More and more Romanians are planning their vacation down to the last hundred meters, while calculating their expenses very well. How HoReCa reacts

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Although there are only a few days left until Pentecost, Romanians have not rushed to buy holiday packages for the extended weekend if it is to come. If in previous years these holidays were organized ahead of time, this year, tourism operators expect reservations to be made even on the day of departure, which means that for the moment the demand is lower than in previous years.

The reduction in the value of holiday vouchers and the decrease in purchasing power have led tourists to postpone bookings for the mini-vacation for Pentecost and June 1st, so that the level is currently slightly lower than in 2025, although tourism operators estimate an increase in demand due to last minute offers, claims Adrian Voican, vice president of ANAT.

“After Easter and May 1st, now comes the period of June 1st, the beginning of the calendar summer, which also overlaps with the Pentecost mini-holiday, and the interest in bookings is high. However, compared to the last two years, the Pentecost mini-holiday falls 1-3 weeks earlier, which makes the bookings a bit more timid this year. The impact of the halving of holiday vouchers is still being felt, as well as the decrease in purchasing power. All this has the behavior of tourists has changed: If in past years vacations were bought ahead of time, through early registrations, now reservations are made much closer to the departure date”, said Adrian Voican, quoted in the press release.

According to him, tourism operators, agencies and hotels try to compensate for these difficulties through special offers.

“Offers have been launched in which families benefit from freebies for the little ones, and some tourist packages are completed with additional services. There are also offers of the type “pay 3 and stay 4 nights” or other last minute discounts. Many tourists also choose the mountain areas or destinations in the hilly and vineyard areas of Prahova or Buzau, where camps, festivals and outdoor activities are organized. At the moment, the degree of occupancy for the upcoming holiday is difficult to be estimated, because booking decisions are made in the last few days and depend both on the weather forecast and on the available financial resources. In the last hundred meters, many Romanians also turn to shopping cards with payment in installments to be able to purchase their desired vacations,” he added.

Offers on the Romanian Riviera for Pentecost start from 47 lei/night, and among the most sought-after destinations are the resorts of Eforie Nord, parent and Neptune-Olympus. In the spa area, tourists are interested in Călimănesti-Căciulata, Băile Felix and Băile Herculane, in the mountains they go to Valea Prahova, Poiana Brașov and Bucovina, and in the Danube Delta to Sulina, Sfântu Gheorghe and Crișan. Cities such as Brașov, Cluj-Napoca and Timișoara are also of interest.

“A clear trend in the behavior of consumption is the orientation towards superior comfort and service. Over 65% of Romanian tourists chose 4- and 5-star accommodation units, preferring hotels that offer a complete package of experiences: from access to facilities with thermal waters, wellness and spa areas, to entertainment programs with live music and activities dedicated to children. The average length of stay remained constant at 3 nights, both for the coastal area and for the mountain”, Adrian Voican also declared.