Romanian Tourism Still In Crisis - Industry

05.25.2011 By Bostan Radu

Romania's tourism sector has not recovered from the crisis and the number of tourists who stayed in local hotels was 20% lower in the first three months, compared to the same period last year, said hotel and tour agency representatives in a conference on Wednesday.

Romanian hotels put up 20% fewer tourists in the first quarter of this year, compared to the first quarter of 2010, said Radu Enache, owner of the Continental hotel chain and the new chairman of the Romanian Hotel Industry Federation (FIHR). He added the sector is continuing its decline.

Corina Martin, head of the National Tour Agency Association (ANAT), said estimates show internal demand for foreign holidays has grown by 20%, while demand for holidays in Romania has shrunk by 20%. She blames the lack of infrastructure and promotion for this state of affairs.

Enache explained that hotel operators are over-burdened by taxes, which block investments and operations. He also complained about the lack of promotion for the tourism sector.

Martin said ANAT has asked the Tourism Ministry to allow a body set up through a public-private partnership to be in charge of tourism promotion, and to transfer responsibility for hotel licensing and classification to local authorities.

George Turna, co-owner of Bucharest's Ambasador hotel, said the sector's main problem is the lack of consistency and perspective, as the tourism ministries have changed their priorities under various administrations.

ANAT and FIHR representatives said they are discussing uniting the tourism employers' organizations into a country-wide federation.