Romanian tourism has an incredible chance to benefit from the problems tourism currently faces in Greece, according to the Federation of Employers in Tourism and Services in Romania (FPTS).

“Tourism relocation and foreign tour operators needing to switch to new destinations, scared by Greece's slips, can be an unexpected chance for Romania to gain a significant number of inbound foreign tourists. Romania could also benefit from the fact that Turkey increased tariffs for the 2012 season, based on its country brand,” according to the FPTS statement. The Romanian economy is suffering because of Greece, so the country's tourism could try to close some of this gap.

Romania and Bulgaria are the only two countries in the region that could benefit from the Greek fallout and the Turkey tariffs increase. However, Romania has to substantially and urgently change the way it works, in order to become an attractive destination for those who love the Greek or Turkish seaside.

The federation recommends the all inclusive system and higher standards, not just for the coast, but for the spa resorts too. Fiscal facilities from the state are also wished for, as local hotels will not be able to offer competitive prices when taxes are too high.

A recent study by consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) indicates a 16 percent fall in Romania’s tourist industry in the last four years. The country’s hospitality and leisure industry revenue fell to EUR 1.5 billion in 2011, with fewer foreign tourists accounting for the majority of the decline. Foreign tourists spent EUR 750 million holidaying in Romania in 2008, while last year the figure had dropped to EUR 600 million, or a 20 percent fall in revenues.

editor@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Sxc.hu)