BUCHAREST, Romania – The 1.7 million tourists who came to Romania last year spent about EUR 1 billion in the country, most of which was for accommodation, according to data from the National Statistics Institute.

The biggest groups were Germans – 228,000, Italians – 181,000 and French – 118,000.

Over half of the foreign tourists to Romania last year came for business, attending congresses, conferences, training, exhibitions.

They spend about 66 percent of the total – or some EUR 660 million. Only 42 percent of the tourists, or some 700,000 people came for private trips, and these people spent about 33 percent, or EUR 330 million in Romania last year.

Private trips include holidays, shopping, cultural events, visiting friends and relatives, getting medical treatment, religious visits, transiting Romania, according to the Statistics Institute.

Tourists who came for business left some EUR 58 million in Romania during their shopping sprees, half of which on food and beverages, and around a third on souvenirs – or some EUR 20 million. Foreigners spent some EUR 103 million in restaurants and bars, statistics reveal.

Tourists on private trips to Romania allotted more of their budget to shopping sprees, 14.6 percent of their total spending, or some EUR 46.8 million. They also left some EUR 45.2 million in restaurants and bars.

Most of the tourists flew to Romania – 74.4 percent, a third organized their trip via tourism agencies, and a third by themselves.