Tourism Alliance, a platform that brings together 24 professional, employer and associative organizations in the tourism field, firmly disapproves of the proposal formulated by an employers' federation in the tourism field regarding the introduction of a tax on holidays taken abroad by Romanian citizens.
Today, on World Tourism Day, a field built on trust and freedom of travel, we believe that the solutions for the development of Romanian tourism lie in increasing the quality of services offered, developing infrastructure and especially investing in promoting the image.
According to statistical data, in 2019, before the pandemic, tourism brought approximately 9 billion euros to Romania's GDP, a percentage that can and must increase if the above premises are met.
Outdated legislation that no longer takes into account the digital realities we live in, the practice of black or gray tourism, the lack of a National Destination Management Organization that can develop multi-annual projects with clear budgets, independent of political movements are all elements that hinder the development of Romanian tourism.
The unity of the tourism industry, proven through the two-year activity of the Tourism Alliance, is also a key factor for the cohesion of proposals and actions for the promotion and development of tourism.
In this whole context, the association of all organizations active in tourism with the proposal of a single federation is unfair and does not correspond to reality.
The Tourism Alliance will continue its work and dialogue with the authorities so that tourism truly becomes a national priority.
On behalf of the Tourism Alliance, the members of the Board of Directors:
- Alin Chipăilă, President of the Alliance for Tourism and Vice President of the Federation of Tourism Promotion Associations in Romania – FAPT
- Dumitru Luca, President of the National Association of Travel Agencies – ANAT
- Simona Constantinescu, President of the Romanian Hotel Industry Federation – FIHR
- Daniel Mischie, President of the Romanian Hotel and Restaurant Association – HORA
- Iuliana Tasie, Vice President of the Employers' Organization of Seaside Tourism in Romania – OPTBR
- Andrei Blumer, President of the Romanian Ecotourism Association – AER
- Simion Giurcă, Association for the Promotion of Timișoara
