ANT President’s Objectives Include Finding New Markets to Attract Tourists to Romania

Anca Pavel-Nedea, the president of the National Authority for Tourism (ANT), believes she needs a minimum of 3 years to turn the institution she leads into a „healthy organism,” so that when she hands over the baton, she does not leave behind „problems that have been lingering for a long time.”

One of the ANT president’s objectives is to find new markets to attract tourists to Romania; therefore, in January, she is leaving for Moscow, together with a delegation of representatives from local travel agencies, to try to convince the Russian side that this is an ideal place for Russian tourists. In this regard, she is collaborating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ease the bureaucracy related to visas.

Pavel-Nedea states that she adores Russian tourists because they are cheerful, noisy customers, they consume extra services, they like Romanian brands, and they are sentimental.

Asked whether or not a Ministry of Tourism is needed, the ANT president specified that „no one like me, who has worked in tourism since the age of 15, could ever tell you that Romania does not need a standalone ministry in this field. I have gone through all the positions and professions in this sector, which I have come to know very well, and that is why I am tired of being told that we no longer have a Ministry of Tourism because as long as the relevant industry produces only 2% of the GDP, it does not deserve to have its own ministry. I received this answer both after the change of government and before. But no one considers that the tourism industry generates healthy blood circulation in almost everything related to services: from cosmetics and furniture to vegetables and fruits. Romanian tourism would have greater weight if it had a ministry.”

Regarding the promotion of Romania on international channels, the ANT representative stated that in recent years, promotion in the international press was done through European funds; however, on December 31, 2015, all projects that allowed for the promotion of Romania were closed. The possibility for Romania to attract further funds in this regard until 2020 no longer exists. That is how the negotiations were conducted, so from now on, we can only rely on the state budget for promotion, Pavel-Nedea specified.

In 2015, 18 million RON were allocated from the state budget, in addition to European projects. For 2016, only 9 million RON were approved, which covers participation in all international fairs approved by the ministry. 

Anca Pavel-Nedea specified that ANT intends to request more money for promotion during the budget rectification in mid-2016.

Currently, ANT is holding discussions with Google to sign a partnership for their promotion platforms, and at the same time, it will also be promoted on YouTube.

In January, the ANT president, along with a delegation of Romanian tour operators, will travel to Russia with the support of the Moscow Tourism Association and the Romanian Embassy there. The ANT representative will meet with her Russian counterpart, while the Romanian tourism representatives will meet with Russian operators interested in Romania.

Regarding the simplification of visa procedures, Anca Pavel-Nedea specified that work is underway on an agreement in this regard between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, and tourism associations. She stated that a solution was initially discussed for Chinese tourists, through which travel agencies assume responsibility for the clients they bring to Romania. A similar approach will be taken for Russia. ANT hopes that by March, the situation will be unblocked not only for China but also for Russia.