The Impact of COVID-19 on Tourist Destinations in Romania

Abstract

Abstract The period of the Covid 19 pandemic meant for the tourism industry a moment of general assessment of its own route. The plans and programs in which this industry was active at the time of the outbreak of the pandemic were closely related to the transformation of this industry into one that operates based on the principles of sustainability. The decrease in the number of arrivals, the practical stoppage for a period of this economic sector, attracted by itself determinations regarding the value volumes of the decreases in economic indicators but also research for the possibilities of further development of this industry. It can thus be noted that at the level of Romania, the decrease in the number of arrivals was over 50% in 2020 compared to 2019. In addition, although the forecasts of the World Tourism Organization indicated a relatively quick return in 2021, this did not happen in Romania, the value level being in 2021 at approximately 70% compared to 2019. The purpose of this article is to analyze the behavior of tourism demand and supply in the three periods, namely: pre-pandemic, pandemic and post-pandemic. The data are based on records from the National Institute of Statistics, as well as studies and research carried out on this topic. The conclusions of the determinations carried out are mainly related to the nature of isolated tourism observed during the pandemic, but also to the behavior of entrepreneurs in the sector who reacted immediately in the development of these areas.