The number of Moldovan tourists vacationing in Romania during the Old Calendar holidays has decreased by 25-30%, according to the Federation of Tourism Promotion Associations (FAPT) and the Tourism Promotion Federation of Moldova, with causes including the crisis in the neighboring country and the lack of promotion for Romanian destinations.
FAPT estimates that between December 1, 2015, and January 10, 2016, approximately 11,000-12,000 Moldovan tourists visited mountain resorts in Romania.
The top three positions in a ranking of preferred destinations for Moldovan tourists include the Romanian resorts of Poiana Brașov, Predeal, and Sinaia, followed by destinations such as Bansko (Bulgaria), Vienna (Austria), Cortina D’Ampezzo (Italy), and a return in demand for Bukovel (Ukraine) is noted, due to low prices and offers promoted in the Republic of Moldova.
According to the cited source, the causes of this consistent decrease regarding vacations in Romania are related to the deepening political and economic crisis in Moldova, the liberalization of travel for Moldovan citizens, but especially the absence of promoting Romania as a destination in Moldova.
FAPT President Corina Martin stated that the National Tourism Authority has not run a promotion campaign in the Republic of Moldova for several years.
In turn, the President of the Tourism Promotion Federation of Moldova, Alexandru Filipschi, believes that the absence of promoting Romanian destinations on the Moldovan market led to an approximately 30% decrease in the number of Moldovan tourists in Romania’s mountain areas.
“Over the last three years, we have repeatedly requested the public authorities coordinating tourism in Romania to get involved in promoting Romanian destinations within the Republic of Moldova, as other states have been doing for years. The absence of promoting Romanian destinations on the Moldovan market, in the current political context, has led to a drastic decrease in the number of Moldovan tourists in the Romanian mountain area,” stated Alexandru Filipschi.
He considers that another problem related to the decrease in the number of Moldovan tourists in Romania refers to the long waiting times at customs, which can reach up to 6 hours.
Source: Economica
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the number of Moldovan tourists in Romania decrease?
The decline is attributed to the political and economic crisis in Moldova, the lack of tourism promotion by Romanian authorities, and long wait times at the border.
Which are the most popular Romanian resorts for Moldovan tourists?
The top preferred Romanian destinations are Poiana Brașov, Predeal, and Sinaia.
How many Moldovan tourists visited Romania during the 2015-2016 winter season?
FAPT estimates that approximately 11,000 to 12,000 Moldovan tourists visited Romanian mountain resorts between December 1, 2015, and January 10, 2016.