Former head of the tourism representative office in New York takes over the leadership of Paralela 45’s incoming department
Simion Alb, the former head of the tourism representative office in New York—regarded by the industry, alongside his former counterpart in Vienna, Simion Giurca, as the most valuable specialist in promoting Romanian tourism—left the Ministry of Tourism at the end of last year and has taken over the leadership of the incoming department at the Paralela 45 agency.
After Mircea Dobre closed all of Romania’s external promotion offices last year, Simion Alb returned to the country and, despite being guaranteed a position within the ministry, left the institution.
With incoming sales of only EUR 1 million, Paralela 45 aims to develop this department in the coming years. Burcea stated that Simion Alb is preparing the launch of a website for the external market, through which foreign tourists can also purchase vacations in Romania.
Paralela 45’s strategy for incoming tourism is to attract new partners and clients from abroad, rather than trying to establish collaborative links with tour operators who already have partners in Romania, Burcea specified.
In 2017, Paralela 45 recorded sales of EUR 50 million, an increase of 25% compared to the previous year, due to the growing demand for circuits and stays abroad and in Romania, as well as the opening of new branches in Bucharest and across the country.
The largest increases last year were recorded for circuits, at 35%, followed by individual tourism with a 23% increase; vacations with charter flights from Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iasi, Timisoara saw an 18% increase.
The Greek islands, as well as Spain, Turkey, and Cyprus, followed by Portugal and Croatia, were the most sought-after destinations.
For this year, the agency estimates a 20% increase in sales generated by new destinations with offered charter flights, established destinations, new circuits, and a 45% increase in domestic tourism, driven by holiday vouchers.
Source: Profit
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Simion Alb and what is his new role?
Simion Alb is a renowned tourism promotion specialist and former head of Romania’s tourism office in New York. He has recently been appointed to lead the incoming department at Paralela 45.
What is Paralela 45’s strategy for the incoming tourism sector?
The agency aims to grow its incoming department by attracting new international partners and clients and launching a dedicated booking website for foreign tourists.
How did Paralela 45 perform financially in 2017?
Paralela 45 recorded sales of EUR 50 million in 2017, representing a 25% increase from the previous year, driven by high demand for circuits and charter flights.