Have you made plans for your summer vacation? Are you traveling abroad by plane or by car? Are you staying in Romania ? For several weeks, I've been seeing these questions on various forums and vacation groups. The only ones convinced that they will stay in Romania are those from the private or state sector who receive vacation vouchers.
PARIS 2022 vs PARIS 2023, price differences
Before you answer this question, let me tell you what cost analyses I do and why I haven't made a decision yet. First of all, to figure out how much prices have actually increased, I compare the rates I paid a year ago in certain destinations. In the case of this article, it was easy for me to use data from Paris, July 2022.
In 2022, between July 14-17, a room at the Mercure Paris Montmartre Sacré Coeur cost us 399 euros. The plane tickets, we used the TAROM company, cost 525 euros for both of us, round trip.
Here's what the costs would look like if we were to replicate the Paris experience in 2023, using the same departure dates, still with TAROM and choosing the same hotel. Accommodation is 87 euros more expensive (486 euros in July 2023), and airfares are 62,8 euros more than in 2022. In a flash, just accommodation and tickets will cost us 150 euros more (734 lei at today's NBR exchange rate).
Turkey and Greece the biggest price increases for 2023
According to ziare.com , among the favorite destinations of Romanians for summer vacations, Turkey registers the highest price increases. Spiked prices are also felt in Greece and Bulgaria . Major European cities are also on the list. "The increases were felt, for example, in Turkey . There, the rates are higher anyway, if we refer to Antalya in particular, with the all-inclusive resorts. In the big cities, we had high rates anyway and they increased even more, especially London, Paris , Barcelona. This has two causes: firstly, the events industry has recovered, and in spring and autumn, especially, prices are higher because there is a higher occupancy rate. Secondly, they increased trying to cover the inflation rate and other price increases. For example, prices are also felt in Bulgaria , only there the rates were somewhat lower. And there are hotels that have increased by 15-35%. Exactly the same as is happening here. And in Greece , there is the same price increase trend ," Traian Bădulescu points out.
2023, the chance for tourism and the Romanian coast (if they really want it)
The Romanian coast will not be cheaper in 2023 compared to 2022, and the estimate is an increase of at least 15% compared to last season's rates. And then what would be the increase? Why would more Romanians choose to come to the Romanian coast ? It all depends on the costs! According to an international study conducted by momondo representatives, for 54% of respondents in Romania, price is decisive in choosing a hotel.
The cost of transportation is much lower than international trips and even if we calculate that the hotel rate will be the same as in Greece or Bulgaria, a difference of 150 euros is not negligible.
Who should fight to bring Romanians back to the seaside? Everyone involved in this industry. The central authorities that should no longer play with the beach auction (90% of the beaches in Mamaia and Constanța are not concessioned, and the auction will be organized ... sometime and somewhere), the local ones that should get involved in promoting the destinations (because they only earn from taxes), and some hoteliers and restaurant owners should no longer consider the tourist to be just a cash cow.
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