Accommodation in Romanian spa resorts could become several times more expensive, and spa tourism could be destroyed if the royalty system for mineral, petroleum, and hydromineral resource concessions is approved in the form currently presented for public debate on the Ministry of Economy’s website, stated the president of the Employer’s Organization of Spa Tourism in Romania (OPTBR), Nicu Radulescu.
Operators would have to pay a royalty of 1 EUR per cubic meter of extracted geothermal water, 2 EUR per cubic meter for therapeutic waters, 3 EUR per cubic meter for medicinal water, while the royalty for natural mineral water and spring and table water would be 4 EUR/m³, according to the draft law for regulating the royalty system for mineral, petroleum, and hydromineral resource concessions, currently under public debate on the Ministry of Economy’s website.
Nicu Radulescu hopes these values will be modified following consultations with authorities, as the use of geothermal waters will become unprofitable.
„An investor from Baile Herculane calculated that they would pay 230 times more in water royalties than they pay now. Once approved, the decision would render spa tourism derisory; it would be completely destroyed. We will be left with closed hotels,” Nicu Radulescu specified.
He emphasizes that prices in spa resorts have remained unchanged for several years, and spa tourism is the fastest-growing tourism industry. In the last 3 years, spa tourism has grown by an average of 20%.
In turn, Florian Serac, general manager of the Turism Felix company, says that under the new version, he would pay royalties 233 times higher than he currently pays. „I would pay 6.5 million EUR/year, which is the entire profit I make in Baile Felix in 5 years,” Serac stated.
Source: Profit
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the proposed royalty rates for water resources in Romania?
The draft law proposes royalties ranging from 1 EUR/m³ for geothermal water to 4 EUR/m³ for natural mineral and spring water.
How much could spa resort rates increase?
Industry representatives warn that accommodation prices could increase several times over, as some operators face royalty costs 230 times higher than current levels.
What is the current state of the Romanian spa tourism market?
Spa tourism is currently the fastest-growing segment in Romania’s tourism industry, with an average annual growth of 20% over the last three years.