(ANSA) - BELGRADE - Winter tourism is on the rise in the European Union, in particular in Central and Eastern-Europe but also in several Western Balkan countries.

The highest increases in the number of nights spent at hotels and similar accommodation in the winter season 2018-19 compared to the same period of 2017-18 were recorded in Romania (+8.6%), followed by Croatia (+7.4%) and Poland (+7.3%), according to new Eurostat data. A significant rise of winter tourism was recorded also in Montenegro (+20% approx.), in North Macedonia (around +9%) and in Serbia, Eurostat data show. Compared with the 2017-18 winter season, 18.9 million more nights (+2.6%) were spent in hotels and similar establishments in the EU during the 2018-19 winter season, Eurostat said.

The most popular EU destinations for tourists from all over the world travelling outside their own country of residence during the 2018-19 winter season were Spain (around 20% of all nights spent by non-residents in EU hotels and similar establishments), Italy and the United Kingdom (each 12%), Austria (10%), Germany and France (each 9%), the EU statistical office added. (ANSA).