ANAT urges Moldovan tourists to give up plans for Romania

This summer season, the prices for the tourist offers went up by 5-17% because the utility charges in Romania increased and the tourist offers to other destinations include high fares, meaning 40-60% of the cost of the package, Nicolae Platon, the head of the National Association of Travel Agencies (ANAT), told Info-Prim Neo. In his words, all the travel agencies are now encountering problems concerning tourist visas to Romania. “That is why I call on Moldovan tourists to choose other destinations, for instance Bulgaria, which offers reasonable prices. The Romanian consulate is currently handling about 50 visas a month, but, as from June 1, the domestic travel agencies will request about 300 visas a day. Because of that, practically all the agencies renounce partnership with the Romanian resorts and suggest their customers to choose other tourist destinations”, the head of ANAT said. Platon mentioned that Moldovan travel agencies arrange trips to Ukraine, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Croatia, Cyprus and Tunis. The most popular destination at the moment is Turkey, where the journeys have been booked long in advance. According to the cited source, this summer season the mount resorts and spas are less demanded. However, the most preferred destinations from Romania are still Dorna, Baile Felix, Covasna, Slanic Moldova, Sovata. A six-night-stay package for these resorts cost from EUR 60 to 80 in May-June. Still, because of the visa-related problems their popularity among Moldovan tourists are on the decrease.