FAPT's Martin says trips in country should be mandatory so pupils get to know Romania

If I were the Tourism Minister, I would convince the Education Minister to introduce the obligation to organise trips with domestic destinations for pupils, so they can firstly know their country, history and geography and then countries such as Spain, Italy or France, President of the Federation of Romania's Tourism Promotion Associations (FAPT) Corina Martin stated.

"Years ago, as President of the ANAT [Romania's National Association of Travel Agencies], I pleaded so that trips and tours that were organised in schools by teachers, be approved by county school inspectorates only if they are organised through tourism agencies (authorised in this matter). If that Protocol, which was concluded back then, worked, the travel agencies would have a more consistent connection with school inspectorates and this direct communication would generate more trips and tours with pupils in Romania and less outside the country. Certainly, the Centennial theme should be this year a mandatory one," the FAPT President mentioned.

In respect to the promotional offers at international fairs of some cultural circuits dedicated to the Centennial Year, Corina Martin says this is an event with relevance only for the Romanians and the national tourism market.

"I don't have any knowledge of tourist offers relating to the Centennial Year, but this is natural because the event is relevant only to Romanians and the national tourism market, and not foreign agencies and tourists, for their reasons to chose Romanian tourism should be altogether different and take into account offers, services, infrastructure, attractive packages in terms of access (charter flight or direct flight) and prices, traditions, attractions, experiences," Corina Martin says.

According to her, Moldova and Israel would have been the countries where such cultural circuits would have attracted foreigners.

"In Moldova we have a market of possible tourists with so close elements, but not similar to the national market. History, culture, traditions, the same language are essential elements which could make the Centennial Year attract many more tourists in Romania this year, compared to other years. However, the price, services and experiences received for the cost are still the essential reasons for which tourists chose a destination. Israel might also be a sensible market to this topic, there is an important community of Jewish born and gone from Romania, who still want to pay it a visit, all the more given this historic reason," the FAPT President stated.

Corina Martin underscored that she had seen at least one offer proposing a city break in Alba Iulia for 1 December 2018.

"I estimate that such offers will appear from the domestic tour operators. After all, for a demand to exist, there must first be offers, and any travel agency that launches new ideas, routes and circuits with original themes will also want to propose a weekend or tourist circuit to highlight the Centennial Year, a truly special event," says Corina Martin.

The FAPT President believes that the tourism promotion associations of Romania must continue in 2018 to define their own Tourism Development and Promotion Strategy for the county or region that they represent, even in the absence of a National Promotion Strategy.

"Nobody from Bucharest has to come and establish what and how Sibiu or Timisoara or Brasov must be promoted," Martin says. "The coherence and consistency of local and regional promotion will eventually determine the real reform at central level, where, unfortunately, things are still not moving enough," she added. AGERPRES (RO - author: Carmen Marinescu, editor: Nicoleta Gherasi; EN - author: Rodica State, editor: Adina Panaitescu)