MAT Represents Romania at the European Tourism Forum in Prague
The Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism represented Romania at this year’s edition of the European Tourism Forum (ETF), an event organized between November 15-16 in Prague, on the sidelines of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The delegation, consisting of specialists from the institution, was led by State Secretary Tudorița Lungu.
The Forum brings together public authorities from EU countries responsible for tourism, representatives of the industry and tourist destinations, international tourism organizations, and EU institutions, as well as chairpersons of national tourism boards.
State Secretary Tudorița Lungu had a meeting with Mrs. Daniela Grabmüllerová, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Regional Development of the Czech Republic, which aimed at the mutual promotion of tourist destinations. The Romanian official emphasized that Romania has a rich offer regarding active and adventure tourism and highlighted traditional villages and exceptional gastronomy, which are highly appreciated by Czech tourists.
The European Tourism Forum is one of the most important annual events in the European Union on the topic of tourism, being organized by the country holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union. This year’s edition includes four sessions: “The Package Travel Directive – lessons learned from the pandemic”, “The Short-Term Rental Initiative”, “The Transition Pathway for Tourism”, and “Tourism Trends”.
The first session, “The Package Travel Directive – lessons learned from the pandemic”, focused on the application of the directive to date, especially regarding the issues encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic, safeguarding mechanisms, as well as possible amendments to the directive.
The second session, “The Regulation on Short-Term Rentals”, focused on the regulation proposal that the European Commission intends to publish this autumn. The session also included the views of professional associations in the context of creating an appropriate regulatory framework for short-term rentals.
“The Transition Pathway for Tourism” represented the third discussion topic. Tourism is the first industrial ecosystem for which a transition pathway has been created, and the session provided the opportunity to analyze practical examples for the implementation of the route.
The last session was dedicated to tourism trends, not just in marketing. In this regard, practical examples were highlighted on how tourism can develop in a sustainable way, especially by taking advantage of the benefits of digitalization or the green quality of tourism services.
Among the participants in the event, with physical or online presence, were Ivan Bartoš, Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalization and Minister of Regional Development of the Czech Republic, Alessandra Priante, Regional Director for Europe of the UNWTO, István Ujhelyi, Vice-Chair of the TRAN Committee of the European Parliament, Robert Mathiak, and Amaryllis Verhoeven, European Commission.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the main purpose of Romania’s participation in the ETF?
Romania participated to discuss EU tourism policies, promote national destinations to Czech tourists, and collaborate on regulatory frameworks like the Package Travel Directive and short-term rentals.
Who led the Romanian delegation in Prague?
The delegation was led by Tudorița Lungu, State Secretary within the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism.
What specific tourism sectors did Romania highlight?
Romania emphasized active and adventure tourism, traditional villages, and its exceptional gastronomy as key attractions for international visitors.