Most Foreign Tourists Considering Romanian Vacation Expect Country To Be Unsafe

Jorn Gieschen, the Marketing and Strategy Executive of THR, a company that took part in developing Britain’s tourism brand, said that most tourists who have never been to Romania are afraid of potential safety risks. Tourists who have visited the country no longer take unsafety into account and say that Romania’s natural landscapes are its distinctive element.

Gieschen added that Romania’s tourist safety levels are significantly below the EU average.

Foreign tourists in Romania prefer authentic experiences, such as watching the preparation of a traditional meal is prepared, to historic sightseeing, folk music and dance.

Few tourists expect to find good infrastructure or luxury hotels in Romania, and most of them favor traditional accommodation, said Gieschen.

According to research, 29% of foreigners interviewed would consider a Romanian holiday, while 44% do not plan on visiting Romania.

Most foreign tourists who have never visited Romania list lack of safety, information and attractiveness as their reasons. Romania ranks sixth by touristic attractiveness, after Hungary, Turkey, the Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria, and before Ukraine and Serbia.

Fifty-six percent of the interviewed tourists who have visited Romania said they would return and recommend visiting the country. Twelve percent of the interviewees, most of them French and American, would recommend visiting the country, but would not return, while 30%, mostly Germans, Ukrainians and Russians, would not return or recommend the country.

The telephone poll conducted by THR involved 10,800 tourists in eight countries: Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain, Russia, Austria, Hungary and the United States of America. The joint venture THR – Asesores en Turismo, Hoteleria y Recreacion SA – Taylor Nelson Sofres has won a public auction to develop Romania’s national tourist brand.