Hoteliers on the coast are contesting a draft order from the Ministry of Education that shortens the 2017-2018 school year summer vacation by approximately one week compared to this year. Such a measure, hoteliers claim, would cancel the seaside vacations of over 125,000 low- and middle-income tourists.
The Romanian seaside is becoming more crowded year by year, and those occupying the hotels are, in a proportion of over 95%, domestic tourists. While in previous years hotels were only very crowded during the peak season weeks (July 15 – August 15), lately, low prices and warm weather have been attracting tourists to the sea in June and September as well.
Recently, warm weather and low prices have attracted an increasing number of tourists to the coast during the shoulder seasons. For this reason, hoteliers requested that children’s vacations start on June 1, not June 12, and end on October 1, not September 15. However, the order put forward by the Ministry of Education for the next school year stipulates exactly the opposite: the 2017-2018 school year will have 36 weeks of classes, with summer vacation from June 22 to September 11.
This year, summer vacation begins on June 17 and ends on September 10.
Rates in June and September are at least 50% lower than those in peak season, and Nicolae Bucovala, president of the Mamaia employers’ association, claims that 90% of all those who reach the sea during these periods are families with children.
“We can say that during the period by which the summer vacation is shortened this year, around 125,000 Romanians would have come to the sea—people who will no longer be able to reach the coast this summer because they will not be able to afford peak season rates and, moreover, will no longer find places in that extremely crowded interval,” stated Nicolae Bucovala.
At an average rate of 250 RON/day per room in mid-June and mid-September, hoteliers would have collected nearly 60 million EUR from tourists for accommodation plus breakfast alone. Now they must manage, next summer, without this money if the Ministry of Education’s project comes into force.
Given that the overwhelming majority of tourists visiting Romania are Romanians, the Mamaia patronage believes that such measures directly affect the industry.
Source: Profit
Frequently Asked Questions
How much will the summer vacation be shortened?
The proposed school calendar shortens the summer break by approximately one week compared to the previous year.
What is the estimated financial impact on the tourism industry?
Hoteliers estimate a loss of nearly 60 million EUR in revenue from accommodation and breakfast services.
Which group of tourists will be most affected?
Approximately 125,000 low- and middle-income tourists, primarily families with children, who typically travel during the more affordable shoulder seasons.