Tourism Law to be submitted for review in a few weeks
Tourism Law to be submitted for review in a few weeks
Last autumn, Anca Pavel-Nedea, president of the National Authority for Tourism (ANT), stated that the Tourism Law would be approved by March 31. More than a month after this deadline, the ANT president stated that the Tourism Law is being finalized. “Because it is a law that keeps being born and yet is not born, I did not want to launch a law on the approval circuit only for the private sector to block it later because it was not sufficiently consulted. Unfortunately, the calendar was postponed until all associations designated their members,” specified Anca Pavel-Nedea.
Associations have designated members, and 11 working subcommittees were formed on various themes of the Tourism Law.
The ANT representative specified that the law is finalized and will be submitted to the relevant Ministry for verification in a few weeks.
The law brings important changes regarding the profession of guide in Romania, as well as regarding authorizations. Additionally, the new Law aims to strengthen ANT’s power regarding the construction and development of resorts. The new Law will also define the destination management organization.
For more than 4 years, the Integrated Tourist Evidence System (SIET), for which 500,000 EUR was paid during Elena Udrea’s mandate, exists but is completely missing. Additionally, it was also contested by hoteliers.
Pavel-Nedea specified that, together with other government structures, work has been done to strengthen the legislative aspect of the computer system for counting tourists and that it will soon be launched for approval.
The application and operation of this system involve collecting information regarding tourists registered in accommodation structures across the entire country.
ANT also wants to implement, together with the National Association for Rural, Ecological, and Cultural Tourism (ANTREC), a pilot project for the specific classification of guesthouses. For the beginning, this project is taking place in the Rucar-Bran area.
The participation of guesthouse owners in this pilot program is voluntary.
What are the main changes introduced by the new Tourism Law?
The law introduces significant updates to the tourist guide profession, authorization processes, and strengthens the National Authority for Tourism’s (ANT) role in resort development and Destination Management Organizations (DMOs).
What is the status of the SIET tourist tracking system?
The Integrated Tourist Evidence System (SIET), previously non-functional despite significant investment, is being legislatively reinforced and will soon be launched for approval to monitor national accommodation data.
What does the Rucar-Bran pilot project involve?
It is a voluntary program launched by ANT and ANTREC specifically for the classification of rural guesthouses, aimed at standardizing quality in the Rucar-Bran region.
