Online Travel Agencies in Romania

• Author: Baltescu C.A.
• Position: Transilvania University of Brasov
• Pages: 43-48

Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Braşov

Series V: Economic Sciences • Vol. 12 (61) No. 2 – 2019

https://doi.org/10.31926/but.es.2019.12.61.2.6

ONLINE TRAVEL AGENCIES IN ROMANIA

Codruţa A. BĂLTESCU1

Abstract: Today’s habit to purchase online is a general and powerful trend,

with great expectations for further development in the future. For all

companies, especially tourism companies, the challenges are numerous. The

article analyses the typology of Romanian online travel agencies, their

geographical distribution and also, highlights the most trusted and best-

known Romanian online travel agencies. In Romania, the online travel

agencies represent 10.5% of the total number of intermediaries in the

tourism distribution system, Bucharest being the city where the majority of

Romanian online travel agencies were licensed.

Key words: online travel agencies (OTAs), e-commerce, O2O commerce,

Romania.

1. Introduction

Internet extension in day-to-day life has decisively affected tourism distribution

systems. Face-to-face discussions with a travel agent have been replaced with online

search for information. Tourism bookings and purchases have been replaced by e-

commerce developed through new types of travel agencies, i.e. online travel agencies

(OTA). This article aims to identify how many online travel agencies are in function in

Romania, their geographical distribution, and also which are the best-known Romanian

OTAs.

2. Theoretical background

The information technologies' development allow companies to gain important

advantages and improve performance through new and innovative ways to

communicate, promote, and distribute their products and services (Silva and Gonçalves,

2016, p.5512). The tourism distribution sector has tremendous benefits but, at the same

time, important and rapid changes to overcome.

One of the most relevant results of Internet expansion in the tourism distribution was

the formation of a new type of travel agencies, i.e. the online travel agency (OTA). The

online travel agencies collect information from the traveller, information being further

1 Transilvania University of Braşov, codruta.baltescu@unitbv.ro