Services in Romania

The service sector in Romania is vast and multifaceted, employing some three quarters of Romanians and accounting for two thirds of GDP.

In recent years the rise of big-box stores, such as Cora (hypermarket) (of the France) and Carrefour (a subsidiary of the French), have led to fewer workers in this sector and a migration of retail jobs to the suburbs.

Tourism is of ever increasing importance, with the vast majority of international visitors coming from the EU, though the recent strength of the Romanian leu has damaged this sector.

In 2006 Romania registered 20 million overnight stays by international tourists, 4% higher than in the previous year and an all-time record.

Two-thirds of all major trade fairs from Central Europe are held in Romania, and each year they attract 2 to 3 million business travelers, about 20% of whom are foreigners.

Over the years, Romania has emerged as a popular tourist destination for many Europeans, often competing with Greece, Italy and Spain.

Romania has a highly developed tourism infrastructure, making it a good market for tourism-related equipment and services.