STUDY ON TRAVEL HABITS AND LEISURE ACTIVITIES IN THE LIGHT OF COVID-19 TRIGGERED CHANGES IN ROMANIA AND HUNGARY

Tourism is a widely known concept as it is part of our modern lifestyle that we opt for useful and quality free time that provides us with the opportunity to relax and boost our energy. Our research focused on travel habits and the leisure activities people undertake during their trips, relying on answers provided by respondents aged 18-55. Most of the respondents said that they quite like to go on recreational journeys /tourism trips, with the most popular activities being nature walks, hiking, visiting places of historic interest, and viewing architecture and buildings. A quintessential role during these trips is played by relaxation and recharge, as well as restoring capacity for work. The most popular destinations in descending order were domestic attractions, neighboring countries, and other countries in Europe. Covid-19 had a major impact on destination choice; the number of outbound trips decreased, and beside the lowering frequency of inbound trips their length also shortened. As traveling is a popular holiday activity, it is particularly important to pay due attention to tourists’ travel motivations, assess their needs and habits so that they can be provided with the best possible experiences during their trips, and can return well rested and with renewed vigor to face their everyday challenges.