Radio România Internațional

Tag: Romanian tourism

  • Romanians and the May 1st mini-holiday

    Romanians and the May 1st mini-holiday


    Analysts note that whereas in many countries of the world, International Labour Day is an excellent opportunity for people to demand better working conditions and pay rises, in Romania, May Day is celebrated through trips, hiking or parties. As early as on Friday afternoon, when the May Day mini-holiday started, tens of thousands of tourists, Romanians in particular, but also foreigners, simply stormed resorts in the Carpathian Mountains, on the Black Sea coast or in the Danube Delta.



    Some 80,000 people chose the seacoast, mostly Mamaia resort, which some describe as a low cost Ibiza and where night clubs, noisy music and drinking in the waves were the main forms of entertainment. Nearly 10,000 tourists went to the Danube Delta; taking advantage of the fine weather, they explored that unique area in Europe included in the UNESCO heritage. Tourists went by boat throughout the reserve, sailing even along canals that are commonly clogged because now, the Danubes flow is higher than usual.



    Tourists who want to visit the Delta now will find it easier to get there because more ship rides have been introduced according to the summer schedule of the public maritime transport. In the Southern Carpathian Mountains, more precisely in the Prahova Valley, the resort of Sinaia was the most crowded place, the Peles and Pelisor Royal Castles being its main attractions.



    Whether they chose to go on holiday or stay at home, for most Romanians the barbecue in the open was the centerpiece of their May Day holiday. “Micii” or “mititeii”, a symbol of Romanian cuisine, were as usual in great demand; they are a traditional dish of grilled ground meat rolls made of a mixture of pork and beef or beef and mutton and spices. According to the estimates of meat producers, Romanians grilled over 30 million “mici”, by nearly 15% more than last year. In many places, the hotels and guest houses were almost 100% booked, which was a success for tour operators.



    Macro-statistics however are less festive. According to a survey conducted by the Competitiveness Initiative NGO, 2.24 billion Euro worth of revenues are reported in tourism in Romania, but Romanians spend 3.12 billion Euro on tourist services abroad. The authors of the study, coordinated by a doctor of economics and former opposition politician, say that “over the last year tourism has increased its negative balance twice and a half, a balance which fuels the deficit of Romanias balance of foreign payments.



    Nearly 200,000 employees and 1.3% of the countrys GDP depend on that economic sector.” They also incriminate the non-existent promotion of Romania as a tourist destination, though Romania has a relevant ministry in Bucharest. The data of the National Statistics Institute made public in early April show however that the number of tourists in accommodation units in Romania in the first two months of 2018 went up by 6.7% as compared to the same period in 2017, while the number of tourists staying overnight increased by 6.4%. (translated by Ana Maria Palcu)

  • Rural Tourism in Romania

    Rural Tourism in Romania

    Rural tourism has seen an impressive development in Romania, in the past few years. Visitors are invited into a world of scenic landscapes and unaltered traditions, where craftsmen can do wonders and where guesthouses offer the tastiest dishes made after ancient recipes. Maria Stoian, founder of the National Association of Rural, Ecological and Cultural Tourism, believes that tourists who visit the Romanian rural area have the chance of getting to know the real Romania.



    Maria Stoian: “Visiting the country’s rural areas is a chance to understand the roots of this people and get to know the true Romanians. Tourists can learn about Romanian gastronomy, which is so varied. They can see the source of inspiration for folk architecture, and also a variety of folk customs and traditions. In Marginimea Sibiului there are some very beautiful villages, and the local cuisine is amazing. In northern Oltenia there are special monasteries and also opportunities for active tourism, on Sohodol Gorges and the Oltet Valley. From northern Oltenia we head towards the Danube Gorge. Few people know that nautical tourism can be practiced here and that there are water bungalows available to tourists. The area has great potential. Bran Moeciu is the cradle of Romanian rural tourism. Also, the Curvature Carpathians and the Vrancea-Buzau area with its wine route are also worth visiting.”



    Perspectives for 2018 are very good, says Maria Stoian: “Romanians are more and more interested in domestic tourist destinations, including rural tourism and the same tendency has been noticed among foreign tourists. Except for our regular tourists from France, Germany, Italy and Israel, visitors from the Nordic countries have also started to show special interest in Romania. Romanians from the Diaspora represent another tourist segment. They are not only visiting their families but also various regions from their native country. I remember a family from France who was interested in rural tourism but had many reservations and questions about it. A year later it was them who recommended all their friends and relatives to visit Romania’s rural area.”



    Romanian villages and communes are also promoted through a large variety of events, with free of charge access. Maria Stoian: “We have many events scheduled for this year. Balvanyos, in the central county of Covasna, is host to the Pomana Porcului Festival, attended by teams from several counties of Romania and also from Slovakia, Hungary and other countries in the region. There is also the Pies Festival in Oituz, the Meat Jelly Festival held in Tismana, Gorj county and the Sheep and Shepherds’ Festival held in Bran, Brasov county. Fundata, the commune with the highest elevation in Brasov county, hosts an event devoted to shepherds. Visitors are welcome to Romania’s villages that have preserved traditions intact and that can also provide good accommodation conditions.



    Maramureş, in northern Romania, one of the regions where rural tourism is very developed, boasts many guesthouses. Dan Carpov is the representative of the tourist information office of Maramureş County: “In 2018 Romania celebrates 100 years since the union of the Romanian principalities, consequently tourist circuits will include stopovers at the memorial houses of some of the outstanding personalities of the county. Maramureş is a wide county, including 4 regions: the Country of Lăpuş, the Country of Maramureş, located in the northeastern half of the historical region of Maramureş, the Country of Chioar and the Country of Codru. Customs and traditions have been well preserved in all theses areas just like the traditional costume. “



    As for the tourists’ feedback , Dan Carpov says is is always positive: “Tourists’ feedback is very good, we are at the top of preferences, which makes us improve our offer continuously and do our best to live up to the expectations. Mocăniţa, the narrow gauge steam train is the top tourist attraction for tourists. On tourists’ list of preferences are also the 8 UNESCO sites in the county and we have a circuit that includes all of them. Mountain tourism has been developing recently. We have a biking route that is 80-km long.”



    Many of Romania’s guesthouses provide home cooked meals to tourists and organize trips to the areas nearby.

  • Rural Tourism in Romania

    Rural Tourism in Romania

    Rural tourism has seen an impressive development in Romania, in the past few years. Visitors are invited into a world of scenic landscapes and unaltered traditions, where craftsmen can do wonders and where guesthouses offer the tastiest dishes made after ancient recipes. Maria Stoian, founder of the National Association of Rural, Ecological and Cultural Tourism, believes that tourists who visit the Romanian rural area have the chance of getting to know the real Romania.



    Maria Stoian: “Visiting the country’s rural areas is a chance to understand the roots of this people and get to know the true Romanians. Tourists can learn about Romanian gastronomy, which is so varied. They can see the source of inspiration for folk architecture, and also a variety of folk customs and traditions. In Marginimea Sibiului there are some very beautiful villages, and the local cuisine is amazing. In northern Oltenia there are special monasteries and also opportunities for active tourism, on Sohodol Gorges and the Oltet Valley. From northern Oltenia we head towards the Danube Gorge. Few people know that nautical tourism can be practiced here and that there are water bungalows available to tourists. The area has great potential. Bran Moeciu is the cradle of Romanian rural tourism. Also, the Curvature Carpathians and the Vrancea-Buzau area with its wine route are also worth visiting.”



    Perspectives for 2018 are very good, says Maria Stoian: “Romanians are more and more interested in domestic tourist destinations, including rural tourism and the same tendency has been noticed among foreign tourists. Except for our regular tourists from France, Germany, Italy and Israel, visitors from the Nordic countries have also started to show special interest in Romania. Romanians from the Diaspora represent another tourist segment. They are not only visiting their families but also various regions from their native country. I remember a family from France who was interested in rural tourism but had many reservations and questions about it. A year later it was them who recommended all their friends and relatives to visit Romania’s rural area.”



    Romanian villages and communes are also promoted through a large variety of events, with free of charge access. Maria Stoian: “We have many events scheduled for this year. Balvanyos, in the central county of Covasna, is host to the Pomana Porcului Festival, attended by teams from several counties of Romania and also from Slovakia, Hungary and other countries in the region. There is also the Pies Festival in Oituz, the Meat Jelly Festival held in Tismana, Gorj county and the Sheep and Shepherds’ Festival held in Bran, Brasov county. Fundata, the commune with the highest elevation in Brasov county, hosts an event devoted to shepherds. Visitors are welcome to Romania’s villages that have preserved traditions intact and that can also provide good accommodation conditions.



    Maramureş, in northern Romania, one of the regions where rural tourism is very developed, boasts many guesthouses. Dan Carpov is the representative of the tourist information office of Maramureş County: “In 2018 Romania celebrates 100 years since the union of the Romanian principalities, consequently tourist circuits will include stopovers at the memorial houses of some of the outstanding personalities of the county. Maramureş is a wide county, including 4 regions: the Country of Lăpuş, the Country of Maramureş, located in the northeastern half of the historical region of Maramureş, the Country of Chioar and the Country of Codru. Customs and traditions have been well preserved in all theses areas just like the traditional costume. “



    As for the tourists’ feedback , Dan Carpov says is is always positive: “Tourists’ feedback is very good, we are at the top of preferences, which makes us improve our offer continuously and do our best to live up to the expectations. Mocăniţa, the narrow gauge steam train is the top tourist attraction for tourists. On tourists’ list of preferences are also the 8 UNESCO sites in the county and we have a circuit that includes all of them. Mountain tourism has been developing recently. We have a biking route that is 80-km long.”



    Many of Romania’s guesthouses provide home cooked meals to tourists and organize trips to the areas nearby.

  • November 21, 2017

    November 21, 2017


    PATRIOT – The bill on the purchase of Patriot missile defense systems from the US has been fully endorsed today by the Romanian Chamber of Deputies, which is the decision making forum in this matter. Previously, the bill was endorsed by the Senate. Romania wants to purchase seven Patriot systems, whose total value stands at some 3.9 billion dollars. The first system, costing 765 million dollars is to be purchased by the end of the year.



    MOTION – The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania has decided to abstain from voting on the no-confidence motion filed by the right-wing opposition against the Government formed by the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania. The leader of the union Kelemen Hunor has stated that he agrees with some of the statements included in the motion, but has blamed the initiators for not providing alternatives to the current prime-minister and his governing programme. Signed by senators and deputies members of the National Liberal Party, the Save Romania Union and the Peoples Movement Party, the motion accuses the Executive that, through its policies, has deeply disturbed Romanian economy. In response, the Prime Minister Mihai Tudose has stated that, thanks to the latest fiscal reform, more money will get to the state budget and to the pension fund and companies will benefit from simplified procedures.



    EMA/EBA – Gathered in Brussels on Monday, the EU foreign ministers decided that the European Banking Authority (EBA) would have its headquarters in Paris. Also, Amsterdam will host the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The EU officials have chosen the Dutch capital through a competition in which Bucharest ran too. The two institutions, currently based in London, will be relocated after Brexit, in March 2019. EMA has 900 employees and supervises the safety of medicines sold on a market of more than 500 million consumers. As regards EBA, the French president Emmanuel Macron has stated that choosing Paris is a recognition of Frances attractiveness and commitment. EBA regulates and supervises the banking system across the EU.



    GERMANY – Consultations have started today in Germany on ways to exit the political crisis triggered by the Conservatists, the Liberals and the Greens failing to reach consensus on the formation of the new Government. The president of the country Frank Walter Steinmeier, who, according to the Constitution, must manage the crisis, has announced his intention to hold talks with all the political parties that could be part of the Government headed by Angela Merkel. We recall that her party won the legislative elections of September 24th. Steinmeier has excluded the participation of the far-right Alternative for Germany and the far-left Die Linke parties, as Angela Merkel refuses to engage in a dialogue with them. Also, the president has rejected the idea of early elections. According to the outcome of the September elections, Angela Merkel can only head a coalition government, as she excludes the alternative of a minority executive.



    GAUDEAMUS – For the first time in its history, the GAUDEAMUS International Book Fair, organised this year by Radio Romania between the 22nd and the 26th of November, will have as the guest of honour not a country, but a Union, namely the European Union, through the Representation of the European Commission in Romania. This years edition is special, as it marks 60 years since the signing of the Roma Treaty, 30 years since the launch of the Erasmus programme and also 10 years since Romania joined the European Union. Under the motto “unity in diversity”, the European Union encourages people to discover and explore the rich cultural heritage of the old continent. This years edition will enjoy the participation of 300 exhibitors and will host more than 800 events.



    TOURISM – According to official data, Romanian tourism has grown by 10% in 2017 and the total number of tourists choosing Romania as one of their holiday destinations is likely to exceed 12 million this year, a value that has not been reached since 1990. The announcement was made by the first-vice president of the National Association of Travel Agencies Adrian Voican. He has stated that, in the first nine months of the year, the number of Romanians who chose Romania as a tourist destination increased by one million, reaching 9.5 million. Also, the number of foreign tourists is expected to exceed 2.6 million this year. Spa tourism has become a particular attraction, and the sales on this segment have doubled. (Translated by Mihaela Ignatescu)




  • Retracing Count Dracula’s Steps in Bistriţa Năsăud County

    Retracing Count Dracula’s Steps in Bistriţa Năsăud County

    “If you have passed through the gate of Transylvania and have reached the Land of Count Dracula, you should have your passport on you” show the warnings in the passport published by the Association for Tourism Promotion entitled “Tourist in Bistriţa Năsăud”. Everybody will know that you are the guest of the Count and that you are under his protection. You must wear a little cross and carry garlic cloves in your pockets. The passport also reads that plum brandy gives you courage and makes you invincible. If you decide to visit Dracula’s Land in late July get ready for a party, because the Garlic Festival will be in full swing. If you come to Transylvania in October you’ll have the opportunity to attend the Witches Ball, which the Count holds at the castle each year.



    Claudia Andron is the president of the “Tourist in Bistriţa Năsăud” Association for Tourism Promotion and also the creator of the passport for Transylvania: “If people choose to go to Maramureş to find authentic Romanian traditions and to Bukovina to see the wonderful monasteries there, here in Transylvania they have it all. We have all types of tourism, ecological, rural, ecumenical, cultural and historical. And we also have the true story of Count Dracula. In Bram Stoker’s novel, the events are set in Bistriţa Năsăud, in the Tihuţa Pass. We have created these passports to offer them to those who want to pass through the gate of Transylvania. Bistriţa Năsăud is located on the border between the regions of Moldavia and Transylvania and between Maramureş and Transylvania. Those who pass the gate and enter Bistriţa Năsăud will receive a passport with travel warnings and recommendations for a holiday in Count Dracula’s Land. Bistriţa Năsăud is the land of all tourist opportunities. You will even find a beach resort here, in Colibiţa. The beach was set up near a storage lake that has drawn many tourists over the past two years.”



    Next Claudia Andron will talk about the cultural events organized in the area: “We have several satire and humour festivals such as the ‘Golden Apple’ that has been held for 20 years. We also organize ‘Zamfira’s Wedding’, an event that gathers ensembles from around the world in Bistriţa every year. We also have symphony music concerts held in the Bistriţa Synagogue. We should not forget about the ‘Garlic Festival in Count Dracula’s Land’, which is held each year in the last week of July. The festival has its own Facebook page. This year we’ll hold the 5th edition. Last year the festival was attended by 35 thousand people. It is a unique event in Romania, created by special people for special people. We have games for children, old, traditional games in which they throw garlic at witches. In the evening, we organize bonfires around which rituals are held to ward off evil spirits. The rituals are said to protect the area from evil spirits and from the maleficent influence of Count Dracula for one whole year.”



    If you happen to be in Năsăud, by all means you stop at the famous traditional costume creator Virginia Linul. And she is not the only woman highly-skilled in the making of traditional costumes.



    With details on that, here is Claudia Andron once again: “The region of Năsăud is the land of traditional costumes. There you can find dozens of women who still sew traditional costumes in the old fashion. They don’t use embroidery machines, everything is hand-made, and they use beads to create traditional motifs. Around May 15 you can see thousands of people dressed in traditional costumes. It is an event held in our region alone, because we have preserved traditional costumes. Here you will also see eddies, natural washing machines that our ancestors used. You should know that eddies are still used in Bistriţa Năsăud.“



    Claudia Andron has collected feedback from tourists who visited Bistriţa Năsăud: ”They told us that people were very welcoming, and prices were affordable as compared to what they found elsewhere across the country. Thanks to the hosts’ very special care, people really feel they are on holiday. Then the food is very good. With us, people can still have fine and very healthy food. We are developing and backing a project themed ‘Made in Bistriţa Năsăud’ by means of which we encourage the consumption of natural food such as traditional pressed cheese, homemade bread and homemade horn-shaped cookies. German is spoken in our region but most of us are fluent in English, and very many people in our region work abroad. There are no language barriers in Bistriţa Năsăud.”



    And here are some of the recommendations you can find in the passport edited by the “Tourist in Bistriţa Năsăud” Tourism Promotion Association. You need to make sure that a local will accompany you on your way to the castle in the mountains. The scenery is of a rare beauty and wild animals can get in the way any time. The Bargău Mountains boast the highest number of brown bears and wolves in Europe. The lake in Colibiţa impresses everybody, but you’re not supposed to admire yourself in the mirror of the lake. Local people tell stories about real monsters hiding in the depths. As for the full moon nights, they should never catch you unaccompanied.“



    The administrator of the castle in the Bargău Mountains Ana-Maria Muscar will now make a brief presentation of that: “We are at an altitude of 1,116 meters in the famous Bargău Pass. We are one of Bistriţa’s most important tourist objectives. The construction was designed as a real-life replica of the castle in the famous novel written by Bram Stoker. So it is an imposing construction with battlements, made of stone and wood, with a very attractive interior design: plenty of red and black colours and dragons. Inside the castle you will discover Count Dracula’s tomb and tunnel. The tunnel is a longer route, a several tens of meters long which ends up in the Count’s tomb.”



    This is an offer for those who are more into adrenaline-rush activities, but also for those who want a peaceful holiday in areas where nature has been preserved unaltered.

  • December 29, 2016 UPDATE

    December 29, 2016 UPDATE

    RESPONSE – Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis is expected to make a
    decision regarding the second proposal made by the Social-Democratic Party and
    the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, which hold the majority in Parliament,
    for the position of Prime Minister. The first nomination, Sevil Shhaideh, was
    turned down. Sorin Grindeanu, the second nomination, met with the president on
    Thursday. Aged 43, Grindeanu is currently the president of the Timis County
    Council and has been a member of the Social-Democratic Party for 20 years. He
    was Minister of Transportation in the Government led by Victor Ponta. The
    Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, which has concluded a
    cooperation protocol with the Social-Democrats and the Alliance of Liberals and
    Democrats, has not yet expressed its support for this second name. Opposition
    parties on the other hand say they will not vote for a Cabinet led by Sorin
    Grindeanu.






    COLECTIV – On
    Thursday, the Bucharest tribunal ruled that the trial should commence in the case
    concerning Colectiv, the Bucharest club where, on October 30th 2015,
    a fire broke out during a rock concert, killing 64 people and wounding more
    than 100. The three owners of the club are charged with manslaughter, bodily
    injury and failure to take the necessary occupational health and safety
    measures. Also on trial are the owners of the company that took care of the
    fireworks show, one of their employees and two legal advisors. We recall that
    the tragedy triggered large-scale rallies denouncing the corruption in the
    public administration. At the pressure of the protesters, the then Social
    Democrat Prime Minister Victor Ponta resigned.








    CURRENCY – Romania’s national currency, the Leu, has
    these days hit its lowest value in the last three years against the top hard
    currencies. Specialists however say that this trend is no reason to worry, as
    Romanian economy is currently stable. They expect the Leu to go up, especially
    against the Euro, once the domestic political turmoil settles down, a new
    Government is sworn in and the budget for 2017 is adopted. In turn, the US
    dollar has gone up against the rising optimism in American society, which in a
    few weeks is due to have a new president and administration. This tendency
    might continue over the first months of 2017, experts say. In Romania, the
    Leu-dollar exchange rate has triggered a hike not only in fuel prices, but also
    in the price of house appliances made in Asia, of vegetable and fruit imported
    from Turkey, and raw materials imported from other continents.












    TOURISM – The number of foreign tourists who visited Romania in
    2016 stands at some 1.3 million, which is 20% more than in 2015. Most tourists have come from Germany,
    France, the UK, Italy and Spain. Representatives of the travel industry say
    this good figure is the result of the favourable position Romania enjoys at
    European level, as our country has been one of the safest countries in the
    region this year. 2016 was also the best year for the Romanian seacoast, where
    the number of tourists went up by as much as 15%. 11% more Romanians visited
    the seacoast this year, while the number of foreign tourists also increased by
    10% as compared to 2015, standing at around 50,000 people. Ranking at the top
    of tourists’ preferences was the resort of Mamaia.






    NATO – The Dutch Minister of Defense Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert has
    announced that the Netherlands will contribute two chiefs of general staff to
    the Multinational NATO Brigade in 2017, which will be rendered operational in
    Craiova, southern Romania, the Romanian Defense Ministry reports. At the same
    time, the Dutch Minister spoke of the possibility of Dutch troops taking part
    in other multi-purpose military drills which the brigade is to carry out. We
    recall that the Rovine 2nd Infantry Division, stationed in Craiova,
    southern Romania, will become a NATO Multinational Brigade, a decision taken as
    part of a series of measures adopted at the NATO Summit of Warsaw this summer.
    The announcement follows the commitments of other states to contribute to the
    NATO brigade. Germany will deploy chiefs of staff, Bulgaria will contribute 400 soldiers, and Poland will deploy
    some 250 military. Romania will in turn deploy 250 soldiers to be part of the
    brigade in Poland. The brigade will also be cooperating with a military unit
    from the United States.






    REACTION – The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has
    condemned and termed as biased a recent speech delivered by the US Secretary
    of State John Kerry, whose mandate is coming to a close. In his speech, Kerry
    defended the Obama administration’s decision to allow the UN Security Council
    last week to adopt a resolution whereby Israeli colonies were declared illegal.
    John Kerry warned that Israeli settlements were a danger to the two-state peace
    solution. Netanyahu has stated that
    Kerry’s speech focused obsessively on Israeli settlements, making hardly
    any reference to Palestinian violence. The Israeli Prime Minister has said the
    Palestinians’ refusal to recognize Israel’s right to exist as a state remains
    the crux of the problem.








    CRASH – The crash of the Russian military plane in the Black Sea
    was caused by a technical malfunction, the Russian Transport Minister Maxime
    Sokolov said on Thursday. Preliminary
    data decoded from the aircraft’s two black boxes suggest the pilots lost
    control over the plane due to the faulty wing flaps, which put the plane at a
    critical angle. The 154 Tupolev aircraft was headed to Latakia, Syria and was
    carrying 92 people on board, of whom 83 were passengers, most of them members
    of the Russian Army Choir. They were scheduled to hold a holiday concert at the
    Syrian base in Khmeimim.



  • Romania’s Tourism Fair

    Romania’s Tourism Fair

    As expected, travel agencies offered early booking and last minute offers for all tourist areas in Romania. Spa tourism was a widely available option.Molnar Akos is manager of a hotel complex in Baile Tusnad. The resort is famous for its natural waters, ideal for treating heart conditions:



    Molnar Akos:“We have a great spa, very comfortable, with wellness services. We have a four-star hotel offering a package for Orthodox Easter, with three night stays, Friday to Monday. Next to the hotel there is a small Orthodox church, and we adapted the scheduling of the dinner to its schedule of masses. The price per person is 740 lei, about 165 Euro, which includes traditional Romanian festive meals, which are Swedish buffet. For the summer we include spa, massage, and treatment. The package includes medical tests, and covers five days, but our recommendation for best results is 10 to 12 days. We have customers from Israel who stay for as much as a month each year, because they love the water and its curative effects.”


    Rodica Penea, Secretary General of the Romanian Spa Tourism Employers Association in Romania, recalls that Romania has a third of Europe’s curative waters. Their miraculous effects have been known since antiquity, and to this day they are the ideal solution for treatment.



    Rodica Penea: “I would like to recommend at least two of the programs we offer: ‘One Week Spa Recovery’, which includes accommodation, breakfast and two daily procedures, for a price of 330 lei, the equivalent of 75 Euro, and a so-called Spa Decade, 10 days full accommodation with two daily procedures, for a price of 650 LEI, about 145 Euro. This is the fee for two stars. For three stars, the price goes up by about 30 lei. We also have the ‘Let’s Go to the Spa’ package, for a price of 545 lei, about 120 Euro, or the Spa Wellness package, also for 545 lei”.



    Calin Doba, marketing manager of a hotel in Baile Felix has on offer medicinal herbs and mud baths, and various treatment programs in February-March and September-October: “We have recently opened an Aqua Park, and we have redone the promenade alleys. We have 7 night packages for two people, which cost about 500 Euro, whereas a full service package for two, treatment included, sells for 600 Euro. We have tourists from Austria, Germany, Israel, and recently we work with Finland as well.”



    Irina Sandu, with the Tourist Info Center in Iasi, told us that a lot of cultural events are scheduled for 2016, but that should not keep you from visiting the tourist sites: “This year we offer lots of tourism promotion materials: a bilingual guidebook, a magazine on local traditions in Iasi, Botosani, Galati and the Republic of Moldova, as well as a map with the main sites in Iasi. We worked with travel agencies to promote educational tourism and a few city-break offers. Iasi has a lot to offer. The Palace of Culture opens in April, and there are also some ‘must see’ museums, such as the Cuza University Museum, the small house of the prominent Romanian writer, Ion Creanga, as well as the Sadoveanu and Eminescu memorial houses.”



    Nicolae Tescula, director of the Sighisoara History Museum, invited us to Transylvania, in western Romania: “Sighisoara is the only town in Romania which is a UNESCO heritage site. It is also one of the few towns in Europe where medieval fortifications have been preserved almost unaltered, as much as 90%. It has been continuously inhabited for 800 years, and you can get there quickly. It is a city that reflects very well the history of the Transylvanian, Romanian Middle Ages, and the way people lived hundreds of years ago. We have a history museum laid out in the clock tower. It is Romania’s only vertical museum, documenting the 14th century.”



    Gabriel Ditu, manager of a tourist complex in the Danube Delta, at Gura Portitei, invited us to take a trip to the seaside: “Tourists have the opportunity to discover an area unique in Europe, a 150 meter wide sand strip between the Black Sea and the Reazim Sinoe laguna. They will also have an opportunity to relax in Gura Portitei holiday village. The waves of the sea can be heard from your room. A five-night stay off-season for two is about 100 Euro. If you opt for full accommodation off-season, you should pay an extra charge of 90 Euros per person. If you want to spend a vacation in full season, in August, instead of 280 Euro you will pay almost 400 Euro for five nights.”



    “Easter in Bukovina” and “Easter in Maramures” are two other programs promoted at the Tourism Fair. They run between 65 and 300 Euro, depending on the options you pick.

  • Romania, a Highly Appreciated Tourist Destination

    Romania, a Highly Appreciated Tourist Destination


    The president of the National Tourism Authority, Anca Pavel-Nedea, says the year that is now coming to a close was a good one for the Romanian travel industry. She also hopes that the governments strategy will lead to a substantial increase in the number of tourists who choose Romania as a holiday destination. 2015 is in fact the last year when the National Tourism Authority benefited from European funds to promote a country tourism brand. Indeed, the significant growth of the travel sector is owing not only to the cut of the VAT on accommodation and related services from 24 to 9%, but also to the better promotion of Romanian tourist destinations abroad.



    The amount that the Authority earmarked for attracting foreign tourists exceeds 13 million euros. As much as 2.6 million euros went into the production and broadcast of ads on 3 US television channels and the purchase of advertising space in publications in the main cities in the USA. For the same purposes, 3.1 million euros was spent in Italy, 2.8 million euros in the UK and 3.9 million euros in Germany. Recently, CNNs online channel posted a list entitled “Where to go in 2016,” recommending 16 destinations, Romania included. According to the international television channel, the best stories come from travels in places under the tourist radar, and the Romanian recommendations include the Carpathian Mountains, the Danube Delta and the city of Cluj-Napoca in Transylvania. Some of the most popular Romanian myths are also mentioned, such as the story of Dracula. The vast and varied landscapes in Transylvania, surrounding medieval castles and churches, will not disappoint visitors, CNN also says.



    In the country, after a Christmas described by the authorities as one of the most peaceful of the past few years, Romanians are getting ready for the New Years party. As much as 90% of the accommodation capacity on offer has already been booked, and for the first time, it seems that this year most Romanians chose to spend their New Years break in the country. The most popular destinations remain the areas with rich folk traditions, such as Maramures, Bukovina, and Transylvania. Many felt encouraged to travel after the Romanian Railway Corporation announced a 4% cut in all tariffs and the introduction of special holiday fares with 25% to 56% discounts.




  • Tourist Attractions in Bistrita County

    Tourist Attractions in Bistrita County

    Today’s leisure trip is to northern Romania, Bistrita Nasaud County, an area rife with tourist spots for all tastes. You should start with its seat where you have plenty of monuments, old churches and museum. Then we recommend you go towards the mountains, where you find resorts, beautiful lakes and fascinating caves. The villages in the mountains are repositories of skill and tradition.



    The area is like a country made up of several countries, as we found out from Bogdan Ivan, spokesperson for Bistrita Nasaud County Council:



    “Both geographically and historically, Bistrita County can take tourists back in time through the Saxon burg of Bistrita, one of the historic seven seats of the Saxons in Transylvania, and through the Romanian village, where now, in the 3rd millennium, you can still see peasants living the way they did in early 20th century. Also, the town actually appears in the original novel Dracula, by Bram Stoker, where the protagonist, Jonathan Harker, starts on his way from Bistrita. This area preserves lots of traditions, and we tried to tie those in with the Dracula myth. This materialized in a festival, the Garlic Festival, which has been running for the last two years, in early September, and so far it has attracted at least ten thousand tourists.”



    Any trip has to start off in the town of Bistrita, at the foot of Bargau Mountains, crossed by the river of the same name. The town was first documented in 1264. the old center is a living monument to its rich past. The oldest historical monument in the city is the old church, which is now an Orthodox church, built between 1270 and 1280. A very interesting place is the Sugalete, a complex of 13 buildings with arches, which in the 15th and 16th centuries were the city’s commercial area. Last but not least, the most popular tourist spot is the Evangelical Church downtown, a symbol of the city. The edifice was finalized in its present form in 1563. Here you can see five-century old furnishings, the 13 standards of the Bistrita guilds, and many more. Here is Bogdan Ivan again with details:



    “In addition to history and to our close ties to the past, we have in the township of Bistrita the tallest Transylvanian Evangelical church tower, built of stone. It stands 75 meters tall, and is 450 years old. Tourists can take an elevator up the tower. As our mayor is fond of saying, this is the only Evangelical church tower with a modern elevator between Moscow and Vienna.”



    And now let’s leave Bistrita and head to the mountains. We will find there secluded, archaic places, preserving old traditions, where people lead quiet lives, farming and raising cattle. One of the places you will be loath to leave is the resort of Colibita. The dam lake of the same name is at an altitude of 900 meters, has a surface of 270 ha, and is 13 km long. Andreea Spanu is a tourist agent with the local tourist information center, and she presents the tourist offer:



    “This area is typical of depression geography. In the middle of the depression there lies the dam lake, the main attraction in the area. The depression is in the east of the county, where two mountain massifs meet. In fact, around 2% of Calimani Nature Reservation is on our village land. Most people come here for relaxation. You can trek, you can horse ride, you can take trips by carriage or sleigh. Natural resources, the quality of the air, the pristine water, the flora and the fauna, they are all special. You can also have more extreme forms of fun, like kayaking, rafting, paragliding, mountain climbing, even hunting. The area has a lot to offer.”



    Colibita is a unique place in Eastern Europe, says Bogdan Ivan:



    “The air in the area is comparable with that on Mont Blanc. It has healing properties due to its concentration of negative ions, ozone and iodine. At the same time, you can enjoy a spectacular view. We call Colibita Lake the ‘Sea in the Mountains’, and I think anyone who saw it would agree. In our county you can partake of the local, traditional cuisine. You can discover there recipes passed down the generations for centuries. In Bistrita and Colibita you have plenty of places that make these dishes. At the same time, we have loads of traditional crafts, people who make traditional costumes and footwear, as well as loads of traditional art objects. We also boast the wine made in Lechinta, which is sold under the brand name Liliac. It has won over ten gold medals at wine competitions around the world.”



    A special spot on the tourist map of Bistrita is Beclean Horse Ranch. Here you can admire their Lipizaner horses, the Austro-Hungarian imperial horse, with origins around 1580. Beclean is proud of its Black Lipitzaner, which are pretty rare in the world. Close by, surrounded by mountains, on a side of the road between Vatra Dornei and Bistrita, in Tihuta Pass, is Fantanele Monastery, built in 1928.



    Right now, Bistrita County Council has a project to build an equestrian center on Bargau Valley, on the route described in Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Children as young as three or four can learn horse riding alongside their parents. Tourism development plans include building a wide area for skiing close to Colibita lake.



    You won’t have any problem with finding accommodation. You have B&Bs and hotels of all levels, for all pockets, between 20 and 90 Euro per night, breakfast included. Consider yourself invited to a trip to this beautiful area. We wish you a great trip.

  • Traveler’s Guide

    Traveler’s Guide

    In addition to the presentation of travel offers and attractions in Romania, the Travel Fair also hosted folk shows, demonstrations at craft workshops and virtual visit tours. Holiday offers with a 30% discount were in greatest demand. Loredana Nistor is the manager of a tourist complex including nine three star villas in the Gradistea Gorges, only 7 km far from Bran Castle and 30 km from the city of Brasov.



    “Prices start from 28 euro for a double room per night, breakfast included. We have dry and wet saunas, a jacuzzi, a spa facility, tennis, volleyball and handball grounds. Tourists can ride horses and bikes. There are various tourist routes in the area. The complex stands on a plateau between the Bucegi Mountains and the Piatra Craiului Mountains, in a very nice area. We have foreign tourists coming from all over the world. This very weekend we’ll receive a group from China.”



    Offers for families were among the most appealing offers for the Romanian Black Sea coast.



    Marius Usturoiu is the general manager of a travel agency established in 1998, actually one of the main travel agencies in Romania. He gave us more details.



    “The prices of a seven-day, all inclusive stay in a three star hotel with four star services at the beginning and the end of the season start from 299 Euros per person. In full summer season, the prices range from 350 to 400 Euros per person. The price includes theatre performances, films, beach games and contests, sports competitions, swimming courses.”



    Florina Stefan is a PR expert at the History Museum in Sighisoara, central Romania, a public institution subordinated to the local city hall. The Sighisoara citadel has been promoted at the travel fair for at least 15 years now. As every year, the travel operators present the town, its monuments and other cultural and tourist attractions.



    Any Romanian or foreign tourist visiting Transylvania must see Sighisoara because it is a gem, Florina Stefan says.



    “The best known monument in Sighisoara is the Clock Tower, a 64 m tall monument, which has been housing the History Museum of the town since 1899. We have a rich agenda of cultural events. The Blues Festival is kicking off on March 28th, an event rallying artists from all over the world. Earth Day is also marked on March 28th. On the morning of March 28th, hundreds of volunteers will call for environmental protection and in the evening, shows will take place on the fortress premises. For one hour, lights will be put out and we’ll march through the town carrying lit candles. Museums’ Night has been organized on May 14th for 8 years now. The Craft Fair is held in June and July. The famous Medieval Art Festival, now at its 23rd edition, will be held in the last weekend of July. Then we have the Academic Music festival with musicians from all over the world taking part in it. In late August the Proetnica festival kicks off. All ethnic groups from Romania exhibit their cultural customs, dances, traditional apparel and cuisine. The Halloween is not a traditional festivity, but with so many foreign tourists traveling to Sighisoara, on that day the whole city celebrates. And wrapping up the year is the Customs and Traditions Festival.”



    Geanina Fedeles, advisor to the mayor of Targu Neamt, has extended an invitation for us to travel to north-eastern Romania.



    ”The area boasts a great variety of tourist assets. I should like to begin with the Neamt Fortress and I will continue with the monasteries, of which the best known are the Neamt Monastery, the Agapia Monastery, which was painted by Nicolae Grigorescu himself, then there are also the Secu, Sihla and Sihastria monasteries. The beauty of these sites is literally breathtaking. I saw that foreign tourists take a great interest in nature and in the area’s eco-tourist side. Reason enough for us to join the Vanatori Natural Park in a competition of Romania’s eco-tourist destinations. The park administration has structured its activity in three: the captive aurochs in the Dragos Voda Zoo, the semi-captive aurochs which tourists can admire from a wooden bridge, built at an appreciable height. And, last but not least, I believe it is the only natural park with the aurochs completely at large, though monitored. A great many foreign tourists visit our stand and we are honored by their kind words.”



    Gabriel Bucsa is the representative of Rasnov’s Dino Park, to be opened this summer. It is also Romania’s first such park tailored for those who love adventure and who are also interested in learning about prehistoric life. The dinosaurs that will be on display in Rasnov were manufactured by a firm from Germany, are real-size replicas, strictly observing paleontologists’ advice. With details on that, here is Gabriel Bucsa himself.



    ”Lots of activities for children are being staged within the park, and not only for them. We have built tree-houses, playgrounds, a route including the dinosaurs’ history — 45 all told. The park lies right at the entrance to the Rasnov Fortress. All dinosaurs are placed in the forest. It has a surface area of 1.4 hectares. Guided tours will be organized, with specialized personnel explaining the history of dinosaurs. Guided tours in foreign languages are also on offer. The park will be open from morning until the evening, and the admission ticket includes everything, except for laser shooting. It is an activity tailored for children. They will enter a room where various nature sounds are simulated, and will hunt dinosaurs.”



    Easter holiday packages in Maramures or Bukovina were also included in the offer. For instance, the fee for a four-night and three-day package in both areas starts from 290 Euro per person, for double rooms. The fee includes traditional food, drinks and kids’ access to the playground.