Romanians are preparing for the longest mini-vacation this year, in the context where this year the two holidays (May 1 and Easter) follow each other, and tourists will enjoy several days off. According to Vola.ro data, the effects of this extended mini-vacation are also reflected in Romanians' travel reservations. If during other mini-holidays in the year, the average length of stay was 5 days, this time, the average interval increased to 8 days.
Flights to destinations in the Mediterranean area (Italy, Spain, Greece, France, Malta) represent over 40% of the bookings registered by Vola.ro during the Easter mini-holiday. It is interesting that Tenerife (Spain) and Greece entered the top 5 destinations preferred by Romanians for the free days in May, further proof of the fact that tourists want to enjoy the sun, but also to visit their relatives or friends abroad . In addition, Greece is an Orthodox country, so I can celebrate Easter by going to church, just like at home, while Spain and Italy are tourist destinations where there are large communities of Romanians, with whom I can spend the holidays.
At Easter, Romanians from the diaspora return home, and those from the country go to the sea
As expected, Romanians from the diaspora are returning Easter 2024 home, flights to Romania representing over 36% of the total number of reservations during the mini-vacation period. Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iași are among the top cities to which they will fly.
Spain, Italy, Great Britain, Germany and Greece are among the top countries to fly to in May. On the one hand, we are talking about countries where there are large communities of Romanians, a sign that many people have chosen to spend their holidays with their relatives from the diaspora, but also about Mediterranean areas, where tourists often spend their holidays at the beach. In terms of their preferred European destinations for their Easter break, the most booked destinations are: Tenerife, Milan, Brussels, London, Rome, Barcelona and Madrid. It is interesting to note that Paris, which until now was not missing from this top, has disappeared from travelers' preferences. A possible explanation could be that this year the city will host several major sporting events (Olympics, Roland Garros, UEFA Champions League), which means that it will be overcrowded and, implicitly, prices will increase significantly.
Romanians paid, on average, 238 euros for a flight during Easter
The cheapest ticket sold during this period on Vola.ro was only 50 euros, on the route Billund - Milan, a sign that flights to Italy are still among the most affordable. At the opposite pole, the most expensive ticket cost 1.500 euros, on the route Cluj-Napoca - Bangkok.
In terms of average fares, flight prices are similar to last year, for the same period. The average price for a passenger on a flight is 238 euros, and generally the reservations are for two passengers, which means that Romanians travel most often as a couple.
Most travelers (58%) now book their flights in advance, approximately 31-90 days before their departure date. There is also a category of spontaneous passengers (25%) who prefer to book less than 30 days in advance, but also determined passengers (17%) who choose to book their flights more than 90 days in advance.
Traveling in the Schengen airspace: Romanians' first impressions
In addition to numerous plans for the Easter holiday, this spring also brought us important news: Romania's entry into the Schengen airspace, starting on March 31. What does this mean? Romanians no longer have to wait at the border control if they fly in the free movement area, in other words, if they come from or arrive in a state that is part of Schengen.
According to a survey conducted by Vola.ro on this subject, more than 55% of Romanians say that they will travel more to Schengen countries from now on, especially because they appreciate the speed with which they travel in this area. Also, 27.6% of respondents claim that they will travel abroad for Easter, with the plane remaining their main transport option.
At the same time, 89% of respondents claim that they will travel at least as much by plane as a result of joining the Schengen Area, recognizing the benefits that this change brings: reducing the time spent on checks when leaving the country, avoiding queues for document control upon arrival in a Schengen member country, creation of special terminals and gates, similar treatment to other European citizens. Last but not least, over 75% of the participants in the survey are of the opinion that Romania's accession to the Schengen airspace will have a positive impact on tourism in the country.