Tourist traveling (incoming, outgoing and domestic): a comparative evolution: past – present – perspective, its place in global flows

5.5 Tourist traveling (incoming, outgoing and domestic): a comparative evolution: past – present – perspective, its place in global flows

Tourist traveling is the result of available cash, spare time but also tradition, and customs concerning tourism. Between the wars, in Romania we can speak of travels and a start of the tourist circulation. The number of usual tourists was low, especially compared to the whole population. Still, before the First World War, tourism associations are formed (The ASTRA Tourism section, SKV – Siebenburgische Karpatenverein) which will begin building cottages in the mountains and organize trips, especially for the youth. The number of lodges is over 90, which reveals a sustained activity. At the same tame, health tourism continues its ascension, resorts such

as Herculane, Sovata, Borsec, Slanic, Ocna Sibiului, etc. being very trendy and places to go for the wealthy, but also to cure the suffering of the poor. We must note that these resorts were

206. Consequences can be illustrated by two statements in spring of 2004 “We’ve met patrons who do not have the needed abilities to lead a hotel, untrained personnel, low quality decorations, insufficient food, of doubtful quality, even dirty sheets” - Paul Mărăşoiu, vice-president RCB after an incognito control. Nicu Radulescu, president of Autorităţii Nationale pentru Turism (ANT) »…since last year, Romania became a preferred destination for European tourists (sic!)… As for the quality of tourism services, this subject must still be debated”

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transformed by the building of personal villas and bases for treatment. Predeal, but even more Sinaia, has a history bound by the moving of the royal court to Sinaia during the summer. On the seashore, as well, the first “establishments” have their origins in this same period, especially Eforie, Mamaia and Techirghiol, numerous private villas being a testimony even today. A powerful stimulant is given by the creation of the National Tourism Office (ONT), and the Romanian Automobile Club (ACR) (in Bucharest, the Aero club was already created – it had as guests Saint-Exupery, Berlioth, etc. – and there were tennis and golf courses where the Romanian aristocracy would mingle, these also being lobby locations). The hotel network was pretty well developed for those times²⁰⁷, the famous Orient Express traveled across the country and the ship Transilvania had regular voyages. International mass tourism had not yet been born.

the communists were quick to take over establishments for sport and f the Popular Republic of Romania passed on to the Central Syndicate Council the entire base which was reorganized by the issuing of HCM 9/1960 “to create better conditions for working people and firstly for the workers in base industries”. It came to be, that people, with flags in their hands, to be granted holidays as prizes. The development of cabins in the mountains, especially at the beginning of the 5^th decade, was, more than likely, a diversion to attract partisan fans, or even more sure to test the locals’ attitude and to identify anti-communist opinion leaders.

The modernizing of mass tourism villas could not be a successful process because the exploitation was costly, but at that time, the economic criteria did not matter, the political decision prevailed, which, by seeking legitimacy, wanted to prove the care towards workers and the superiority of the new political system. The development of sport halls, treatment and resting facilities is relatively slow until CAER decides that Romania must develop the seashore as a warm sea for the entire soviet block, although the number of sunny days was clearly inferior to that of Yugoslavia (however, they were in “quarantine”). The hotel construction begins, and after 1960 – 1965 their projection to international standards, both to take on the predictable flow of foreign tourists, but more precisely to show the world the superiority of the socialist world. Even an imaginary travel to the seaside reveals this aspect and its different stages. At the same time, mountain tourism, cheap and pleasant for the young, was soaring. Mass tourism, at least internal, was a reality. The beginning of international incoming had a rather burlesque nature: tourists were not allowed to with locals was basically prohibited, guide comments was ure propaganda, while Cold War tensions and tito-istic deviation became more intense. But, from p, the propaganda effect of the new buildings was the main means of exploitation of the Ceausescu era, which was just beginning: massive factories, blocks of flats, a massive renovation of historical museums (medieval Sibiu was basically renovated as a whole, and the museum of cultural traditions was already opened for visits). At the same time, outgoing tourism develops; the number of Romanian tourists which leave abroad was increasing, becoming even numerous at times. And here participation terms were rough, limitations across the CAER for cash money transformed trips into commercial voyages.

In conclusion, mass tourism, representing a safe warranty of the occupation of tourist bases, reached 3.2 million foreign tourists in 1975 (2.6 on the clearing relationship and 0.6 million on the free currency market) and 3.6 million Romanian tourists (2.4 internal travels, 0.8 million for treatment and 0.3 million abroad) – these numbers not including the tourists trough BTT or own syndicate bases, CASCOM, UNCAP), with a tendency for the increase of Romanian tourists. The structure of the tourists explains the stalemate in which the actual tourism base finds itself. By

After 1944,

relaxation. The beginning was the passage of SKV to the Organization of Popular Sport in 1945, as a result of the loss of the war, and later, in 1947, trough nationalization or just force.²⁰⁸ The government o

leave the hotel unsupervised, contact p

1968, until 1975-77 the situation loosens u

207 For Bucharest see Paraschiv, I., Iliescu, T. – De la hanul Şerban Vodă la hotel Intercontinental - Ed. Sport Turism, Bucureşti 1979, and for cottages see Hermann H., Roth, H, - Der Siebenburgische Karpatenverein 1880-1945 - Gedenkban , Wort und Wel Verlag 1947

208 Three if the 14 villas of Paltinis resort did not even exist in the inventory before 1989, being “taken over” by simple dispatch of the first secretary in 1947. The situation is general, in resorts across the country

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losing external markets of the former CAER, eliminating the organized systems for internal tourism and leaving everything to the regulatory system of the free market (a situation avoided in the west), by issuing laws for several unproductive management systems, tourists bases were destroyed. Their reconstruction, or conversion, in happy cases, requires serious investments, in the terms that Romanian economy can not yet maintain, for this resulting sector, neither by products nor services, nor not by generating enough purchasing power.

For illustration, we reveal the number of people in the country, both in resting facilities and health treatment in balneo-climateric resorts, pupils’ camps and pre-school colonies - thousands

ource: Romania’s Statistic Yearbook 1980

omania’s international tourism (millions)

Sour

docum

ve shown when we talked about the accommodation basis. But, comparing data concerning nights docum

ve shown when we talked about the accommodation basis. But, comparing data concerning nights

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

0%

camps 65780 108024 124094 91310 99003 305453 356210

trearment 75375 162291 226412 310827 366664 573509 692758 resting 125836 146638 230536 318198 525904 890493 1267522

1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1979

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000

Arrivals 5786 5898 5445 5205 5149 4831 5224 5264 Departures 10757 10105 5737 5748 6243 6893 6274 6388 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 S

R

ce: Romania’s Statistic Yearbook 2000,2001

After 1989, international tourism knows two periods: the one of massive departures for entation of Romanians towards the west (1990 - 1994) and the stabilization period, beginning with 1995. The table indicates a relative stability in international tourism, as we ha

2000,2001

After 1989, international tourism knows two periods: the one of massive departures for entation of Romanians towards the west (1990 - 1994) and the stabilization period, beginning with 1995. The table indicates a relative stability in international tourism, as we ha

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spent in accommodations with departures trough tourism agencies and data above we must conclude that transit is high in international tourism, like visits to the relatives, classical tourism, organized or not, and concerning departures abroad, outgoings for trader tourism in close countries being the main component, close to or just after leaving to relatives, for work, etc. Pure tourism represents circa 1% of the population, a small number of tourists practicing tourism on their own (at least until visas became extinct, it was also very hard).²⁰⁹

Inadvertencies of the statistical system are revealed from the motivation of travels as well. For the outgoing the percentage is 93%, consisting of holidays, recreation, resting, and this being obviously fake. In incoming, transit is 37%, personal or professional affairs being 3%, and leaving 48% to the debate, which theoretically stands for “relaxation, recreation and holidays”.

This is why, only by correlating the structure of the offer and its degree of profitability can we formulate a realistic conclusion, due to lack of studies and independent researches. In the essence, not have an offer for international tourism due to lack of estinations built at the actual level of competitive tourism, which forces us to rethink our

r tourism operators but also to reorganize the specific educational system.

otivation of arrivals and departures from and to Romania in 1998 it remains stated that Romania does

d

information system fo M

209 It is relevant to show that the number of tourists left for New Year’s Eve in 2003 / 2004 by tourism agencies was 8-10.000. The average sum allocated by Romanian tourists was 150 euro / internal and 500 euros / external. Maximum prices were 700 euros / for a New Year’s Eve in the country, on Prahova Valley, and for an exotic destination 2000-2500 euros.

Precările vizitatorilor români

93%

2%

3%

2%

resting, recreation business and personal reasons small frontier traffic accompanying others

Si i r

48 3%%

sirile viz tatorilo străini

% 37%

2%10

resting, rec eationr in transit

business a person easonnd al r s small frontier traffic

accompanying others

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Source: Romania’s Statistic Yearbook 2000

In absolute numbers

Source: Romania’s Statistic Yearbook 2000

One can notice a decrease in both chapters. If we were to analyze the data from Annex 117 we will notice that most tourists come from close-by countries. This indicates that Romania does not exist in significant international tourist flows. At the same time, correlating data in Annex 118 we can observe with surprise the large number of departures towards Yugoslavia, precisely at the time of the war, which, aside from clearly illustrating a statistical lacking, gives reason for the refusal of western countries to pay for war damage. Large departures towards Hungary reveal illegal departures towards the west, as well as the normal level, close to E.U. regulations, concern

country without tourism, social contract, with an economy without perspective. According to proposals by Mesarivoc and Pestel we are to be included, at least globally, in the area of costs for keeping quiet and good-living. But these funds are by definition at their minimum levels.

So, as we have seen in the hotel sector, to exist in the global world of tourism, we must invest money, labor and wisdom on our own.

But tourism is taking place trough specific structures, of invisible nature: agencies, insurance, promotion, etc.: they should be the mediums of international communication and the makers of tourism offers. Many times, the genesis of tourism agencies was a refusal of their creators to become unemployed, so they left without the sunken capital, and became orphans.

International tourism in Romania

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 Purpose of visits – thousands

Arrivals of foreign visitors in Romania 5786 5898 5445 5205 5149 4831 -rest, relaxation, holidays 2742 2642 2607 2833 2774 2784

-in transit 2137 2364 1920 1522 1568 1289

-business and personal reasons 169 154 150 194 183 182

-small frontier traffic 131 97 38 15 22 16

-accompanying others 607 641 730 641 602 560 Departures of Romanians abroad 10757 10105 5737 5748 6243 6893 -rest, relaxation, holidays 10002 9298 5022 5184 5535 6129

-in transit 193 228 197 144 187 205

-business and personal reasons 320 262 137 67 110 117 -small frontier traffic 242 317 381 353 411 442

ing prices in the neighboring country.

Correlating data from Annex 12 with those from Annex 6, we notice a dramatic decrease of internal tourism. This reveals, from the globalization point of view, that we are catalogued as a

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Whoever will speak with an “x” from “Romania”: what trust can a license released by the Tourism Ministry for just 200 USD guaranty fund? Still, a positive trend can be seen. If the private effort is not strong enough: the state must at least protect it. Especially concerning incoming, without the destination image, the product image and state warranty or similar structures, we are bound to small arrangements for known people and friends in the west. Neckerman, TUI, Robinson, Club Mediterranee, etc., real tourism oligopolies, treat the departure of tourists with the state, not with companies. All over the world. And arrivals as well. This is the tourism industry. Do we have a tourism minister which was welcomed by the CEO of Thomas Cook? Because this is the safe way for image improvement. There will be harsh conditions: but the others managed to overcome them.

Let us add the mutations which the internet brings and which they themselves do not control as they should. But again, the image, credibility: who are Romania or a Romanian tour-operator, and can I trust him? And passage trough a local agency means double the costs and labor. Romanian tour-operators wasted their nerves ever since 1990, for elementary rights such as that of receiving currency in Romania as payment and to introduce it in accounting evidence. And there is still a long way to go until they will be able to pay for services between themselves by currency, to avoid a 5-10% increase of costs, due to banking operations and loss of value. It is as if a dollar is not the same either in an agency in Cluj or at the hotel in Bucharest or it is not a part of the same banking system

. In 1977, for example, the Tourism Ministry allocated 77.8 million lei for the “centralized tourist commercial (propaganda²¹⁰)” (other than the one made by ONT Carpati, O ra IA, ONT Brasov) of which: printing for internal tourism: 4.9 million, printing for international tourism .9 million, advertising for international tourism 1.3 million, movies 6.9 million ernal pre vertising 24.2 million, etc.

The physical editorial production was over 1000 titles and roughly 17 million copies. We were financing 3 agencies in soci ountries w 00 thousand lei and with 2.5 million lei currency (1 lei currency = 4.2 USD) 15 agencies in western countries, 13 of which in Europe. It is certain that, for example, in 1995, the stands used at international fairs were those built in the seventh ecade. Today, the situation, at least concerning fairs and expositions changed radically, but all any country. Various structures, with direct or mediated up

ncial power imposes a slow rhythm.

abroad or by the country subsidy, for granting a visa. In stead of becoming a financing source they

!

We must also include the state communication system NT Lito l, ACR IT

21

, ext ss ad

alist c ith 2 d

efforts are, basically, null and void in the absence of an offer. At least now, we have a slogan:

“simply surprising”. One can not expect Romanian tour – operators to sustain advertising ampaigns211. This is not a fashion in

c

s port from the state are the ones who have this difficult task. IT investments are also of the essence. Just sites mean nothing. Today, the potential tourist from a rich country navigates portals and compares offers of various destinations, detailed and appetizingly presented. After a careful analysis, it passes to tourism agencies which are mostly connected to the intranet (in Romania, this is also lacking, due to high costs). Moreover, he does not look for a country, rather “an experience” a type of holiday in every chosen destination. Moreover, costs regarding the actualization of sites on search engines are very high. Efforts made by a few private Romanian

rms are remarkable, but the low fina fi

A particular situation is that of insurance. Even more scandals rocked the foundations of tourism insurance. In essence, they are a certain supplementary tax perceived by the insurance

210 The term «propaganda » designates politics and refers to the statement made concerning using mass tourism as means of political propaganda. Today, things have not change; rather they’ve obtained a new “coat”. Even today, Greece has guides acknowledged by the Greek government as guides; within museum or sites any other explanation by other guides is forbidden. The same goes for other countries.

211 Romanian tourism will be promoted in 2004 with symbolic sums, the ability of tourism agencies to increase their expenses for advertising being pretty limited (according to ANAT). Most tourism agencies allocate 20-30000

EURO/year (ANAT spends 200-250.000 EURO/year) to make its products known. One must underline that only circa 10% of Romania’s population can travel by tourism agencies, which makes funds available relatively small. In 2004, we will have classical methods employed, especially insisting on flyers, spots or participating in major tourist fairs in Madrid, Berlin, London. Most expenses are made by the Ministry of Transportation, Constructions and Tourism.

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are an element for price increase, with no other services in counterparty. From the terms of insurance it is obvious that it is not of any benefice towards tourism (until 1997 – 1998 the terms were even more precarious) in exchange however, a good sum of money for the insurer, who quickly repatriates his money. Who are the insurers? Large insurance houses in the west, which established local structures here and in the rest of Eastern Europe and ensure a profit source with no risk. The entry of transnational corporations in this field was the quickest, by using consulates which required the insurance policy. Romanian companies lost their boom years (1990 - 1994) when most underground affairs developed (at 40 million tourists departed, one can imagine 35 million insurance policies, and from those, only an insignificant number has been used, and this was only in Romania, for 4 years), the sums involved being very big. This was known to the government as well as to consulates. Moreover, “repatriation insurance” for tourism companies was made, to differentiate grey – area tourism, and was not taken into account until the ANAT had the force to impose the preferred solution for the E.U being the liberalization of visas and to send Romanian repatriations on the risk of the Romanian state, for illegal travelers in the Schengen area. Insurance, a basic source with no risk, remained developed by accords with Romanian insurance houses. For the actual situation of Romanian tourism, an analysis of the external balance sheets is needed, which remains in the red.

International tourism balance sheet – million USD -

Years Income Expenses Balance 1985

• Large variations are due to methodological modifications (currency of tourism agencies is no longer included)

• Source: CNS, Romania’s Statistic Yearbook, 1998, p.729 and CNS, Trimester statistic Yearbook, no. 1/2000 after Rodica Minciu – Economia Turismului

The conclusion is obvious and comes from within. But at the same time we reiterate the al system for whole tourism areas, especially leaving abroad.

nderground transfers are added. The bankruptcy of the Turkish

o

multiple ways to escape the statistic This, on the illegal path, to which u

Romanian Bank reveals the existence of major illegal transfers. Add a bonus of 10000 USD for every driver which smuggled on the Bucharest Istanbul route. 45-50 buses per day were the usual route. There are cases of companies especially created for the transfer of illegal profits obtained in Romania. And only towards Turkey.

5.6 The integration of Romanian tourism within global structures: multinational structures,

Im Dokument Globalization and Tourism: Study case Romania (Seite 174-180)