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Tourism

Pandemic halved Transylvanian tourism

Transylvanian tourism dropped by 50 percent because of the COVID-19 pandemic this summer. The June-October period in 2020 showed a significant decrease in Szeklerland too, especially in Hargita (Harghita) County, compared to the same period of the previous year.

Transylvania tourism indicators
(Source: Erdélystat)

Based on monthly data, tourist traffic in Transylvania is typically the strongest in summertime. Erdélystat (Transylvanian statistical service) made a summary of the preliminary data reported by the county statistical offices that focus on the tourist season.

In Szeklerland, 97,407 tourist arrivals (51,639 in Hargita/Harghita County and 45,768 in Kovászna/Covasna County) and 308,174 nights spent (106,680 in Hargita and 201,494 in Kovászna) were registered in the summer season last year. This means a 50 percent decrease in the number of tourists and a decline of 52.9 percent in the number of nights spent, compared to the same period of 2019.

The decrease is especially significant in Hargita County (57.3% and 61.6%)

– highlights the Erdélystat summary.

Transylvanian tourism by city
(Source: Erdélystat)

The two Szekler counties represent 6.3 percent of tourist arrivals and 9.2 percent of nights spent in all of Transylvania, which is a slight decrease compared to previous years.

Furthermore, the accommodation capacity utilization also shows a downward trend in Szeklerland. While in the 2019 summer season, it was 40.8 percent, it was only 26.6 percent in 2020.

 

Title image: Tourist office in Szeklerland. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge effect on the tourism sector. (Photo: László Beliczay/szekelyhon.ro)

Author: Attila Szoó