SOS Romanian Tourism (Solutions for Organizing and Supporting Romanian Tourism)
A project initiated by the action group APT – Alliance for Tourism
A project to double tourism's contribution to GDP in 4 years
To: the tens of thousands of tourism entrepreneurs in Romania
the hundreds of thousands of employees in the tourism sector in Romania
the millions of Romanian tourists who usually travel to Romania
thousands of politicians, senior civil servants and members of the Romanian Government
Today, world tourism is going through an unprecedented crisis, with an impact that will radically change the way this industry will look from now on. All international and national specialists are making predictions, evolution scenarios, analyzing using various models the intensity with which each national economy will be affected and how the recovery of each is estimated to be, but also in the European and global as a whole.
Romania is part of this whole and we have a duty to think and act already for the future, even if at this moment we are still focused on ensuring medical safety and limiting the loss of life. But we all know that the national economy must continue to function, tourism being a strategic economic branch and a priority of Romania for over two decades.
Without a doubt, it has not yet managed to be the branch of the economy that supports an entire country, although it could have become so in 30 years, but it is a branch that engages at least six other economic areas, some of which are up to 30% dependent on the HORECA market.
Tourism is not only a vacation at the sea or in the mountains, but it is a complex industry that directly and indirectly generates over six hundred thousand jobs. But it is also the field that ensures the recovery of the workforce in the entire economy, which ensures the satisfaction and state of normality of millions of people who travel, who go to restaurants, amusement parks, museums, seaside, mountain, relaxation or spa resorts. Hotel services, restaurants and travel represent extremely important needs that people cannot simply abandon.
The hospitality industry is an area where the rules and how it operates will undoubtedly need to be rethought on a global scale, but it certainly cannot be ignored. We are aware that the shape this industry will take will be different, much changed. Nothing will be the same again.
In order not to miss another train, in the long line of those that have passed by without stopping here, we must start working hard now to build the future. These disruptive times can also bring opportunities.
Today, all players in world tourism are at the same level, unfortunately the level is zero. Can we also see this as an opportunity, as a chance to make a new start, an opportunity to reposition ourselves, so as to change the way Romania is seen in European and global tourism? We believe that YES, but these things don't happen overnight.
To make this change, a joint effort is needed, a collection of good ideas, innovative ideas, arguments for these ideas, and intense work of information, evaluation, selection, analysis, comparisons, and prioritization.
However, there is still a value that Romanian tourism has and with which we can begin to rebuild the field. We have a very active domestic market, with most Romanians choosing to spend their holidays in the country. Many other nations are currently making efforts to convince their citizens to stop planning their holidays abroad and to stay in their countries.
We can start by assuring Romanians that we are ready to welcome them as soon as medical safety allows, strictly respecting the new rules that will certainly be implemented. We can urge Romanians to continue, at least for the next two years, to opt for holidays in Romania. We undertake to fully adapt to the new rigors and ensure the satisfaction of each guest.
Alliance for Tourism (APT) represents an informal open and voluntarily established structure. Up to now, 18 important Romanian tourism organizations have joined this attitude and initiative group., many other organizations and experts expressing their interest, APT being the expression of the unity, will and determination of the entire hospitality industry in the face of these great threats and challenges that Romanian tourism must face. And it could emerge strengthened and reinvented from this difficult ordeal. SOS Romanian Tourism is a first project of this Alliance and represents a unitary, coordinated and focused approach THE FUTURE OF ROMANIAN TOURISM, an approach made with one strong voice of the entire guild. It is a project intended to demonstrate the importance of this economic field and to bring proposals for the relaunch of this industry. What the economy and our lives will be like after the medical crisis we are going through depends primarily on us. On each of us. By initiating this project and through the communication tools we will use, we want to collect as many proposals as possible regarding the support and revival of Romanian tourism. Follow the evolution, we invite you to participate in the collection of information, by completing your proposals in the form on the page Fihri: https://www.fihr.ro/campanii/
Over 70 tourism specialists joined this project, working in 10 working groups led by well-known people in the industry and dedicated to the field:
- Sustainable tourism – Andrei Blumer, AER
- Innovation, digitalization, debureaucratization – Gabriel Iovu, expert in HORECA IT solutions
- Labor force – Daniel Mischie, HORA
- Promotion – Simion Alb, promotion expert
- Investments in tourism – Mamaia-Constanța Employers' Organization – Anca Pavel Nedea
- Increasing administrative capacity – Paul Mărășoiu, FIHR
- Hotels and accommodation units – Iuliana Tasie OPTBR & FIHR
- Restaurants, event centers and entertainment venues – Octav Dura, HORA
- Travel agencies and related services – Dumitru Luca, ANAT
- Carriers – Mihai Fertig, tourist transport expert
The conclusions drawn from this project will be a set of proposals that we strive to have drafted in a report by the beginning of May. Manifesto for the Future of Romanian Tourism. We are aware that this approach cannot be flawless, perhaps even with some errors, but it will certainly be an act of civic and social responsibility, an act of entrepreneurial courage, a proof of maturity and a pro-active attitude. We appeal to each of those who believe they can support this project, employees and entrepreneurs in tourism or related fields, teachers, experts, economists, civil servants, politicians animated by honest intentions, tourists, to get involved with all their best in this approach. This redesign/redefinition of Romanian tourism is in our hands, as is also in our hands the subsequent support of this document before the decision-makers in the state administration, so that they take into account the recommendations and solutions that we will advance and are based on our proposals and involvement in defining future strategies, so necessary for the next 15-25 years. The world is changing and we would not like to be left behind again.
With confidence for a successful future of Romanian tourism,
Alliance for Tourism (APT):
Romanian Ecotourism Association (AER) – Andrei Blumer, President
Incoming Romania Association (AIR) – Ovidiu Tudor, President
Danube Delta Tourist Destination Management Association – Cătălin Țibuleac, President
National Association of Travel Agencies in Romania (ANAT) – Nicolae Demetriade, President
National Association of Rural, Ecological and Cultural Tourism (ANTREC) – Maria Stoian, Founder
Romanian Restaurant Association (HORA) – Daniel Mischie, President
Sibiu County Tourism Association – Alin Chipăilă, President
Association for the Promotion and Development of Tourism in Oradea and Region – Mihai Jurca, President
Prahova Tourism Promotion and Development Association – Adrian Voican, President
Timișoara 2021 Association – European Capital of Culture – Horațiu Rada, President
Bucharest Tourism Board (BTB) – Lucian Boronea, Vice President
Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK) – Dragoș Anastasiu, President
Federation of Tourism Promotion Associations (FAPT) – Corina Martin, President
Romanian Hotel Industry Federation (FIHR) – Călin Ile, President
National Federation of Tourist Guides in Romania (FNGTR) – George Vasiliu, President
Mamaia - Constanța Employers' Organization - Anca Pavel Nedea, Executive Director
Romanian Seaside Tourism Employers' Organization (OPTBR) – Nicu Rădulescu, President
Organization of Tourism Professionals (SKAL) – Florin Țâncu, President
