Romanian tourism minister Constantin Daniel Cadariu said on April 19 that the country brand - a green leaf - created during the mandate of his predecessor Elena Udrea (coincidently just condemned to six years in jail for other contracts) is still in force, but "it is not used at all."

The brand was established when Elena Udrea was minister of tourism and cost EUR 30 mln. Minister Cadariu issued an order obliging all accommodation units to display it.

"10 years ago, EUR 30 mln was spent, European money. It [the country brand] is owned by the ministry and has not been used since. (..) It is not used at all," minister Cadariu told TVR on Tuesday evening, G4media.ro reported.

He stated that he decided to set up a National Tourism Brand Council to provide solutions for the relaunch of the country's brand, but also to propose quick solutions on the use of budget resources for marketing and tourism promotion until the establishment of Destination Management Organizations (OMDs) through PNRR.

andrei@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Inquam Photos/Octav Ganea)