Analysis of Tourism Trends in the New EU Member States

The paper analyzed tourism development in the new 13 EU member states in the period 2009-2016 based on the official data, regarding: tourism offer (accommodation units and bed places), tourist demand (tourist arrivals, overnight stays), tourism intensity (overnight stays/capita and km(2)), tourism efficiency (receipts, expenditures and balance, receipts/inhabitant) and tourism contribution to GDP. Tourism dynamics and structural aspects were determined using the classical methods. In the new member states, tourism plays an important role in the economy, contributing by 6.5 % to GDP, compared to 0.8 % in the EU. Croatia, Cyprus and Malta have over 13% contribution to GDP, keeping the 1st positions in the EU. Tourist arrivals increased by 60.5%, and night stays by 55 % in the analyzed period. Poland, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania are the most visited countries. Tourism growth led to a positive balance (Euro million 21,389). In the future, the development of sustainable tourism will depend on the use of the competitive advantages, the creation of the "unique brands", the integration of the tourism strategy in the general strategy, co-operation, capital and labor mobility, innovation, and adaptation to climate change. In this way, the new EU countries could get a higher market share in the EU, Europe and world tourism.