AGRITOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN ROMANIA IN TERMS OF ACCOMODATION CAPACITY, TOURIST ARRIVALS AND OVERNIGHTS STAYS IN THE PERIOD 2005-2010

Abstract

The paper aimed to analyze agritourism development in Romania in the period 2005-2010 based on the statistical data, using the index, share and comparison methods. Agritourism has become a high dynamic sector of the Romanian Tourism. The efforts made by agri-touristic houses’owners to improve accommodation and board conditions, to enlarge other facilities and opportunities for spending time increased tourist arrivals and overnights stays. In 2010, there were 1,354 agri-touristic houses being by 41.63 % more than in 2005 and their accommodation capacity increased to 20,208 existing places and 4,892 thousand places days in operation. Tourist arrivals in agri-touristic houses accounted for 490,000, of which 20,000 foreigners’ arrivals being by 188 % and, respectively, by 11.1 % higher than in 2005. As a conclusion, agri-tourism is a more and more attractive tourism type both for Romanians and  foreigners covering better and better tourists’ demand for accommodation, board and entertainment, for enjoying living in the country side and being close to nature at a more convenient service quality/price ratio compared to classical tourism.