BRIEF OVERVIEW OF TOURISM IN THE E.U.

Adrian Liviu SCUTARIUAssistant PhD. Student

“Ştefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, RomaniaFaculty of Economics and Public Administration

livius@seap.usv.ro

PRESENTATION CONTENT

1. SHORT INCURSION IN THE E.U. TOURISM

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF TOURISM IN ROMANIA, POLAND AND SLOVAKIA

3. CONCLUSIONS

1. SHORT INCURSION IN THE E.U. TOURISM

• This is a short general analysis of tourism in the E.U. countries, underlining the general tendencies of tourism of the E.U. member countries during the period between 2000-2006.

• Europe remains one of the major travel destinations in the world, and 6 of the E.U. member countries find themselves among the first 10 destinations for the travel agencies, and as a consequence, the tourism industry has an important role in the economy.

• Along its economic potential, and that of creating new work places, tourism can have a significant role in the development of regions and counter the effects of the industrial or rural decline.

• The general tendency of tourism was that of rapid growth in the last part of the past century, and between 2001 and 2003, as a consequence of the economic regression, terrorist threats, epidemics and natural disasters, the demand had decreased

• After this period, low-cost companies had flourished, and tourism experienced a revival.

The E.U. countries which attract the most tourists are Spain, Italy, France, Great Britain, Austria, Germany

and Greece.

Figure no.1 E.U. tourism destinations 2006 (1 000 nights spent

in the country by non-residents) Source: Eurostat

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• In regard to the countries which give the largest number of international tourists in the E.U., these are Germany and Great Britain, followed at a considerable distance by France, Holland and Italy. These numbers greatly depend on the living standard, with which they are in close relationship.

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Figure no.2 Country of origin for outbound holidays, 2006 (1 000 nights spent abroad)

(1) 2005; (2) Not available; (3) 2004.Source: Eurostat

• It can be observed that the tendency in the E.U. is that of growth concerning the number of units of accommodations of small dimensions, simultaneously with the decrease of the number of those with larger dimensions.

• It is interesting to notice that in what concerns the movement of tourists at the E.U. level, the share of non-residents surpasses 50% of the total.

• We can see the tendency in growth of the number of overnight stays, with a small decrease between 2002 and 2003 which has

been previously mentioned.

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1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Non-residents

Residents

Figure no. 3 Number of tourism nights spent in hotels and similar establishments and other collective accommodation establishments, EU-27 (millions) Source: Eurostat

• The intensity of tourism can be measured in the light of the number of nights spent by tourists in relation to the host country’s population.Given the different size of these countries, it is relevant the overnight stays/inhabitant indicator.

• The average of the E.U. 27 of 4,7 overnight stays. • Cyprus, Malta and Austria are on the first places, while Poland,

Romania and Lithuania are situated on the last places of the E.U. 27 countries rank (figure no.4).

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Figure no. 4 Tourism intensity, 2006 (ratio of nights spent by residents and non-residents in hotels and similar establishments and other collective accommodation establishments per inhabitant) (1) = 2005; Source: Eurostat

• The countries for which foreign tourists have a significant importance are Malta, Cyprus and Luxembourg, where it surpasses 90% of a total of overnight stays (figure no.5).

Figure no. 5 Nights spent by non-residents in hotels and similar establishments and other collective accommodation, 2006

(% share of nights spent by residents and non-residents)(1) 2005Source: Eurostat

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• The situation of incomes and international expenditures in tourism, expressed as a percentage of the GDP is represented below, where the same 3 countries are placed at the top of the ranking. It is interesting the presence of Bulgaria on the forth place. In this rank, Germany, Finland and Romania are situated on the last places.

Figure no. 6 Tourism incomes and expenditures, 2006 (1) (% of GDP)(1) Previsional, except Croatia, Turkey and Norway.(2) Extra-EU-27. (3) Extra euro area. (4) 2005 instead of 2006.Source: Eurostat

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A

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International tourism incomes International tourism expenditures

2. CHARACTERISTICS OF TOURISM IN ROMANIA, POLAND AND SLOVAKIA

• This part aims at drawing a comparison between the evolution of tourism in Romania, which has adhered to the E.U. in 2007, and two of the countries which have adhered in 2004, namely Poland and Slovakia, in order to observe the manifested tendencies and the experiences which have been recorded, and if these are similar in Romania as well, during the years after the adheration.

• In respect to Poland and Slovakia, we consider our choice as being motivated by the fact that the two countries, as well as Romania, had a somewhat similar past (former communist countries under the sphere of influence of the U.S.S.R.), and this is why, a path if not identical after 1990, at least having the same objectives, although it would seem that for Romania, the way to a new organization was longer.

• Romania is an emerging market for tourism, as well as a country of origin, and as a destination. The accommodation capacity has increased with approximately 8,5 % annually. In 2006, the medium size for an accommodation unit was of 55 places (in comparison with 79 in 2000), and in respect to the demand, in 2006, 19 million of overnight stays were registered.

• The main countries providing tourists are Germany, Italy and France.

• Tourism balance is equilibrated, the incomes brought in by tourism being close in value to the sums spent by Romanians on tourism.

• Poland is also an emerging market for tourism. The number of hotels and the number of accommodation places has increased constantly after 2000, with annual average growths of approximately 8,0%, respectively 6,8%, and the medium number for accommodation places per unit has reached from 83 in 2000, to a number of 77 in 2006.

• The residents’ overnight stays represented approximately 79% of the total, with a slight tendency of decreasing. The non-residents’ overnight stays have grown from 6,9 million in 2000, to 10,6 million in 2006, an annual growth being registered of approximately 8,9%. The main countries providing tourists are Germany, the U.K. and U.S.A. The total proportion of overnight stays/inhabitant was of 1,3 in 2006.

• The number of the Polish’ travels in the country decreased in 2005 (-11,9%), increasing with 7,1% in 2006, yet, the number of travels abroad increased with 13,1%. The latter had as destinations especially Germany, Italy and the U.K.

• The balance of tourism is positive, the income being with 170 million Euros higher than the expenditures.

• Slovakia is, in its turn, an emerging market for tourism, as well as a country of origin and as a destination. The number of hotels increased with an annual average of 8,0%, from 582 in 2000, to 992 in 2006. In addition, the number of inhabitants has also increased from 43763 in 2000, to 57985 in 2006, with an annual growth average of 4,8%. As a consequence, the average number of places/unity decreased from 75 in 2000, to 63 in 2006, the tendency being of evolving towards units with a smaller number of places.

• The number of overnight stays decreased between 2003 and 2005, and in 2006, it increased. The residents’ overnight stays amounted to approximately 54% of the total, with a tendency of decrease, simultaneous with the growth of the number of non-residents’ overnight stays to 46% (annual average growth of 5,3%).

• The main countries of origin of tourists who visit Slovakia are the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland. At the level of internal tourism, the share of overnight stays/inhabitant was of 2,0 in 2006.

• In 2006, the Slovaks made 6,4 million travels, with a slight increase, from which 61,3% in the country. The main countries of destination were the Czech Republic, Greece and Italy.

• The balance of tourism is positive, the income being with 368 million Euros higher than the expenditures in 2006.

• In the next table several general aspects of economy and tourism in the four countries are presented. Regarding the GDP/inhabitant Romania is far behind Poland and Slovakia. Nevertheless, the rate of the GDP growth is higher in Romania, thus existing the possibility of reducing the gap. In what tourism is concerned, the number of overnight stays/inhabitant is the lowest in Romania, the same with the income from tourism.

Table no. 1 People and the economy 2006

Country Population

(thousands)

Stayings over night /

inhabitant

GDP (mil.

Euro)

GDP average annual growth

rate 2000/2006 (%)

GDP/inhabitant (Euro)

Tourism expenditures (mil.

Euro)

Tourism

receipts (mil. Euro)

Tourism employment rate

from total (%)

RO 21 610 0,9 97 718 15,89 4522 1 034 1 033 0,38

PL 38 157 1,3 271 530

6,54 7116 4 574 5 744 0,52

SK 5 389 2,0 44 571 12,47 8271 842 1210 1,09

Source: Eurostat

• Romania has a well sized touristic capacity, but the occupancy rate is lower than in the other three countries. On the one hand it is possible that this capacity might be slightly oversized, and on the other hand, there are a series of inconveniences (such as the poor quality of services) which lead to a low vacancy of

the accommodation units. Table no. 2 Tourism supply

Country

Number of establishments

Number of bed places Occupancy rate of bed places (%) annual average

RO PL SK RO PL SK RO PL SK

2000 2533 1449 582 199333 120280 43 763 21,9 32,6 35,1

2004 3301 2139 873 207810 165311 56 296 NA 30,6 32,7

2005 3608 2200 885 216499 169609 57 071 NA 32,8 32,8

2006 4125 2301 922 226383 178056 57 985 21,6 33,6 33,3Source: Eurostat

• As previously seen, in Slovakia almost half of the tourists are foreigners, while in Poland over 20%, and in Romania under 20%. One notices a growth in the share of foreign tourists in relation to the total number of tourists in these three countries.

Table no. 3 Characteristics of tourism demand

Country

Nights spent in collective accommodation -Total

(thousands)

By residents (thousands, %)

Non-residents (thousands, %)

RO PL SK RO PL SK RO PL SK

2000 17 646 48 794 10 464 15 497 (87,8)

41 903 (85,9)

6 760 (64,6)

2 149 (12,2)

6 891 (14,1)

3704 (35,4)

2005 NA 48 618 10 621 NA 38 076 (78,3)

5820 (54,8)

NA 10 542 (21,7)

4801 (45,2)

2006 18 992 51 235 11 011 15750(82,9)

40 680(79,4)

5953(54,1)

3242(17,1)

10 555(20,6)

5 058(45,9)

Source: Eurostat

• The foreign tourists’ fluxes in Romania maintain themselves at low levels. Although until now even in Poland the tourists’ fluxes were generated especially by internal tourism, international tourism has become more and more significant in the last years.

From this short analysis made in the light of the available indicators, one can observe that tourism in Romania is far behind the two countries with which we had drawn the comparison. It is surprising that Slovakia draws more incomes from tourism than Romania, being a country with a smaller surface, but having a higher intensity of tourist activity per inhabitant. One cannot say that these two countries are touristic areas by excellence, yet there are tendencies of growth in respect to the tourist activity.

3. CONCLUSIONS

• This comparative study reveals the fact that the in the E.U. are big differences regarding the tourist activity.

• From the foreign tourists number point of view, Slovakia have approximately 30% of total tourists and in Romania and Poland around 20%.

• Poland, Slovakia and Romania should learn from the E.U. experience in attracting more foreign tourists (especially from the E.U.) and to better organize the tourist services and advertising. However, one must be aware of the fact that the tourist activity in these three countries will never attain the level that the tourist destinations par excellence have.

Thank you for your attention!