The trend for 2014 indicates more tourists than in 2013, but also more expensive holidays, reaching an average value for the package of RON 638 for domestic destinations and RON 1,578 for foreign destinations, reveals a survey conducted by the National Travel Agencies Association (ANAT). According to the association, the first quarter of 2014 witnessed a 5 percent increase in early bookings over a year-by-year comparison, along with a 50 percent increase in the “Recovery week” programme and 100 percent increase in the “Free vacation days” programme. There is a 7 percent increase at the seaside, 30 percent in Crisana, 20 percent in Transylvania, 10 percent in Bucovina and 30 percent in Muntenia. Maramures reported also a 30 percent increase whereas Oltenia and Banat reported a 5 percent increase.
“The main destination for tourists remains the Romanian seaside. The bookings for Mamaia represent 50 percent of the total sales and reported a 21 percent increase compared to last year. The increase can be noticed better at the seaside resorts, except for Olimp, which went down by 15 percent,” said Lucia Nora Morariu, ANAT president. A top of sales volumes places Turkey as the most sought after destination (20 percent increase), Greece (5 percent), Spain (1 percent), Italy, France, Austria and the United Arab Emirates each with 5 percent, the UK (10 percent) and Montenegro (20 percent).
Major sales volumes are reported on other destinations which in the first quarter of this year reported a decrease in number of early bookings. These are Bulgaria (-10 percent), Croatia (-40 percent due to higher prices following an increase in VAT). The most dynamic foreign destinations, with 50 percent increases were, according to ANAT, Mexico, Belgium, Israel, Malta, Cuba and the United States.
The sea resorts on the seaside, administrated by a private company
On the other hand, the tourism employers’ unions want the seaside resorts to be managed by a private company, dealing with cleaning and tourism protection, and its shareholders to be the local companies, announced the Federation of Employers in Romanian Tourism (FPTR). According to vice-chairman of FPTR Dragos Raducan, the company to be created will provide cleaning services on the seaside as well, but will also provide security for tourist and first-aid points. The employers will also request a higher number of events and unique entertainment activities on the Romanian seaside, to highlight the resorts in the south of the seaside. According to FPTR, 35,499 places will be available for tourists on the seaside on May 1, out of the total 99,675 registered. Most of them will be in Mamaia (18,000), Eforie Nord (5,000) and Neptun (4,100). A number of 2,500 places will be available in Costinesti, almost 900 in Mangalia and about 800 in Saturn. Minister for Tourism and SMEs Florin Jianu who is visiting the resorts on the seaside to inspect the works on the beaches, says he wants to set schemes to aid tourism, as the seaside will be one of the pilot-projects.
Double-deck buses in Mamaia as of tomorrow
The double-deck buses will be reintroduced in circulation as of Wednesday special for the tourists spending their mini-holiday on May 1 at the seaside, as they will run daily every 45 minutes between Constanta train station and Mamaia sea resort, reports Mediafax correspondent. Director of Constanta Transport Department Ovidiu Tanase said the double-deck buses will run as of April 30, daily, between 10 am and 6 pm. The route is Constanta train station – Ferdinand Avenue – Mircea cel Batran Street – Mamaia Avenue to the end of the sea resort at Caraiman Hotel, and back on Mamaia Avenue – Tomis Avenue – Ferdinand Avenue – Constanta train station. The ticket costs RON 4.
