Romania sees rapid rise in foreign tourist spending, surpassing €5 billion in 2025

Foreign tourist expenditures in Romania topped €5 billion in 2025, according to Eurostat data cited by Colliers. The figure represents a 2.8‑fold increase since 2016 and an average annual growth of about 12%, the fastest pace among EU member states. Although 2025 saw a modest dip of roughly 4% from the previous year, the trend rebounded in early 2026 with an over 8% rise in the first quarter compared with the same period in 2025.

Visitors from the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Italy accounted for roughly 40% of total spend, each contributing close to €2 billion. For the first time in 2025, American tourists became the top spenders with €554 million, slightly ahead of German travellers (€546 million) and British visitors (€518 million). "International leisure tourism has long been a secondary segment for Romanian hotel operators and investors, but this is changing rapidly," said Raluca Buciuc, Director and Partner of Valuation and Advisory Services at Colliers. She added that Romania is increasingly perceived as an accessible, less‑crowded destination, offering significant room for growth if infrastructure, especially hotel capacity, continues to expand.