Romanian Gov Suspends Country’s Participation in International Tourism Exhibitions following NY Embarrassment

The Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism announced a few days after the scandal of Romania’s stand at the New York Tourism Fair that participating in tourism fairs with an international country stand will be rethought and assumed by the National Tourism Brand Council (CBTN) and the Tourism Advisory Council (CCT).

The New York International Tourism Fair is held in several American cities and has a considerable scope, a significant opportunity to promote a country.

Compared to other countries, in the atmosphere of an international fair, which you saw in the video above, Romania’s stand was composed of a curtain with some photos printed and fastened with clips. That sparked a vivid public debate, as the cost for the participation, along with the displayed, printed materials, totaled 8,000 USD.

Romanian Consulate in New York posted this photo taken at the fair on their Facebook page, then erased it after the national embarrassment. At present, the photo is removed from social media accounts. The Romanian booth at the Travel & Adventure Show, where Romanian consultants distributed ”exclusive” information, travel deals, and tourism programs, certainly made an impressive image abroad, ironically speaking…

Therefore, Romania’s participation in international trade fairs is suspended following the Government’s decision. Measures to promote Romania’s destination on foreign markets will be resumed solely based on concepts approved by the Romanian Brand Council and Tourism Advisory Council.

Today’s meeting I hope will generate the results that every Romanian expects from the Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism for the correct promotion of Romania, which will attract as many tourists as possible. The decisions we have taken are going to increase the involvement of entrepreneurs in this field, including the assumption by the Brand Council and the Tourism Advisory Council of the concept for each participant of our country outside the borders.

Constantin-Daniel Cadariu, Romanian MInister of Toursim

Romania’s presentation at the New York fair was also criticized by Charlie Ottley, one of the best friends Romania has ever had and also the director of the documentaries Wild Carpathia and Flavours of Romania, who accused the officials of the Ministry of Tourism of not knowing how to promote Romania as a destination and mock Romania globally.

The Minister of Tourism highlighted that from now on, for each fair, the stand and the advertising concept will be presented and accepted within a meeting of the members of these consultative structures. Minister Cadariu also announced the launch of disciplinary investigations within the General Directorate of Tourism and the suspension of personnel participation designated by the ministry who were part of the promotion mission in New York. At the same time, the United States’ economic attachés will be summoned to the disciplinary commission.