Over Christmas and New Year around 160 million Romanians took holidays away from home and spent over 50 million euros. "Around 40,000 Romanians chose to travel abroad, up 25% against the same time last year. 120,000 domestic travel packages were sold, which generated a 10-15% increase on last year," said Traian Badulescu, spokesman for the National Association of Travel Agencies (ANAT).

According to Badulescu, Romanians forked out around 400 euros / person on foreign packages, while customers paid around 300-350 euros / person for domestic offers. "Romanians who spent their holidays within the country will continue to outnumber those who travel abroad by far, but the increase in demand for holidays abroad is now more pronounced," says Radu Morariu, general manager of Eximtur travel agency. According to travel agency representatives, foreign offers for winter 2007-2008 included a 16,600-euro, 14-night package at a 6-star hotel in Mauritius, as well as 7-night packages starting from 145 euros per person.

(Ziarul Financiar, 09/01/2008)