BLUE AIR: novelties for summer 2012
The first smart flying company in Romania launched a new direct connection: Bacau – Catania, operating March 25 – October 27, 2012. Flights are scheduled every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. For the moment the following destinations have been announced in the summer 2012 schedule: Bucharest to Barcelona, Madrid, Stuttgart, Bologna, Milano (Bergamo), Lisbon, Rome and back; Bacău to Brussels, Dublin, London and back; Sibiu to Stuttgart and back. For the moment there are limited special offer tickets, starting 14.99 euro/segment on www.blueairweb.com or through Call Center (1499) and partner agencies.
ELENA UDREA: „Europe needs to share the same brand!”
The European Commission invited Romania to participate in a tourism pilot-project. Antonio Tajani, vice-president of the Commission, said that the initiative aims to connect several air carriers with important tour-operators in order to attract as many tourists from Latin America as possible. Especially attractive packages are to be created for the people that will choose to come in out of season periods. For the moment Brazil, Chile and Argentina have shown interest in this plan, signing agreements.
Romania is also interested in this European project. Minister Elena Udrea underlined in a discussion with vice-president Tajani that “in the future European budget for 2014-2020, there is a need for a strong financial support of tourism and Europe will need to have a tourist brand. Other two markets to be attracted with special packages and products are Russia and China”.
Bucovina and Transylvania mesmerized FIJET
Romania has been the host of the 53rd Congress of FIJET (World Federation of Tourism Journalists and Writers). The main theme of the presentations and discussion in the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest has been World Cultural Heritage in Travel Press (explore the Carpathian garden). Over 200 journalist from 30 countries participated at the event, including guests from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, USA, Canada, Panama, Mexico and Venezuela. After the formalities in Bucharest the travel writers had the chance to go and explore major tourist attractions in Bucovina and Transylvania areas. The Congress has been organized and sustained by The Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism in a partnership with FIJET, having as a basis the project created by The Tourism Press Club – FIJET Romania.
FIJET is the oldest professional association of the travel writers and journalist in the world, created as a non-profit organization, in 1954 Paris. The federation has 800 members in 40 countries worldwide.
IBIS – 10 years
Ibis hotels in Romania celebrate 10 years since the opening of the first location in Bucharest, North Train Station area. One of the events that marked the moment was the inauguration of two new conference rooms in Ibis Gara de Nord. Enescu B and Brahms required 50.000 euro and have 70, respectively 60 seats. Ioan Aurel David, general director of Ibis Romania said: “In the last 10 years we had the privilege of being chosen by over 1.3 million guests. We have been the partners of over 600 companies in organizing their conference and business events. Also more than 300 collaborators started or developed their carriers with us”.
There are now four Ibis hotels, in Bucharest, Constanţa and Sibiu, rated 3 stars and offering a total of 760 rooms. The hotels are a property of the Continental Hotels Group, being operated by Accor.
InterContinental is again Romania’s Leading
Over 183.000 tourism professionals in 160 countries analyzed and voted 500 companies and organizations in Europe. The campaign concluded with the World Travel Awards. For the second year in a row InterContinental Bucuresti won the distinction Romania’s Leading Hotel, the nomination joining the 40 years celebrations of the hotel in 2011. “The whole team of the hotel deserves this prize, for its devotement and professionalism. 
I am very pleased that our efforts of offering to our guests quality and best services have been again appreciated through this prestigious prize” – said Marten Schoenrock, general director of InterContinental Bucuresti.
The InterContinental Hotels & Resorts chain also won the prize for being the hotel brand of the year in Europe.
New concept at RTF
The 26th edition of the Romanian Tourism Fair – autumn 2011, November 3-6, will bring together over 100 tourism companies and organizations. Romexpo, the promoter of the fair, announced a new exhibition concept for this edition. The fair will show three pavilions, structured as it follows: C1 – Romanian travel agencies and tour-operators; C2 – dedicated to promoting Romania as a tourist destination will unite authorities, MICE specialists, resorts, transport and insurance companies, booking systems, etc; C3 – international guests, from embassies to tourism promotion offices. For more info one can go on www.targuldeturism.ro. Traveller Magazin is one of the media partners of this event.
9 for adventure
A study of George Washington University in a partnership with Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) and Vital Wave Consulting analyzed over 160 countries, regarding their adventure tourism potential. The results show that Romania is placed on the no. 9 position at this chapter. As a matter of fact, the index shows two categories of countries: developed and under development. Romania is listed in the second category. The study of the American university evaluates not necessarily the actual popularity of the destinations but the potential and the characteristics of this tourism segment, based on exploring different cultures.
Romania is back in the WTO elite
This month, in South Korea, Romania has been invited to play for a year the prime-vice-president role in the Executive Committee of the World Tourism Organization. „We are very proud of this success, showing that WTO trusts us, as well as the member countries appreciation of the evolution of tourism in Romania.” – said Elena Udrea, after the voting session ended.
WTO, specialized organization of the United Nations, was born in 1925, in Haga, as a Union of the Official Organizations for Tourism Publicity, its actual name dating back to 1975. Romania is one of the founder members. In 2009 Romania was in the Executive Council of the organization, and last year had the vice-president position. WTO now counts 154 member states and 7 associated members.
