Bucharest is one of Europe’s growing destinations but makes little money from tourism

Romania’s capital Bucharest has been one of the most dynamic big cities in Europe for number of foreign tourists but international visitors don't spend too much in the city, an international study shows. Bucharest ranks 8th in Europe for the average annual growth in the number of international tourists visiting the city between 2009 and 2016 with a 7.1% increase, according to the recent Global Destinations Cities Index 2016 survey by Mastercard. Some 1.05 million foreign tourists are expected to visit Bucharest this year. Bucharest thus ranks 81th in the global ranking of the most popular destinations for international visitors. Prague is the highest-ranked city in Eastern Europe (20th), with 5.81 million visitors estimated this year. Budapest comes next (40th in the overall ranking), with 3.36 million foreign tourists, Moscow is 59th, with 1.83 million tourists, and Warsaw is 72nd, with 1.37 million tourists. Bulgaria’s capital Sofia is 84th, with 1.01 million international visitors. However, Bucharest is last in terms of money spent by foreign tourists in the city. The 1.05 million international visitors expected in Bucharest this year may spend some USD 310 million, some 30% less than the tourists who will visit Sofia (USD 440 million). This means that the foreign tourists spend on average less than USD 300 in Bucharest, compared to over USD 430 in Sofia. Tourists who visit Warsaw will spend USD 510 million, or some USD 370 per person. Budapest will make USD 950 million from its foreign visitors, or an average USD 280 per person, and Prague will gain some USD 2.7 billion, which stands for over USD 460 per visitor. According to the study, Bangkok is most visited city at global level, with over 21.4 million visitors this year. London ranks second, with 19.88 million tourists, after ranking first five times in the last seven years. Paris is third, with over 18 million, Dubai is fourth, with 15.27 million, and New York is fifth, with 12.75 million tourists. However, Dubai is first in terms of money spent by international tourists in the city, with USD 31.3 billion. This means that each foreign tourist who visits Dubai spends about USD 2,050 in the city. London is second in terms of money spent, with USD 19.76 billion, followed by New York, with USD 18.52 billion, according to Mastercard. The full study is available here. Foreign tourists spend EUR 615 mln in Romania in six months. Who gets most of their money? editor@romania-insider.com