This summer, 6 out of 10 Romanians who go on vacation will use their personal car. Residents of Bucharest-Ilfov choose to go by train to the detriment of other means of transport, according to the MKOR Summer Vacation 2024 study. The MKOR study highlights the habits and preferences of Romanians for the summer vacation of 2024, starting from the way they plan their stays, the transport options used, to the types of accommodation chosen and preferred activities.
Transportation and accommodation options
For this summer’s trips, 60% of Romanians will travel by car, and 28% will travel by plane.
Those from Bucharest-Ilfov prefer the train to other means of transport. More than half of the respondents (55%) will stay at a hotel, followed by guesthouses (24%).
Those who choose hotels or guesthouses prefer the comfort of 3 or 4 stars (37% and 31%). Millennials, men and those traveling internationally or visiting new destinations prefer 5-star accommodations.
Offers and payment methods
Early booking offers are popular among Romanians (22%), especially among married people and those with minor children. Group or last-minute offers are of interest to certain segments of tourists. However, a much higher percentage (60%) did not benefit from any discount when booking their holiday for their chosen destination.
Regardless of the discounts, the majority of respondents (44%) choose to pay for their vacation online, especially men, those with high incomes and those with higher education.
Generation X, married people and those with minor children prefer cash payment at the travel agency or accommodation facility (21%). A similar percentage (20%) did not pay for the holiday in advance.
How many Romanians choose the services of travel agencies
For 4 out of 10 Romanians, recommendations, reviews available on specialized websites and search engines are the main sources of information used when choosing a vacation location.
Only 2 out of 10 respondents turn to travel agencies for information. Gen Xers, women, high earners and parents tend to use travel agency services more often.
Also, only 16% of Romanians call on the help of a travel agency to go on vacation this summer, 25% less than in 2017, when this study was first carried out. Most of those who have not used the services of a travel agency prefer to organize their vacation by themselves.
Favorite holiday activities
The most popular holiday activities are relaxing (79%), sightseeing (59%) and hiking (37%). Men are drawn to adrenaline-pumping activities such as water sports and diving, while parents prefer family-friendly amusement parks.
“The MKOR study highlights how Romanians spend their summer vacation from 2024. Over the years, habits have changed, and now Romanians plan their stays more carefully and document themselves online, read reviews and recommendations on specialized websites. I can confirm this trend because I organize my family vacations in the same way. I’m glad to note that relaxation is the priority on vacation, followed by sightseeing and hiking. These activities are essential for our mental and emotional well-being, which we desperately need,” said Cori Cimpoca, founder of MKOR.