Romania’s tourism sector recorded a slower start to 2026, with accommodation establishments receiving 3.17 million visitors during the first four months of the year, a 6.1% decrease compared to the same period in 2025, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).
The decline was accompanied by an 8% drop in overnight stays, which suggests that both domestic and international tourists travelled less frequently and spent less time in accommodation units during the period. The weaker figures likely reflect a combination of factors, including softer consumer spending, economic uncertainty across Europe and a calendar effect following a particularly strong performance in early 2025.
Romanian tourists accounted for 79.7% of all arrivals between January and April, while foreign visitors represented 20.3%. Overnight stays were similarly dominated by domestic travellers, who generated 77% of the total, compared with 23% for foreign tourists. The average stay remained relatively short, at 1.8 days for Romanians and 2.1 days for foreign visitors.
The net occupancy rate of tourist accommodation establishments fell to 20.7%, down 2.8 percentage points year-on-year, indicating lower overall demand across the sector.
Despite the national decline, several of Romania’s most popular destinations continued to attract visitors. Bucharest recorded the highest number of tourist arrivals with 557,300 visitors, followed by Brașov with 385,200 and Cluj with 168,300. Overnight stays also increased in Bucharest, Brașov and Prahova counties, highlighting the resilience of established urban and mountain tourism hubs.
Most foreign visitors came from Italy (69,300 tourists), Germany (56,400) and the United Kingdom (44,200).
The figures come as local authorities seek new sources of tourism revenue. In December 2025, Bucharest’s General Council approved a tourist tax of RON 10 (€2) per person per night from 2026 onwards, a measure expected to generate around RON 15 million annually for tourism promotion and related projects.
The decline probably partly reflects the impact of persistent inflation, which has continued to weigh on household budgets and discretionary spending. Higher accommodation, transport and food prices may have prompted some Romanians to reduce travel or opt for shorter stays compared with the previous year.
