Timisoara, among European affordable luxury destinations

The American publication Huffington Post included Timisoara in Top 10 European affordable luxury destinations, next to cities like Zaragoza (Spain), Murcia (Spain) or Braga (Portugal), being the only city in Romania mentioned. Recommendations were based on local attractions but also on prices of 4 and 5 stars hotels, according to deputy Mayor, Dan Diaconu.“Thus, Timisoara becomes an important tourist destination, being included by Huffington Post in top 10 affordable luxury destinations for autumn 2014. The fact that the city is becoming a tourist attraction is due to the growing number of overnight stays registered by accommodation units,” said Dan Diaconu, deputy mayor of Timisoara, quoted by Agerpres.

Data from the National Statistics Institute (INS) shows that the upward trend of tourists has increased in the past two years. In July 2014, the number of overnight stays in hotels and guesthouses in Timisoara reached 68,200, compared to 63,000 in July 2013 and 59,000 in July 2012. The most spectacular are the data for December 2012 and December 2013, showing an increase in the number of overnight stays by 30%, from 31.000 to 41.600, or October from 61.000 to 69.000.

“Overall, they exceed twice the average national growth, which shows that Timisoara has a tourism potential and a tourism management plan. We try to confront our statistics with those we have from various presentations, for example, towns that have European Capital of Culture (ECC) such as Linz, who had an increase in the CCE of 12% in the number of overnight stays, or Graz, approximately 25 %. Without having such a title, at the time being, Timisoara is approaching these indicators, “said Diaconu.

To maintain this trend, the city managers focus on improving the infrastructure and increasing the attractiveness of the historical heritage, completion of the European projects in the Citadel and of Bega Canal banks. Their direction is to improve and grow the cultural life, to organize conferences and to bring visibility and branding strategy for Timisoara. The historic buildings from the Austrian imperial period remain the main objectives that make the city so attractive and with a unique touch.