Romanian tourism authorities hope for 50% growth in tourist numbers in 2014, to target Malaysian tourists

Romanian authorities hope more tourists will visit the country in 2014, up by as much as 50 percent on 2013, but only if granting visas for citizens from outside the EU but who have Schengen visas becomes more flexible.

Maria Grapini, the delegate minister for tourism and for the business environment said she hopes the number would go up by 50 percent. In the first ten months of this year, 1.5 million foreign tourists came to Romania, a growth of only 3.3 percent on 2012. Grapini said the minister would go to Malaysia to sign a cooperation agreement on tourism with the authorities there to make it easier for the many Malaysian tourists keen to see Romania.

The country will also promote itself as a tourist destination in Japan and in South Korea.