A decline in the number of Romanian tourists and lower occupancy rates in accommodation facilities are putting pressure on SMEs in the HoReCa sector, transport and related services, affecting operators' cash flow and their ability to continue investing, representatives of IMM Romania said in a statement on Friday.

'Data for the first quarter of 2026 confirm a slowdown in tourism activity, with a direct impact on small and medium-sized enterprises in hospitality, transport, food services and related sectors,' the organisation said.

IMM Romania warned that these developments reflect a decline in domestic tourism consumption and increased pressure on operators' cash flow, particularly for SMEs reliant on seasonality and weekend tourism.

'The decline was mainly driven by a drop in the number of Romanian tourists, who still account for over 80% of total arrivals. In the first quarter of 2026, arrivals of Romanian tourists fell by 8.1%, while overnight stays dropped by 9.3%. This trend directly affects hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and local operators in mountain and spa resorts, where domestic demand remains the main economic driver,' the press release said.

By contrast, the segment of foreign tourists recorded positive growth, with arrivals up 5% and overnight stays rising by 3.6%, the organisation noted.

'Although these figures indicate potential for strengthening international tourism, the positive impact remains insufficient to offset the decline in the domestic market, particularly for SMEs not integrated into international tourism circuits or major distribution platforms,' the document added.

At the same time, the net occupancy rate of accommodation places fell to 20.8%, down 2.5 percentage points compared with last year.

'For tourism operators, this indicator signals reduced asset efficiency and additional pressure on fixed costs, amid rising operational expenses related to energy, labour and financing,' IMM Romania said.

From a business perspective, first-quarter results highlight the need for measures to support the competitiveness of the tourism sector, including stimulating domestic tourism, accelerating the digitalisation of HoReCa SMEs, more effective international promotion programmes and improved access to financing for modernising accommodation facilities and developing tourism and mobility infrastructure.

'The tourism sector remains strategic for the Romanian economy, with a direct impact on employment, regional development and SME activity. Entrepreneurs' ability to continue investing and sustaining jobs will depend in the coming period on economic stability, access to financing and a genuine partnership between authorities and the business environment,' said Florin Jianu, president of IMM Romania.

IMM Romania considers that the sector's performance in the first quarter of 2026 sends a signal of caution across the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem in HoReCa and related services, as the decline in Romanian tourist numbers and lower occupancy rates particularly affect SMEs, which have a limited capacity to absorb costs and rely heavily on domestic consumption. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Nicoleta Banciulea; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)