The Easter and May 1 holiday could be a real blessing for the travel agencies in Romania, which might sell about 30% more products in this period, usually not popular with tourists, tourism industry officials say.
"We were not expecting to see the Government make such a decision and it still is on such short notice. The agencies, however, have already prepared special offers to be presented at the National Tourism Fair (at the end of this week), even though Romanians hardly travel around Easter time," Cornel Gaina, chairman of the National Association of Travel Agencies in Romania (ANAT) says.
He estimates the number of tourists could go up by about 30% and the "seaside will be practically stormed by tourists if the weather is fine." On the other hand, Marcel Badescu, ANAT's honorary chairman feels Valea Prahovei will be packed. Badescu thinks the Government's decision will primarily benefit those travel agencies selling domestic touristic packages. "The people will try to make the most of these days off after a hard winter and this is like manna to the hotels in the various resorts," Badescu says.
Mihai Rajnita, general secretary of the Hotel Industry Federation in Romania (FIHR), however, feels tourists will not come "in packs". "It's all about the money. It is those who have got the money that will go on holiday, not just those who got time off," Rajnita says.
The employees of the state sector will have April 29, 30 and May 2 off.
The National Tourism Fair will take place at the end of this week, so that travel agencies will display special offers for this holiday, analysts feel.
Tourism is one of the few business sectors to be positively affected by the Government's decision. Most of the private sector in the economy feels this holiday is inappropriate and hinders the smooth running of the economy.
bogdan.neagu@zf.ro
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