Tourism revenues same as in 2003

Romania’s foreign currency revenues derived from tourism this year will increase by $100 million on last year’s level to $800 million, ministry data show. Calculated in euros, the amount will remain the same as in 2003. “I hope that revenues from tourism will increase by at least 10% in each of the next ten years, that’s double the forecast growth. The share of tourism revenues in GDP is approaching 4% this year,” Miron Mitrea, the Minister of Transport, Construction and Tourism told the “Romanian Tourism – 2004 in Review” seminar. According to Ministry estimates, the number of foreign tourists attracted to Romania this year will hit 1.6 million people, up 44% on 2003. Accommodation providers in Romania recorded 5.9 million tourists, about 900,000 more than in the previous year, according to data provided by the National Statistics Institute. ZF