The Minister of Economy proposes measures to revive tourism in 2027

Interim Minister of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism Irineu Darău proposed several measures on Monday to revive the sector in 2027, at the launch of the study “White Paper on Tourism in Romania 2026.” These include reintroducing the incoming incentive, making employment contracts in the hospitality sector more flexible and continuing the holiday voucher program.

Darău argued that Romania must attract more foreign tourists because tourism is too dependent on Romanian consumers. He said that funds allocated to promoting the country and restoring the incoming incentive could generate additional revenue for the hospitality sector and the state budget.

The minister also called for more flexible rules for employers in the tourism sector, enabling them to adapt staffing levels to the seasonal nature of their activities. Regarding holiday vouchers, he advocated predictability for at least two to three years.

According to the data presented, more than 90% of tourism operators complain about fiscal and legislative instability, although 85% use digital tools and 53% use artificial intelligence. Darău warned that expanding accommodation capacity does not automatically mean more tourists and called for the development of more attractive tourism products. The minister also criticized the proliferation of destination management organizations, supporting coordination at national and regional levels.