The inbound tourism sector in Moldova still faces problems. Moldova is not ready to receive large groups of tourists and to offer them guides, especially to the Chinese tourists, director of the Tourism Agency of Moldova Stanislav Rusu stated in the third ANTRIM Incoming Travel Forum that is supported by the USAID Moldova Competitiveness Project and the Government of Sweden, in cooperation with the Moldova Investment Attraction and Export Promotion Organization (MIEPO), IPN reports.
According to Stanislav Rusu, last year the Government and Parliament ensured concessions aimed at supporting the tourism industry, with the facilitation of the visa regime for Chinese citizens being one of the taken measures. Even so, Moldova is not ready to receive Chinese tourists as it does not have Chinese specking guides and does not have restaurant menus in Chinese, informative brochures, etc.
He noted that tourism brings economic growth, creates jobs and increases the national budget revenues. Last year Moldova ranked fifth in the world by the rise in the number of accommodated tourists. This year Moldova will become the world capital of wine tourism and Chisinau will host an international conference that will involve hundreds of experts in the field.
Emilian Dzucas, president of the National Inbound Tourism Association of Moldova (ANTRIM), said Italy and Poland are the main markets for the Moldovan tourism. In 2017, the number of tourists who came from Italy to Moldova was by 23.3% higher than a year ago, while from Poland was by 13.7% higher. This success is due to the seminars, info trips for the press and other activities. The opening of tourist information centers also contributed to this success. Moldova will be promoted on international markets and emphasis will be placed on the improvement of the quality of tourist services, including those that are provided by transport companies.
MIEPO director general Vitalie Zaharia said the organization he represents during the last few years provided support to tourism companies so as to increase their competiveness. Work should be done to attract investments so as to emphasize what Moldova can offer in the tourism sector.
Doina Nistor, director of the Moldova Competitiveness Project, said the tourism industry of Moldova developed during the last few years. A solid tourism industry is one that benefits from the Government’s support. The tourism sector can be developed only by public-private partnerships. “A solid tourism industry is when we have a product that meets tourists’ needs. The quality of the tourism product here increased during the past two years, also because some of the pensions rethought their tourism product, witnessing thus a twice or even thrice rise in the number of tourists,” stated Doina Nistor.
The problems faced by the inbound tourism in Moldova and eventual solutions will be discussed by the Economic Council working under the Prime Minister.
