Moldova could sustain losses of €8-10 million this year owing to the change of the format of the National Wine Day. A number of tourism associations sent a letter to Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet, warning him about the pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage that the country can sustain as a result of the cancelation of the National Wine Day celebrations in the central square of Chisinau.

The tourism associations express their concern about the losses that both the foreign tourists and the national tourist companies could suffer. “Moldova’s image as a tourist destination at international level could also be affected. Also, the tourism agencies and accommodation units of Moldova will not enjoy credibility among the tourists. There is no strategy for 2016 for promoting the event within the international exhibitions in which the tourism agencies take part this autumn. There is a risk that the contracts with the foreign partners will be terminated owing to the created situation,” reads the communique issued by the associations.

The tourism associations and federations calculated the damage that Moldova could sustain. Thus, the economic entities would have gained €6 to €9 million from the sale of souvenirs and from accommodation and service, €200,000 from the sale of wines and €220,000 from companies’ investments for taking part in exhibitions. Thus, the losses would total €8-€10 million. “If we take into account the money for plane tickets, the sum should be doubled. Next year the figure will grow considerably and the number of tourists visiting the country will definitely decrease,” says the communique.

The associations suggest an alternative – staging a public wine tasting event at the National Palace, the Palace of the Republic, the square of the Ministry of Agriculture or on the pedestrian street. It also proposes providing free transport for national and foreign tourists to wineries that have the capacity to accommodate tourists. For the purpose, money should be allocated from the National Vine and Wine Fund or from the Country Promotion Fund.

The decision to cancel the National Wine Day celebrations that were to be staged in the Great National Assembly Square was taken by a group of winemakers in a meeting convened by the National Office of Vine and Wine, for the reasons that the central square is occupied by people who have protested since September 6. Furthermore, the winemakers consider holding festivities when the country is in a difficult economic situation is not opportune.