ASPECTS REFLECTED IN STATISTICAL DATA RELATING TO THE BEHAVIOR OF ROMANIAN TOURISTS DURING THE PERIOD 2018-2024 (BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC)

The purpose of the paper is to analyze several aspects regarding the behavior of Romanian resident tourists during the period 2018-2024 (before, during and after the Covid-19 pandemic), based on available national statistical data. The relatively recent Covid-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the entire global economy, and the tourism sector has been one of the most affected areas both worldwide and in Romania. I have chosen several aspects to analyze that are relevant to the behavior of Romanian tourists. These aspects are reflected in the statistical indicators. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the behavior of Romanian tourists in several ways, but not completely. The weakest two years for tourism during the Covid-19 pandemic were 2020 and 2021; and the year 2020 was the worst year. In response to the restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Romanians’ reactions were to travel less and to stay overnight less; and these behaviors are very clearly reflected in the statistical data. Mountain trips were preferred even during the pandemic. In the years 2023 and 2024, Romanian tourism has recovered. The levels in 2023 and 2024 for all the statistical indicators analyzed are above the levels of the pandemic period. Moreover, the years 2023 and 2024 are better years for Romanian tourism than the years 2018-2019, before the pandemic. Romanian residents traveled more in 2023 and 2024 than in 2018 and 2019, and the proportion of trips abroad has increased compared to the pre-pandemic years.