Last year, Romania ranked last in Europe in terms of the number of foreign tourists, the president of the National Association of Tourist Agencies (ANAT), Alin Burcea, told a press conference.
‘A painful truth is related to the analysis of incoming tourism (…) As a result of the latest statistics, we have managed to forcefully and doggedly occupy a well-deserved last place in Europe in the number of foreign tourists. We had in 2024 about 2.4 million foreign tourists. The promotional expenditure last year I think was EUR 4.4 million, but unfortunately, due to outdated legislation, which we and other employers have been asking for 20 years to change, the promotional money could not be spent, and let’s be honest it has been happening for at least 10 years. For reasons of outdated legislation we are not able to spend the promotion money and if I am not mistaken incoming tourism revenues are around 1.3 bn. EUR, said Burcea.
In his opinion, the basic problem in Romania is that tourism is not seen as a business.
He made comparisons with the number of foreign tourists arriving in Bulgaria, Greece and Albania, the latter the fastest-growing in Europe last year.
The president of ANAT added that although there is a law on the incoming premium of EUR 40 that agencies must receive for each tourist who stays at least 4 days in Romania, for two years now the agencies have not received any money.
Last but not least, he warned that agencies are selling very well holidays in Greece and Bulgaria, especially since January 1 since Romania has fully joined Schengen, although he would like to sell Romania as well.
The event is organized by ANAT, in partnership with the Association for the Promotion and Development of Tourism Prahova (APDT Prahova) and the Tourism Employers Organization Poiana Brasov. The route covers the main localities in the Prahova Valley and Brasov area, including Sinaia, Busteni, Predeal, Brasov, Poiana Brasov, Bran, Moieciu, Fundata, Azuga, Campina and Poiana Campina.