Tomato sauce and plastic fangs for American tourists

Romanian Tourism minister Dan Matei Agathon yesterday told the press conference closing the Berlin International Tourism Bourse that several German tour-operators would come back on the Romanian market.

He mentioned ITS Reisen, one of the largest tour-operators in Europe, which had to withdraw from Romania due to the aberrant decisions made by former dictator Ceausescu. “ITS will send again German tourists to spend the holidays at the Black Sea next season,” the minister said.

He added that another large company, Condors& Neckermann, confirmed it was willing to double the number of German tourists sent in Romania. The representatives of TUI, another important tour-operator in Europe, are expected to meet with Romanian authorities soon.

“It is obvious that Romanian tourism can hardly be re-launched on the German market without the participation of these three large companies,” the Romanian minister stated.

Dan Matei Agathon reinforced the commitment to finalise Romanian tourism privatisation by December 31, 2001. “Aren’t you too optimistic about that?” a German journalist asked.

Agathon replied that he was positive about the process’ success, adding that he would largely simplify the procedures for selling the 51 state-owned tourism companies and that Parliament was mulling over a law to speed up privatisation in this field.

For instance, Neptun-Olimp company will split in 30 smaller companies for a quicker finalisation of the privatisation process. “Nobody can buy Neptun-Olimp’s 70 hotels in bulk. The odds to sell them will increase if we offer 2-3 hotels in a package,” Agathon explained.

The Romanian minister also told international media representatives about the large investment projects in this field, devised by Adrian Nastase-led Government.

He announced that a national company called Europa SA and having a majority state capital would be created in order to build a new seaside resort, whose works are scheduled to begin this spring and will conclude over the next three years and a half.

As for the rehabilitation of Predeal-Azuga region, Agathon added that skiers would be offered three new tracks supplied with artificial snow starting with the next season.

The Tourism Ministry will hire a company specialised in entertainment parks in order to develop Dracula Land project. “There will be tunnels with vampires, bats and all the required decorations. If American tourists want blood, we will offer them some tomato sauce and plastic fangs,” the minister explained.

He added that a delegation of the Spanish group Sol Media was expected to arrive at Bucharest by the end of this month.

The Spanish group, which holds more than 400 hotels throughout the world, will meet with Romanian authorities in order to discuss about the possibility to invest on the Romanian tourism market.