Hoteliers waiting for tourists from the Republic of Moldova this winter claim that the new restrictions affect their reservations and demand their revaluation.
Most of them had reservations for periods, mostly between January 3 and 12, 2022, for the celebration of the Old Rite Holidays.
Thus, according to the proposals that are being considered for adoption soon, Romanians and European citizens coming from non-EU countries must have a negative PCR test for COVID-19, done 48 hours before, unlike those who arrive . from EU countries, in which case the PCR test can be done up to 72 hours in advance.
“In the case of Moldovan tourists who have already purchased holidays in Romania and who hold accommodation vouchers for Moldovan or Romanian travel agents, we are talking about a percentage of almost 100% vaccinated tourists, because these were the accommodation conditions during the holidays for Romania, as announced the restrictions 1-2 months before, when at the beginning of the facts were the activities of tourism promotion of the design of tourist packages, their sale and sale. Reduce the maximum time limit for conducting the PCR test to 48 hours for vaccinated tourists and their children over the age of 12, who must also undergo the PCR test – I believe we need to reconsider and reconfigure and make this request in especially for those who care. can prove the accommodation voucher in Romania, as tourists, or the proof of participation in an organized group trip “, said Martin.
For his part, Denis Iurcu, tour operator Dartur Prim Chisinau, said that the new measures that the Romanian authorities want to take to prevent a new strain of Omicron virus could significantly harm the flow of tourists from the Republic of Moldova.
“During November, at our agency we already had reservations from hundreds of tourists, about 200 reservations for the period January 3 – 12, 2022, the celebration of the Old Rite Holidays in the mountains,” said Iurcu.
Thus, the agents’ representatives request the reassessment of the conditions under which Moldovan tourists can come to Romania, so that there are no differences between EU citizens and those from the Republic of Moldova.
“We strive to ensure maximum security and reservations were made exclusively for those who were vaccinated. The field of tourism has been the worst affected and any decision should be taken into account. Thus, we propose that for those vaccinated with the vaccine recognized in the EU, the PCR test should be additionally excluded “, they say.
The Minister of Health, Alexandru Rafila, announced on Sunday that Romanians and other EU citizens coming to Romania from countries outside the European Union will have to present an RT-PCR test, to have at most 48 hours before the trip.
Rafila mentioned that during the working meeting at Victoria Palace, a series of measures were discussed, which will be adopted in the near future.
According to the minister, the measures are aimed at limiting the spread of the Omicron variant.
“Romanians and other EU citizens who come from third countries, so outside the Union, will present an RT-PCR test no later than 48 hours before the trip. Those who are not vaccinated will be quarantined for 10 days. Those coming from other countries, but from the EU, will continue to present, as before, the green certificate attesting to vaccination, passing through the disease in the last 180 days or the negative result of an RT-PCR test, ensuring . up to 72 hours before the trip. People who have not been vaccinated or have not been vaccinated in the last six months, who are caring for other EU Member States in the red zone, are to be quarantined for 10 days. If the unvaccinated people who have not gone through the disease do not present an RT-PCR test, performed 72 hours before the trip, they will be quarantined for 14 days “, said Rafila, at Victoria Palace.
He said the measures would be discussed in the Coalition, the procedure would be approved by the National Committee for Emergency Situations and there would be at least 48 to 72 hours for information.
The Minister explained that, in the case of children, access to the measure will probably apply as in the European Union, as the PCR test is not required for children under 12 years of age.
The head of DSU, Raed Arafat, specified that, through the proposed new measures, the performance of the test after eight days of quarantine is eliminated.