the locomotives operating on them are steam-powered...
: scenic narrow-gauge railways of Romania
Unique places
- Berca Mud Volcanoes, in Buzău CountyBuzau CountyBuzău is a county of Romania, in the historical region Muntenia, with the capital city at Buzău.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 496,214 and the population density was 81/km².*Romanians – 97%*Roma – under 3% declared, and others....
- Scărişoara CaveScarisoara CaveScărişoara Cave , is one of the biggest ice caves in the Apuseni Mountains of Romania, in a part of Carpathian chain.-Discovery:First mentioned in 1863 by the Austrian geographer Arnold Schmidl, who made some observations and the first map of the cave, it was later explored by the Romanian...
, in Apuseni MountainsApuseni MountainsThe Apuseni Mountains is a mountain range in Transylvania, Romania, which belongs to the Western Carpathians, also called Occidentali in Romanian. Their name translates from Romanian as Mountains "of the sunset" i.e. "western". The highest peak is "Cucurbăta Mare" - 1849 metres, also called Bihor... - The Fortress of Ponor Karst Complex, in Apuseni MountainsApuseni MountainsThe Apuseni Mountains is a mountain range in Transylvania, Romania, which belongs to the Western Carpathians, also called Occidentali in Romanian. Their name translates from Romanian as Mountains "of the sunset" i.e. "western". The highest peak is "Cucurbăta Mare" - 1849 metres, also called Bihor...
- The Bears cave,
- The Vârtop Cave,
- The Bears cave,
- The Tăuz Karst Spring,
- The Living Fire ice cave,
- The Sighiştel Valley,
- Băiţa-Bihor Karst area,
- Merry CemeteryMerry CemeteryThe Merry Cemetery is a cemetery in the village of Săpânţa, Maramureş county, Romania. It is famous for its colourful tombstones with naïve paintings describing, in an original and poetic manner, the persons that are buried there as well as scenes from their lives...
, in SăpânţaSapântaSăpânţa is a commune in Maramureş County in northern Romania, 15 kilometers northwest of Sighet and just south of the Tisza River. It is composed of a single village, Săpânţa....
, Maramureş CountyMaramures CountyMaramureș is a county of Romania, in the Maramureș region. The county seat is Baia Mare.- History :* The 10th century frontier county of Borsova was founded by Stephen I of Hungary. Since then Máramaros served as the north-eastern border of the Hungarian Kingdom until 1920, the Trianon Peace... - Palace of the ParliamentPalace of the ParliamentThe Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest, Romania is a multi-purpose building containing both chambers of the Romanian Parliament. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the Palace is the world's largest civilian administrative building, most expensive administrative building, and...
, BucharestBucharestBucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River.... - TransfăgărăşanTransfagarasanThe Transfăgărășan or DN7C, also known as Ceaușescu's folly is the second-highest paved road in Romania, and considered by some to be the most dramatic...
road - Cheile TurziiCheile TurziiCheile Turzii is a natural reserve situated 6 km west of Turda and about 15 km south-east of Cluj-Napoca, in Transylvania, Romania.- Geography :...
- Turda Salt Mine
Festivals
- Callatis FestivalCallatis FestivalCallatis Festival is the largest music and culture festival held in Romania.-Location:Every year the location is the same - a barge that is docked into the touristic harbor of Mangalia. This barge consists of a huge stage and a very large backstage area, enough to hold over 200 people...
, MangaliaMangaliaMangalia , is a city and a port on the coast of the Black Sea in the south-east of Constanţa County, Romania.The municipality of Mangalia also administers several summer time seaside resorts: Cap Aurora, Jupiter, Neptun, Olimp, Saturn, Venus.-History:... - George Enescu FestivalGeorge Enescu FestivalThe George Enescu Festival , held in honor of the celebrated Romanian composer George Enescu, is the biggest classical music festival and classical international competition held in Romania and one of the biggest in Eastern Europe...
- Golden Stag FestivalGolden Stag FestivalThe Golden Stag Festival is an annual international music festival held in Braşov, Romania. The main organiser is Televiziunea Română, Romania's state-run television network. The festival has two main components: an international contest and guest performances by both Romanian and foreign stars...
, in BrașovBrasovBrașov is a city in Romania and the capital of Brașov County.According to the last Romanian census, from 2002, there were 284,596 people living within the city of Brașov, making it the 8th most populated city in Romania.... - Peninsula / Félsziget FestivalPeninsula / Félsziget FestivalPeninsula / Félsziget is a music festival taking place annually in July or August in Târgu Mureş, Transylvania, Romania.- History :The first edition of the festival goes back to 2003...
in Târgu Mureş - Romania's biggest music festival - Sibiu Jazz Festival in SibiuSibiuSibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt...
- StufstockStufstockStufstock is a music festival that has taken place each year since 2003 in Vama Veche, Dobrogea, Romania, to protest against what some people may consider bad quality music Stufstock (Stuf - Romanian for reed - and stock from Woodstock) is a music festival that has taken place each year since 2003...
rock music festival, in Vama VecheVama VecheVama Veche is a village in Romania on the Black Sea coast, near the border with Bulgaria, at 28.57 E longitude, 43.75 N latitude. It is part of the commune of Limanu and in 2002, it had a population of 178.... - The Gaina girl fair
Foreign visitor arrivals in 2010
Note: figures refer to arrivals at frontiers of visitors from abroad and include same day visitors (excursionists).Europe
- Total
European Union: 4,456,000
}: 1,735,000
}: 786,000
}: 395,000
}: 331,000
}: 238,000
}: 177,000
}: 131,000
}: 98,000
}: 92,000
}: 80,000
}: 71,000
}:66,000
Others European countries
}: 1,216,000}: 672,000
}: 265,000
}: 244,000
}: 92,000
- Total Africa : 21,000
- Total AmericasAmericasThe Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
: 171,000
}: 117,000
- Total Asia : 195,000
}: 81,000
- Total
Australia and 
New Zealand : 13,000
TOTAL WORLD : 7,498,000
Hotels and restaurants
In 2006 it is reported that this industry added gross value of $8,074 million to the Romanian economy in 2005.See also
- UNESCO World Heritage Sites in RomaniaUNESCO World Heritage Sites in RomaniaUNESCO has included up until now, 7 sites in Romania on the list of World Heritage Sites.-Cultural:-Natural:-Tentative list:-See also:*Histria || Dobruja/Constanta County || Ancient city of Histria...
- Castles in Romania
- Protected areas of RomaniaProtected areas of RomaniaThis is a list of protected areas of Romania.About 5.18% of the area of Romania has a protected status , including the Danube Delta, which makes half of these areas .-Biosphere reserves:...
- Transportation in Romania
- Aviation in RomaniaAviation in RomaniaRomania has a rich tradition in the aviation field. At the beginning of the 20th century, flight pioneers like Aurel Vlaicu, Traian Vuia and George Valentin Bibescu brought important contributions to early aviation history, building revolutionary aeroplanes and changing the age's mentalities.In the...