Romania's tourism brand will be on display at the Lady Gaga concert scheduled for August 16 in Bucharest, as well as at the Red Hot Chili Peppers gig on August 31, which has created some debate between the ruling administration and the opposition. This came after Prime Minister Victor Ponta said the decision to promote Romania's tourism via the Lady Gaga concert probably came during the previous Tourism Ministry leadership's tenure. In response, former Tourism Minister Elena Udrea said she didn't sign a financing contract for this concert, and that the current minister, Eduard Hellvig was the one who signed.

Counting the Lady Gaga, Red Hot Chilli Peppers concerts, as well as B'Est Fest, a festival which took place in July, the Tourism Ministry will have spent some EUR 250,000 promoting Romania.

The request to promote Romania at these concerts came in December 2011, according to Ziarul Financiar, when Emagic, which organizes the three events, asked for a EUR 600,000 budget. The current minister evaluated the request and decided to allot less than half of the requested amount, approving the request in the beginning of July, according to Ziarul Financiar, quoting the country's Tourism Ministry.

Lady Gaga is expected to gather a crowd of 35,000 in the Constitutiei Square at her concert on August 16.

editor@romania-insider.com