Holiday vouchers granted to public sector employees, although beneficial for tourism, have led to more expensive accommodation on the Romanian seaside because demand has increased, thus putting pressure on prices during peak season, stated Dragoș Anastasiu, leader of the Tourism Working Group within the Coalition for Romania’s Development and owner of the Eurolines company.
Another negative effect of the vouchers is that hoteliers, having full rooms in July and August, no longer have available spots for foreign tourists during peak season; the latter are forced, though not necessarily convinced, to visit only during the colder months.
Accommodation rates are determined by the supply/demand ratio, and the increase in vacation costs is a consequence of high demand following the introduction of vouchers, stated Călin Ile, president of the Federation of the Romanian Hotel Industry (FIHR).
Holiday vouchers have increased demand from the local segment; the market grew by 7% last year, but the problem is that these vouchers were concentrated only in peak season and, working within a dynamic pricing context, rates increased in July-August, but no increase was observed in May and September, Ile specified.
Source: Profit
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did prices increase on the Romanian seaside?
Prices increased due to high demand generated by holiday vouchers granted to public employees, particularly during peak season months.
How are foreign tourists affected by these vouchers?
Because hotels are fully booked in July and August, foreign tourists can no longer find available spots and are redirected to the cooler months.
Did rates increase throughout the entire year?
No, the rate hikes were concentrated only in July and August, while prices remained constant in May and September.