The General Council of Bucharest adopted the measure on 23 December, only days after the draft proposal was first published. From 2026, visitors staying overnight in the city will be required to pay a fixed tourist tax of 10 Romanian Leu, roughly equivalent to two euros, per night.

City officials say the levy is expected to generate around 15 million Romanian Leu annually, close to 2.9 million euros, which will be earmarked for promoting Bucharest as a tourist destination. However, the speed at which the tax was approved and the lack of detail surrounding how the funds will be spent have prompted criticism from parts of the tourism industry.

How the new tourist tax will work

Under the new system, every tourist staying in registered accommodation in Bucharest will pay the same amount per night, regardless of the price category of the hotel or rental property. This differs from tourist taxes in many other European cities, where charges are often linked to accommodation cost or hotel star rating.

The tax will be collected directly by accommodation providers, as well as by online booking platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com, or through travel agencies. According to local media, individuals who fail to comply could face fines of up to 1,500 Romanian Leu, while businesses may be fined as much as 4,000 Romanian Leu.

Deputy Mayor Stelian Bujduveanu has defended the measure, arguing that the new tax will generate added value for the city. He said the revenue would support promotional campaigns and events designed to increase Bucharest’s visibility and competitiveness on the European city break market.

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Industry backlash and transparency concerns

Despite these assurances, the introduction of the tax has been met with resistance from hotel operators and tourism representatives. The Federation of the Romanian Hotel Industry has warned that the measure risks undermining Bucharest’s recent tourism growth, particularly if the funds are not managed transparently.

Industry leaders argue that the legislation was adopted hastily and without sufficient consultation. They also point to the absence of a clear and publicly available strategy detailing how the revenue will be invested. According to the federation, tourism development requires long term planning and partnership rather than what it described as administrative improvisation.

The federation has also expressed concern that the tax could make Bucharest less competitive at a time when travellers are increasingly price sensitive, particularly in the city break segment.

A familiar idea with mixed results

While the new tax has sparked debate, it is not the first time Bucharest has attempted to use a tourism levy to fund promotion. A similar tax was introduced in 2017, representing one percent of accommodation prices, with the aim of marketing the city abroad.

At the time, city officials acknowledged that previous versions of the tax had generated around one million euros per year but had largely gone unused for tourism promotion. Authorities pledged to change that approach by investing in marketing campaigns, digital promotion, international tourism fairs and partnerships with airlines and travel agencies.

Bucharest has seen steady growth in visitor numbers over the past decade. Between 2009 and 2016, it ranked among Europe’s fastest growing destinations for international arrivals. Yet despite rising visitor numbers, spending by foreign tourists has historically lagged behind comparable cities in the region.

In recent years, Bucharest has attracted renewed attention thanks to its affordability, diverse architecture, vibrant nightlife and a growing social media presence, including viral exposure for its large thermal spa complex.

L’article Bucharest introduces new tourist tax from 2026 amid industry concerns est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Dracula Land aims to become “the largest entertainment, retail, and technology destination on the continent, transforming the country into a new global entertainment hub.” It is described as a hybrid ecosystem combining a “physical destination, a digital universe and a scalable intellectual property.”

Often dubbed “Transylvanian Disneyland,” the park is set to feature a water park, thermal spa, shopping district, and entertainment area incorporating a tech hub.

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Designed by Chris Lange, the former creative director at Europa-Park, the park is said to be “one of the most significant theme park developments currently underway in Europe,” according to the industry website ThemeParks-EU.

AI-generated images have been released to provide a tangible idea of what the park will ultimately look like. Spanning more than 780,000 square metres, the site features six themed zones with 40 attractions.

The Moonlit District will act as the main entrance and is designed to resemble a main street in Bucharest, complete with signature attractions, extended shopping hours, and dining options. The Family Kingdom is centred on vampires and other supernatural creatures from around the world, combining rides with experiences suitable for families and toddlers.

Transylvania is presented as a forest and village setting centred around major rides, and Dracula’s Castle serves as a landmark attraction with a maze and a flagship rollercoaster. Port of New Orleans draws on Mardi Gras imagery with carnival-style attractions, while London Town adopts Victorian London themes, offering period-inspired rides and entertainment.

In addition to the six themed zones, the plans include a full water park and a thermal spa with at least 30 water attractions.

Guests will be able to stay on site in one of three themed accommodation options: the four-star Dracula Grand Hotel, the three-star Dracula Family Hotel, and the Dracula Inn. Together, they will offer around 1,200 rooms.

Founder Dragoș Dobrescu has described Dracula Land as “a national project,” saying it brings together “discipline, rigour, vision, and the ability to bring together complex teams with very different specialisations,” while adding that the project aims to create landmarks rather than “simple real estate developments.” The site is expected to be located around 20 minutes from Bucharest Airport.

The developers say they are targeting three million visitors per year. No official opening date or ticket prices have yet been announced, though the first phase could launch in 2027. Promoters say the project is expected to create around 5,000 tourism-related jobs, both directly and indirectly, with an estimated economic impact of €5 billion over the next ten years.

On its website, Dracula Land explains that “cultural tourism and experience-based entertainment are growing faster than traditional leisure,” citing 32 per cent year-on-year market growth. The site also positions itself as filling a “regional gap,” stating that Central and Eastern Europe currently lack a branded destination of this kind on a global scale. It notes that the Dracula myth enjoys “82 per cent global fame,” while remaining commercially underdeveloped and banks on bridging the gap.

L’article From myth to megaproject Romania bets on Dracula Land est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

When Romania was added to the visa-free travel list in January 2025, it was the 43^rd country to be admitted to the program and the 4^th country to be added by the Biden administration (after Croatia, Israel, and Qatar). At that time, a statement was issued saying that Romania had met stringent security requirements, such as entering into partnerships with US law enforcement to combat terrorism and other crimes. Romanians were set to be able to make use of the new program around 31 March 2025. US citizens were already able to visit Romania for a maximum duration of 90 days for tourism or business purposes without a visa.

Felicitări pentru binemeritata accedere în #VisaWaiver! @GuvernulRo, Gheorghe Hagi și tuturor românilor care ne-au fost alături, făcând posibil acest succes comun și consolidând parteneriatul nostru strategic. pic.twitter.com/Vts46Crysh

— Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec (@USAmbRO) January 10, 2025

However, that measure was paused by the Department of Homeland Security in late March. After a review of the decision, the visa waiver has now been revoked in order to protect the integrity of the program and to ensure border and immigration security.

“Maintaining the Visa Waiver Program’s high standards is essential to our national security. In light of this Administration’s focus on border and immigration security, the Secretary of Homeland Security has decided, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to rescind Romania’s VWP designation effective immediately. We are grateful for Romania’s close partnership over the years to enhance security cooperation. Romania may be reconsidered for VWP admission in the future,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin in a statement.

„În calitate de secretar de stat, voi continua să folosesc toată puterea de care dispun pentru a proteja poporul american și a apăra națiunea noastră de invazia străină.” – @SecRubio#SecuringUSBorders pic.twitter.com/dUa9OjzeMP

— U.S. Embassy Bucharest (@AmbasadaSUA) May 6, 2025

Romania’s shaken political landscape

As to why exactly the visa waiver has been revoked, some think it might have something to do with Romania’s political landscape. Vice President of the US JD Vance criticised Romania in February 2025 as the country cancelled last year’s presidential round due to allegations of illegal campaigning and Russian interference when ultranationalist Călin Georgescu won the first round of the elections. 

Hard-right presidential candidate George Simion, who won the first round of the do-over elections on Sunday 4 May and is the favourite for the runoff on 18 May, has already predicted that the visa waiver for Romania will be reinstated soon. The 38-year-old is an admirer of Trump and a believer in a “strong NATO” although he questions its support of Ukraine. He has proved especially popular amongst the Romanian diaspora, with 70% of votes in Italy, Spain, and Germany.

Romania meets all democratic standards for organising the presidential election.

Together with , our trusted friend and ally, and Vice Chair James E “Trey” Trainor, III @FEC, we’ll work to ensure Romanians trust that our democracy is strong. pic.twitter.com/RAuZbl4jjy

— Marcel Ciolacu (@CiolacuMarcel) May 3, 2025

“The Romanian Government is ready to work with its American partners to strengthen security at the US borders. At the same time, the Government believes that the election of a new President of Romania, following the elections of 4 and 18 May, may represent the most important moment for our country to ask our American partners to resume the process of acceptance into the Visa Waiver Programme,” Romanian reacted in a statement.

The removal of Romania from the Visa Waiver Programme marks a significant shift in US-Romanian relations. As the country navigates a turbulent political transition, the decision underscores the challenges of maintaining international cooperation amid concerns over governance, electoral integrity, and regional security.

L’article Trump administration removes Romania from visa-free travel list est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Claudia Tapardel, WTTA President and former Member of the European Parliament — opened the event with a strong emphasis on collaboration and partnership. In a statement to Travel Tomorrow, she said the conference served as “a call to action for all women in transport and tourism.” Women, Tapardel says, can unite “their energy, strength, and vision to shape a better future, both on an individual level and for the broader economic environment.” 

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Публикация от Claudia Tapardel (@claudia.tapardel)

Women make “indispensable contribution”

Corneliu Bodea, CEO of Adrem and President of the Romanian Energy Center, emphasized the need to support women’s entrepreneurship and stressed the importance of gender equity to competitivity.  

Taking part in the panel discussion on “Leadership and Life”, senior figures from Bucharest’s hotel industry, as well as aviation and business development professionals, shared insights on achieving an optimal work-life balance through what a press release called an “integrated approach to excellence.”

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Публикация от WTTA – Women in Transport & Tourism Association (@wtta.association)

Enjoying tourism as experts and consumers

Tapardel told Travel Tomorrow that her personal takeaways from the session included the understanding that achieving balance is “a dynamic journey” that “begins with setting clear objectives and prioritizing projects that resonate deeply with my vision—while also having the courage to say “no” to what doesn’t align with my goals.” She added that “exploring new destinations and enjoying the world of transport and tourism both as an expert and as a consumer transforms challenges into opportunities for creative inspiration. A supportive family and partner are essential, creating a harmonious environment where work is left behind during those precious moments that truly recharge us.”

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Публикация от Claudia Tapardel (@claudia.tapardel)

During proceedings at the Grand Continental Hotel Bucharest, the future of Romanian tourism was also on the menu. Three emblematic figures of Romanian tourism — Simona Constantinescu, President of the Romanian Hotel Industry Federation (FIHR); Dragoș Anastasiu, Founder and CEO of Eurolines România and honorary advisor to the Interim President of Romania for Business Environment, and Călin Ile, Board Member and Honorary President of FIHR — stressed that strong partnerships and mutual support are fundamental to generating positive change and transforming Romanian tourism into an innovative and sustainable industry. 

Through events such as the “Marching Forward” conference, the WTTA is staking a claim for women as part of that transformation, as they help to establish firm foundations for transport and tourism’s significant contribution to the Romanian and European economy, and beyond.

L’article Female leadership can steer “new era” of sustainable tourism est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Mobility remains a significant challenge for the visually impaired. Traditional aids, such as white canes and guide dogs, are valuable but limited. Guide dogs, while effective, are costly and difficult to scale. Training a single guide dog can cost up to €70,000, and only 28,000 trained guide dogs currently serve a global population of millions.

“There are over 338 million visually impaired individuals worldwide today and expected to surpass 500 million by 2050. When it comes to their mobility, the most known solutions are thousands of years old – the guide dog and the walking cane. It is a fundamental need to develop a solution for the other 337,972,000 blind individuals who can’t benefit from a guide dog”, explained Cornel Amariei, CEO and Founder of .lumen.

At the core of the .lumen Glasses lies PAD AI (Pedestrian Autonomous Driving), a technology inspired by self-driving cars but tailored for pedestrian environments. This system uses a combination of sensors, Intel RealSense depth cameras and custom machine learning algorithms to create a 3D map of the surroundings in real-time. This feature allows the specs to function anywhere, without requiring internet connectivity or pre-mapped routes.

The technology identifies sidewalks, crosswalks and obstacles, ensuring users navigate safely in urban, rural, indoor and outdoor environments, and uses a haptic feedback system that “guides” users through gentle vibrations, mimicking the intuitive guidance of a guide dog. The system is also integrated with Google Maps, to allow wearers to set specific destinations, while audio notifications alert them to critical navigation elements like stairs or traffic crossings.

“The system is designed for outdoor use, which presents a much more complex environment. It could be in a park, at a train station, or in a large square—much more dynamic than the relatively predictable paths of an autonomous car. In certain situations, such as approaching stairs or a crosswalk, the system provides audio notifications to guide the user”, said Robert Gutt, Navigation Lead at .lumen.

Tested by over 300 individuals in nearly 30 countries, the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Many first-time users said they experienced the freedom of walking independently, with several describing it as life changing. One participant, blind since birth, even described the glasses as a “miracle.”

Founded in 2020 by Cornel Amariei, a Romanian inventor inspired by his family’s experiences with disabilities, .lumen has rapidly gained recognition. With a team of 50 engineers and scientists, the startup has secured significant funding, including €5 million in 2024 (out of which a record €1 million in a single day), enabling a limited launch of the glasses. By 2026, the company aims to sell 10,000 units globally, with an expansion to the US market planned for 2025.

L’article Romanian startup develops AI glasses that help blind navigate without canes or guide dogs est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Ancient woodlands and Natura 2000 sites affected

The environmental lobbying organisation scrutinised IKEA’s supply chains using both satellite imagery and direct site visits. It found seven firms contracted to IKEA, one exclusively, extracting timber from the ancient woodlands and even sites that supposedly benefit from European Union protection in the shape of the Natura 2000 scheme – a network of conservation and protection zones across the bloc.

At least 30 products made by the manufacturers in question were found in IKEA stores in 13 countries: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.

Rare species threatened

While Greenpeace is not against the use of wood for furniture, arguing that it stores carbon, it points out that around 7% of Romania’s Carpathian woodland identified is over 120 years old and provides a home for rare species such as the brown bear, lynx, wolf as well as other important flora and fauna and that timber for commercial use should not come from protected areas or ancient forests.

“Our nature heritage can’t be turned into pieces of furniture,” said Robert Cyglicki, Biodiversity Campaign Director at Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe. “Old forests are vital to the planet’s health and must be immediately protected. IKEA must live up to its own sustainability promises and clean up its supply chain from old-growth forest destruction.”

Protections held back by financial interests

IKEA has not denied Greenpeace’s findings and has committed to studying the report and eliminating illegal timber extraction from its supply chain. However, part of the problem, says Greenpeace is the law, which does not proscribe logging in protected or Natura 2000 sites – a defense given by one the manufacturers identified in the report. The others have so far failed to respond.

Designating certain zones as “primary or old-growth forests” is not in the financial interests of authorities who want to avoid restrictions. This, Greenpeace says, explains why less than 2.5% (1700 km²) of the Romanian Carpathian forests are protected against logging, even though they meet the criteria for protection under the EU Biodiversity strategy.

L’article IKEA contributes to destruction of ancient woodlands, says Greenpeace est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Romania is one of the few countries around the world to be blessed with an incredibly diverse geography, from the majestic Carpathians and grape-vined hills to the Black Sea and Danube Delta and everything in between. Unfortunately, the conservation and protection of these natural riches is gravely overlooked by authorities and politicians, who, more often than not, are involved in illegal deforestation schemes. The fight for conservation is thus led by passionate NGOs and foundations, who have taken over the mantle of protectors of the land.

Foundation Conservation Carpathia (FCC) is one of these conservation heroes. Founded in 2009 by biologists Christoph and Barbara Promberge, with a team of philanthropists and conservationists, it is saving Romania’s forests plot by plot. With almost 65% of the total virgin forests in Europe and some of the oldest forests on the continent, there is a lot to save, and their plan is to stop nothing short of creating a 200,000-hectare (2,000 km²) natural reserve in the Făgăraș Mountains, of the Southern Carpathians.

These forests are not only marvellous landscapes, but carbon reservoirs vital for our existence, providing our clean water and clean air. Their protection is non-negotiable.

Foundation Conservation Carpathia

There are almost 7 million hectares of forests in Romania, the Carpathian Mountains housing one third of all the plant species found in Europe as well as Europe’s biggest population of large carnivores, including brown bears, wolves and lynxes. Still, only 3.5% of Romania’s forests have been turned into national parks, and even less are strictly protected, the foundation highlights.

To achieve what the Guardian calls a “Yellowstone for Europe“, FCC is buying plot after plot of forested land, some that can still be protected, some that have already been devastated and the foundation reforests. The goal is to create a wilderness reserve “large enough to allow natural processes to take place, to benefit biodiversity and local communities and to serve as a model for a future National Park movement in Romania”.

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With the funds raised since 2009, FCC has already bought 26,900 hectares of forest and grassland and planted over 4 million saplings. To extend its protection beyond the land it owns, FCC hired rangers to patrol a total of 75,000 hectares of forests, which has slowed down illegal logging, and bought the hunting rights to an additional 78,000 hectares, effectively stopping any form of hunting on these territories.

One of FCC’s projects, along with the creation of the reserve, is the “Forest of Immortal Stories“. Close to the commune of Nucșoara, 2,544 centuries-old beech trees, a symbolic number equal to the altitude of the nearby Moldoveanu Peak, the highest in Romania, have been put up for adoption. By adopting a tree, a person can have their story attached to it, on the campaign’s website and through a QR code attached to the tree itself. “We don’t live long enough to tell our story, but these age-old trees are almost immortal, aren’t they? They can do it for us”, the campaign says. The raised money is used to protect the ancient trees, improve infrastructure and attract more visitors to the region.

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Moreover, the foundation supports and encourages eco-tourism in the Făgăraș, having set up, so far, a wilderness cabin, a wilderness camp and a 500-hectare biodiversity farm. It also offers guided hiking and wildlife watching.

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Most importantly, local communities are at the core of all of FCC’s projects. “So far, protected areas in Romania were established top – down, without transparency and without a functional compensation system for restrictions of resource use. In order to create a model of protected area, we want to involve people in taking decisions through working groups set to design the future national park”, the foundation explains.

Engaging communities and showing that protecting nature can provide alternative revenue streams is crucial to the success of a new national park. Besides providing employment in roles from rangers to tree planters and dedicating certain areas of the future reserve for the supply of fire and construction wood for the locals, FCC has created a “food hub” where small-scale local producers can sell their homemade products.

L’article Foundation Conservation Carpathia to create Europe’s largest wilderness reserve in Romania est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

One of the biggest Cohesion Policy-funded projects, it will connect the Black Sea ports and the Danube Delta with the rest of the country and with the wider Trans-European Transport Network. The EU’s contribution to this project amounts to €363 million from Cohesion Policy funds, from a total cost of €427 million. The Pelješac Bridge, inaugurated in Croatia last year, was the previous largest investment from the Cohesion Fund, receiving €357 million.

1. Better mobility and economic development

The bridge will still allow the free transit of vessels while replacing a slow and unreliable ferry link. Besides only crossing the Danube once an hour, the ferry was often interrupted not just during winter when the river froze over, but also during heavy rain periods when the river flooded over.

This bridge is a statement of how beneficial Cohesion Policy is for citizens on the ground. People no longer need to take the slow and occasional hazardous ferry trip over the Danube.

Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms

The new connection is expected to cut travel time by around 50 minutes and serve around 11,400 vehicles a day. This will greatly benefit labour mobility, tourism and trade, and reinforce the region’s links with the rest of the country. It will also enhance mobility and economic development by increasing travel speeds and safety, offering local communities easier access to healthcare, public and commercial services across the South-East region in Romania.

The project will also contribute to the building of 23.4 km of transport infrastructure such as roads, bridges, junctions, level crossings and overpasses to serve the needs of people in the Moldova and Dobrogea regions.

“People can now easily cross the largest river in Europe in minutes, which will have a substantial impact on the region’s economy and on the life of local people and beyond – including neighbouring Moldova and Ukraine”, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, said at the inauguration.

2. Impressive structure

The bridge is a technological marvel for its towers and anchoring system. The main cables make around 81,000 km – a length comparable to twice the circumference of the Earth – and have a guaranteed lifetime of 120 years. The anchor blocks, with their 47 m diameter, are buried 31 m deep, figures that very few bridge structures in the world match.

This is the largest construction built in Romania over the past three decades (…) It is certainly one of the most ambitious initiatives of modernising transport infrastructure in Romania, realised with European funds, international expertise and state of the art technology.

Klaus Iohannis, President of Romania

“The bridge we stand on today is an example of teamwork, of international cooperation in a modern world full of challenges. An Italian-Japanese consortium worked hand in hand with dozens of Romanian contractors. It is also an example of great public investment, the almost €500 million returning to the region and fuelling the local economy”, Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said at the ceremony.

While the construction of the remaining access roads is expected to be finalised by the end of 2023, the bridge and parts of the access roads are operational as of 6 July. Crossing however is only reserved for motorised vehicles, as there are no pedestrian or cycling lanes. Moreover, until the end of November 2023, the bridge will be closed from 9pm to 6am from Monday to Friday, with the exception of national holidays.

3. Overdue project

The project ran two years after the deadline, however the idea of building a bridge over the Danube goes as far back as the 1980s. According to Romanian news outlet Digi24, disputes over whether the placement on the left bank of the river, in Brăila or Galați, took the longest time to resolve, with works finally starting in 2018.

In 2019 the Commission approved the EU financing of the bridge in Romania following a feasibility study that analysed the possible alternatives to connect the two parts of the country ensuring a viable crossing of the Danube. The preservation of Romania’s natural heritage was an essential criterion in all phases of the project’s preparation.

In 2021, the 192 m tall pillars on each side of the river were completed and the assembly of the supporting cables began. At the beginning of 2022, the 86 metal blocks forming the main structure of the bridge, each weighing 250 tonnes and measuring 37 m in width, started being positioned. It was only in March 2023 that the first layer of concrete was finally poured over the road.

L’article Largest bridge over the Danube inaugurated in Romania est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

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If you, just like us, have done some research about the subject in the past, you’ll know there’s actually something called Dracula’s castle aka Bran Castle. Again, there’s a lot of speculation about the subject as the magnificent building nowhere resembles the ruin Stoker was talking about and the writer never publicly made the link. However, Bran has been linked to Vlad the Impaler, whose history surely reminds us of the fictional Dracula-persona… So yes, if you’re intrigued by the whole vampire world you could go and visit Vlad’s castle but we may have found something even better than that.

Via Transilvanica

If you’ve always wanted to see the world of Dracula and the woods in which Jonathan Harker got followed by a pack of wolves, the newly-opened Via Transilvanica could well be the best way to do so. The walking route already counted 1.000 kilometers at the start of the year and now the last remaining 400 kilometers have been added to the itinerary. The route runs all the way from Putna near Ukraine to Drobeta-Turnu, close to the Serbian border. Quite the journey, clearly, but one through which you’ll get to know a country and region which have stayed under the radar for a long time.

Do you have to walk the whole route in one go? No, it was divided into stretches ranging from 150 kilometers to 300 kilometers in length, meaning a week should already suffice to walk a significant part.

Can you bike the trail instead of going by foot? Yes, you can. Is this something to consider for each and every tourist? Yes and no. No, because you have to be fit enough to actually walk the route. Yes, because it offers a great alternative for mass tourism and it allows you to see sights you could not visit by car or any other means of transportation. And maybe, along the way, you’ll spot a long thin man in a black coat…

L’article The Transylvanian hiking trail is open for business est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Therme is a new concept and it is hard to describe. I have been in Romania as a guest of Therme for the weekend. I was on Sunday at Bran Castle, a stunning attraction which pre-Covid was attracting around one million tourists a year and it will again. Therme is now attracting 1.3 million domestic and international visitors a year. The attraction can absorb up to 4,000 at any one time, on its peak day it had 9,000. Iit is ticketed and avoids overtourism.

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But what is it? 

Therme describe it variously as a “wellness centre”, an “exotic destination for the whole family” an adventure playground with 16 waterslides offering 1600m of pure adrenalin “the most spectacular indoor slide system in Europe.” I didn’t try the slides. 

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I click on the site as I write this and Therme are promoting a concert with Romania’s greatest showman, a live concert on the sand at Therme – they have the largest urban beach in Europe. In winter you can lounge in an outdoor heated pool while there is snow and ice around you, indoor there are 1,500 plus palm and olive trees, living ones, carefully watered and nourished individually though pipes from below.

Therme is not merely a visitor attraction – it is better understood as a destination  with three differently themed restaurants meeting the needs of gourmets and children. With a low entry price it is accessible for many for family groups, young people and the elderly who come to relax and use the many different wellness experiences and treatments. 

This morning I was there with a real mix of people, predominant elderly but mixed. Young people bring their granny or grandpa, aqua gym exercise classes, hydro therapy pools, water massage and Jacuzzis – all for the entry price. 

I am put off by the wellness label. To me it sounds medical, worthy, exclusive, expensive and lacking fun. I am British. Therme is none of these things. 

Therme is a fun exotic experience, one for all the family and for different interests from spa treatments to pop concerts.  Take a look at the website which is strong on the visitor experiences and weak on sustainability. 

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But Therme is a leading example of responsibility. It is at the core of the experience. Therme does not preach about it. Rather they deliver it. Personally I think they should make more of it in their marketing, sustainability and the determination to be the best at it, drives the business. Outdoor heated pools when the temperature is – 15°C – how can that be responsible and guilt free? 

Environmental Responsibility 

• Heating is geothermal (and the curative properties of the minerals in the water are used in the spa pools
• They are driving down electricity consumption and generating an increasing amount of it from solar.
• Water is harvested on site and 92% is recovered, cleaned and recirculate, only a small amount of water is lost to evaporation and the sewers. 

Social Responsibility

• Therme is committed to making wellness and wellbeing accessible to all, it is already accessible to the majority. 
• Alcohol is available, and there are a few places where people can smoke outside, but Therme is a well-managed destination: clean, comfortable and safe for women and men, old and young and the differently-abled. 

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Economic Responsibility 

• The entry price is accessible to the majority in Romania. Entry starts at € 13.50 for one adult for three hours and for pensioners and students 2€ less, a child under 14 €10.
• Therme has strong local supply chains. 

Therme is best understood as a responsible destination it is way more than an attraction. And it is triple bottom line sustainable. Therme is raising the bar for responsible destinations. 

It remains to be seen what the impact will be in Manchester and Glasgow. For sure the new Thermes will attract large number of visitors, they will be commercially successful adding to the visitor economy and helping hotels sell bed nights. Thermes offer an exotic, beach holiday year round. Winter sun will no longer be confined to a week or weekend away. You won’t need to fly for winter sun, you could have it every weekend. 

For the UK Therme has a 90/90 vision – 90% of the population to live within 90 minutes of a Therme. That will be a game changer.  

L’article Romania’s biggest visitor attraction exemplifies Responsible Tourism est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.