OREANDA-NEWS.  February 19, 2014. As it was informed in the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2013, compared with 2012 the number of tourists and visitors participating in inbound and outbound tourism, has increased by 7.3% and 2.8%, respectively, while the number of domestic tourists decreased by 0.6%. 13.2 thousand of foreign tourists visited Moldova using tour agencies services.

Most tourists arrived to Moldova from Romania (17,5%), followed by Russia (12,2%), Ukraine (7,9%), Poland (6,3%), Germany (6,1%), Italy (4.5%), USA (4,4%), Turkey (4,2%), United Kingdom (3.8%), France (2,8%), Netherlands (2.6%), Austria (2,3%), Sweden (2.1%), Japan (2%), Montenegro and Bulgaria (1,9%), Switzerland (1,8%), Israel (1.1%). Approximately 48.2% of foreign tourists visited Moldova for recreation, 45,3% - with business purposes, 4.5% - for treatment and 1.9% for other purposes.

In 2013 157,6 thousand citizens of Moldova, or 7.3% more than in 2012 went abroad using tour agencies services. Over 97.9% of Moldovan citizens went abroad for recreation and entertainment. Most popular directions during this period were Turkey (36,6%), Bulgaria (33.5 %), Romania (9,0%), Ukraine (5,8%), Greece (5,4%), Egypt (1.6%) and the United Arab Emirates (1,2%). Domestic tourism has covered 34,2 thousand people, or 0.6% less than in 2012. A large part of excursions and tourist routes within the country was organized by tour operators and tour agencies of Chisinau (37,6%); as well as development regions "Centre" (30.3%) and South (24,5%).