In the Government meeting on February 24, the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Relations with the Business Environment, Costin Borc, presented a program for relaunching spa tourism in Romania, stating that the first spa resort to enter a pilot project will be Baile Herculane or Borsec.
Among the problems identified by Minister Borc are the lack of investment in spa resorts, the absence of an integrated strategy for this sector, the lack of specific qualified human resources, the impossibility of reimbursing medical services provided by spa treatment centers for foreign tourists, and poor infrastructure, as well as the lack of adequate promotion on foreign markets.
„I proposed in today’s Government meeting to develop a green national balneo-touristic cluster. It is a project that will last 3 years. Initially, we will launch a pilot project, a revitalized spa resort – either Baile Herculane or Borsec – to launch this project within three months,” stated Costin Borc.
The third proposal included in the note presented in the Executive meeting is the creation of a management organization.
He also said he proposed stimulating owners to modernize accommodation capacities and treatment centers, analyzing the possibility of transferring to local authorities a 50% share of the mining tax and concession fees currently paid to ANRM to invest this amount in rehabilitating spa infrastructure, granting facilities to owners of historical monument buildings in these resorts, and developing a training program for human resources involved in this spa field.
Source: Economica
Frequently Asked Questions
Which resorts are included in the pilot project?
The pilot project for revitalizing spa tourism will initially focus on either Baile Herculane or Borsec.
What are the main challenges facing Romanian spa tourism?
Key issues include a lack of investment, poor infrastructure, absence of an integrated strategy, and a shortage of qualified personnel.
What financial incentives are being proposed?
Proposals include allocating 50% of mining and concession taxes to local authorities for infrastructure and providing facilities for owners of historical monuments.