Romania does not have a tourism law yet to establish all regulations in this field of activity, although industry representatives have been discussing with the authorities the need for such a law and analyzing different variants for almost 20 years, says Corina Martin, secretary general of the Federation of Hospitality Industry Employers in Romania (FPIOR).
"We, those in the industry, have been carrying out this dialogue for many years. Some of us have been doing this for almost 20 years so that we don't even remember how many variants of the tourism law are under analysis. However, none of these forms have been finalized. Basically, Romania does not currently have a tourism law that would consolidate, centralize all the regulations, ministerial orders or ordinances that refer to the tourism activity," Corina Martin told the National Conference "Trends in Hospitality."
She stated that industry representatives are looking forward to the organization of the first meeting of the Tourism Advisory Council to discuss the main objectives of the sector, including the finalization of a tourism law.
"We are waiting for the first meeting of the Consultative Council, where we will present to the minister the objectives we want, of course, and the finalization of the tourism law, which is probably the most important of these, as well as the promotion or lack of promotion, another very important topic for us for many years. This is also the reason why Romania does not attract enough foreign tourists and we are still, unfortunately, dependent on national tourists. Of course, this also makes us dependent on holiday vouchers, because Romanian tourism is based solidly, in a proportion of over 60%, maybe even 70%, on the circulation of holiday vouchers. Or, if we were to lose Romanian tourists by eliminating vouchers and in the context in which we do not attract enough foreign tourists, we would obviously witness an absolutely major, overwhelming impact on tourism revenues, an area that contributes more and more to Romania's GDP," explained the secretary general of FPIOR.
The federation representative also argued that the state should correct the mechanisms by which a significant share of tourism remains on the black market.
"Unfortunately, the state mechanisms and institutions fail to regulate such apartments that are rented without being authorized," Corina Martin emphasised.
According to the same source, the three main major problems of Romanian tourism at present are the lack of promotion, the deficiencies in the authorization of accommodation structures and the lack of coherent legislation in tourism.
"In the first place we always place the lack of promotion, because it affects us all, as I was saying, and that also means that this field brings in far too little revenue to the national budget, compared to the potential that Romanian destinations, Romanian tourism investors actually have. In the second place I would say the deficiencies in the authorization of accommodation and public catering structures, the fact that, further, the state and state institutions maintain this area in which we have unfair competition between those who declare themselves, authorize themselves, pay taxes and duties, and come out in sight, that is, serious and responsible entrepreneurs, and those who continue to run and offer tourist services without paying absolutely nothing, with rates that are both competitive, but also insecure for tourists who stay or go to such accommodation or public catering structures," mentioned the secretary general of the federation.
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