Professional Documents
Culture Documents
By
Marian Zamfirescu
2023/2024
Table of contents
1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………………..3
4. Conclusion...……………………………………………………………………………..19
5. Bibliography...……………………………………………………………….
…………...21
1. Introduction
Romania, a nation rich in culture and history, is becoming more and more of a major
participant in international travel. Romania, a country tucked away in Southeast
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Europe, has a varied terrain that includes the Carpathian Mountains, Transylvanian
castles, and the stunning Black Sea shoreline.
The way Romania's tourism has developed goes beyond travel and recreation; it has
a significant impact on the country's financial and economic environment. The
strategic growth of Romania's tourist industry is emerging as a major driver of the
nation's overall progress as it escapes from the shadows of its Communist past.
This evolution is significant for reasons other than economic ones. It promotes
Romania's distinct character on the international scene and acts as a tool for cultural
diplomacy, encouraging understanding across cultural divides. When travelers
discover Romania's colorful customs and historic landscapes, the nation not only
becomes a popular travel destination but also a cultural ambassador with a wealth of
history to impart.
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Romania's tourist sector has a rich historical background that has influenced its
appeal today. Romania's tourism history dates back to the early 1900s, when
adventurous tourists were drawn to the picturesque scenery and important historical
sites of the nation.
The political and economic ideologies of the mid-20th century, known as the
Communist era (1947–1989), had a distinctive influence on the dynamics of tourism.
It kept a mostly closed-door policy under Communist leadership, restricting exposure
to and travel to other countries. The Iron Curtain, which both physically and
ideologically disconnected the Eastern Bloc from the West, substantially restricted
the flow of tourists in and out of the nation. In spite of this, the state controlled and
managed a supervised type of tourism.
The actions of the authority had distinct impacts on Romania's historical sites. Some
landmarks were modified or repurposed to conform to Communist ideology, while
others were preserved. The country's historical fabric has been impacted by changes
brought about by the emphasis on industrialization and urbanization.
Gaining knowledge about tourism in Romania during the Communist era helps one
understand how political beliefs influenced the storyline and administration of the
sector. Understanding the progress of the industry into the post-Communist era and
the opportunities and difficulties that followed requires an understanding of this
historical backdrop.
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The tourism scene changed dramatically in Romania in the early 1990s as the
country moved from an Iron Curtain to a democratic nation. The nation's natural and
cultural riches, which had previously been restricted by ideological boundaries, are
now open to the entire world.
In the initial years following communism, Romania faced the difficult task of both
conserving its historical heritage and adjusting to the needs of a quickly changing
international tourism industry. The opening of borders allowed a flood of foreign
tourists eager to discover what Romania had to offer. Historical sites, like the painted
monasteries of Bucovina and the medieval castles of Transylvania, have become
major draws for tourists from all over the world who are looking for real cultural
experiences.
Freed from travel restrictions, Romanians started to rediscover their own nation,
which led to a revived interest in the region's natural beauty and cultural legacy. The
identity of Romania's tourist industry was shaped in large part by this home revival,
which struck a balance between attraction to foreign visitors and a sense of national
pride.
Still, difficulties are present. The state of the infrastructure has improved unevenly,
with certain areas not having the facilities needed to handle the growing number of
visitors. Concerns about diversity and sustainable tourist practices are brought up by
a dependency on a few prominent locations, such as Dracula-related landmarks.
Furthermore, perception problems resulting from antiquated preconceptions and
worries about security persist, hindering Romania's rise to prominence in the
international tourism sector.
Romania continues to grow as a player in the international tourist scene despite
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obstacles. The nation's abundant natural resources, rich cultural legacy, and
distinctive experiences have enormous promise. Projects that support sustainable
tourism, such as the Romania Authentic platform, demonstrate a dedication to
ethical travel practices. Driven by a strong will and an increasing recognition of its
potential, Romania's tourism sector is well-positioned to develop further, aiming to
achieve a careful equilibrium between conserving its history and adjusting to the
constantly shifting needs of international tourists.
Over the past ten years, Romania's tourism industry has had a phenomenal
increase, catapulting the nation into the international spotlight as a preferred travel
destination for an ever-widening array of tourists. A number of causes have
contributed to Romania's significant growth in the tourist sector, both locally and
internationally. Within the country, a renewed sense of pride and curiosity about
hidden gems has spurred a boom in domestic travel. Attracted by the revitalization of
historical places and the rise of lively cultural events, Romanians have developed a
keen interest in exploring their own nation. Romania has developed into a fascinating
vacation destination thanks to its pristine scenery, genuine encounters, and the
chance to get away from the typical tourist routes.
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1. Transportation
Airports: Major cities with international airports include Timișoara, Cluj-Napoca, and
Bucharest, providing easy access for visitors from other countries.
Road Network: Romania has made investments to improve its road network, which
facilitates traveler navigation around the nation. A beautiful mountain route, the
Transfăgărăşan Highway, is evidence of this dedication.
2. Accommodation:
Hotels & Resorts: There is a wide variety of lodging options available throughout the
nation, ranging from opulent hotels to quaint guesthouses, to suit a range of tastes
and price points. The demand for hotels in Romania has increased recently, both in
terms of traveler demand and consumer spending. The latter has benefited from the
quick development of aviation, particularly from low-cost carriers that have doubled
Romania's air traffic in the last ten years. The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in
2020 caused the Romanian hotel business to record some of its lowest sales ever.
Nevertheless, in 2022, the market recovered, with revenues reaching over 861
million US dollars.
Rural Areas: In an effort to boost tourism in less-traveled areas, efforts have been
made to support the construction of guesthouses and eco-friendly
lodgings .Accommodations for agrotourism are the most prevalent kind. While not
entirely new, this kind of tourism has gained popularity in Romania in recent years.
Its goal is to bring people to farms or ranches for various purposes, including
hospitality, direct-to-consumer sales, agricultural education, and entertainment and
recreation.
3. Travel Assistance:
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Tour providers: Romania is home to a wide variety of travel companies that offer
experiences tailored to suit different interests. Companies like "Experience
Bucharest" and "Active Travel" specialize in city tours, adventure activities, and
cultural immersions.
Websites such as "TourRadar" and "GetYourGuide" provide a multitude of
excursions tailored specifically to Romania, enabling travelers to experience
everything from the energetic city life to the serene rural surroundings.
History is a treasure that Romania is certainly never short of. There are old towns
and medieval castles all over the country, especially in Sighişoara and Bucharest,
which seem like they belong in a fairytale. You can learn more about the history of
the fabled Dracula at the Bran Castle in the Brașov region. And let's not forget about
the Peles Castle, one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in Romania and a
masterpiece of new Renaissance architecture that shouldn't be missed.
Every region of this nation is deserving of respect and consideration, from the
UNESCO-designated Danube Delta World Heritage Site to the stunning, unharmed
medieval towns; from Romania's bustling capital, Bucharest, to the Black Sea; from
the untamed Carpathian Mountains to the must-see Turda Salt Mine; from
Transylvania to the painted monasteries in Bucovina or the wooden churches and
historic villages at Maramures.
For many tourists, Bucharest, the capital city, is their first stop after arriving to the
"Little Paris of the East," individuals make sure to visit (besides the lastly called
attractions) :
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The country confronts serious challenges due to its lack of infrastructure, especially
in the transportation sector. In order to draw tourists, locations must be easily
accessible by air, rail, and seaports, among other modes of international
transportation. This emphasizes even more how important a reliable domestic
transportation infrastructure is.
The scarcity of competent workers is one of the major issues affecting the tourist
sector. Experts in the sector frequently point out the lack of skills and growing
challenges in hiring and retaining employees. Visitors' experiences are directly
shaped by the competence of the tourism workers, which makes them an essential
component of the tourism offering.
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Significant expenditures are needed for Romania's tourism industry to grow, both in
terms of improving basic infrastructure and the product itself. To address these
objectives, financing sources must be diversified. It is difficult to put into practice a
comprehensive idea of sustainable tourism development; it requires striking a careful
balance between the interests of stakeholders, the environment, and satisfying the
needs of tourists. This calls for ongoing communication among many stakeholders
and long-term marketing strategies.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created previously unheard-of difficulties, which has
added another level of difficulty. Deeper crises may result in significant business and
employment losses, which would affect traveler behavior and make it more difficult
for tourism locations to recover. These difficulties do, however, present chances for
creativity, the creation of fresh marketing plans, the investigation of uncharted
territory, and the introduction of cutting-edge locations. The future of Romania's
tourist industry will be significantly shaped by the strategic planning and cooperative
efforts of stakeholders as they traverse these obstacles.
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3. Overview of Romania's
Principles of Accounting and
Taxation Concerning Tourism
Industry
Simultaneously, taxes like as value-added tax, airport tax, room or bed tax,
environmental tax, property tax, transit tax, profit tax, and import tariffs generate
income for the government from the tourism industry. Taxes are a crucial tool in the
economy since they generate money for investments in services and infrastructure
that promote the growth of the tourism industry.
Total .. .. .. .. ..
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Passenger transport .. .. .. .. ..
supporting services
In 2020, there were 5.0 million foreign arrivals at the border, a 61% reduction over
2019. In 2020, there were 1.0 million fewer international nights in registered
accommodations, a decrease of 81.1%. Following a preliminary rebound in 2021,
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overseas nights increased to 1.8 million, a rise of 83.7% from 2020. This was still
65.4% less than the level in 2019.
The Programme for Tourist Products Development, the Programme for Tourist
Marketing and Promotion, and the transfers from the central budget to the local
budget for tourist investments (which are a part of the Programme for Tourist
Products Development) are the three primary budget lines pertaining to tourism. As
was the case with the state help program for the businesses impacted by the
COVID-19 outbreak, more money might be devoted to tourism. Between 2020 and
2022, the whole tourist budget grew from RON 11.6 million to RON 117.5 million.
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The National Tourism Development Master Plan for Romania 2007–26, which was
created in partnership with the UNWTO, is one of the foundational documents of the
National Tourism Development Strategy, which was produced with the backing of the
World Bank.
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Global Criteria for Sustainable Tourism (GSTC) serve as the foundation for the
system. So far, five tourism destinations have received this recognition, and two
others are under evaluation.
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The special VAT regime is applicable to travel agencies whose operations are
deemed to be related to travel because they act in their own name, for the buyer's
direct benefit, using third-party supplies of goods and services; they seek to provide
a unique service that the agency offers for the benefit of the traveler. This special
VAT regime differs from the standard charging system and is implemented in
accordance with the guidelines and procedures outlined in Article 311 of the Fiscal
Code and the methodological rules for the application of the Fiscal Code that
correspond to the relevant article.
Travel agencies are subject to a special VAT regime when all of the operations they
conduct in connection with a trip are viewed as a single service that they provide for
the benefit of the traveler, or when the circumstances outlined in Article 311,
Paragraph 2 of the Fiscal Code are met:
- The travel agency acts in its own name;
- The travel agency acts for the direct benefit of the traveler;
- The travel agency uses deliveries of goods and services performed by other
persons.
The special VAT regime does not apply if at least one of these conditions is not met,
i.e. when:
- The travel agency acts as an intermediary and not in its own name;
- The travel agency provides services exclusively with its own means (as follows
from Section 85 (2) Methodological rules of application of the Fiscal Code) and does
not use deliveries of goods and services of services performed by other persons;
- The travel agency opts for the normal VAT regime.
The travel agency only collects VAT on its gross profit from providing the services; it
does not collect VAT on the total sum due by the traveler. The benefit made by the
travel agency, less the value added tax contained in that benefit, forms the tax base
for the particular service the business provides.
The government implemented a series of steps following the 2014 tax reform that
resulted in a tax relaxation for workers and enterprises across many industries,
which had a favorable impact on the travel and tourism sector. Employers'
contributions to the pension fund decreased from 20.8% to 15.8% in October 2014.
Value added tax (VAT) on food and beverage items and hotel services was lowered
from 24% to 9% in June 2015, and then to 5% in September 2018. The general VAT
rate dropped from 24% to 20% in January 2016. VAT hit 19% in January 2017,
following yet another decrease. Furthermore, the dividend tax was lowered from 16%
to 5% in 2016.
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After four years, the private sector impacted by these fiscal measures had the
following overall consequences, according to an examination of data from the
Romanian Trade Registry:
-The average number of employees decreased by -3.65% (labor force policies do not
demonstrate improved effects);
-Medium sized enterprises are the only ones that declared an increase in the number
of employees (2.92%).
Additionally, the government provides holiday vouchers to civil officials and grants
and incentives for private sector investments through various initiatives including
"Start-Up Nation" and "The First Leisure Center" ("The First Leisure Center"). These
actions demonstrate the government's ongoing support for the industry.
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4. Conclusion
Nonetheless, there are still issues that need to be resolved, such as unequal
infrastructure development, worries about the diversity of tourism activities, and
persistent perception problems. Along with the need of efficient attraction
management and creative marketing, the necessity of a dependable domestic transit
infrastructure and competent labor is underlined.
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Bibliography
● Media Archives • România Autentică
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