Almost 700 million Euros, European funds, is aimed at promoting the Romanian tourism, according to Lucia Morariu, state secretary with the Ministry of SMEs, Trade, Toursim and Liberal Proffessions. However, the tourism SMEs are not prepared to apply for the financing yet.

For this, they blame the delay of issue of the Solicitant’s Guide that comprises information on the eligibility of the projects, according to the head of the Federation of the Romanian Tourism Unions, Daniel Vasilescu. The tourism is included in the Regional Operational Programme.

The tourism companies have the possibility to invest the money they apply for in road infrastructure, IT or other related activities.

The absence of eligible projects in tourism is mainly caused by the lack of up to date information, the spokesperson of the Romanian Association of Travel Agencies Traian Badulescu said.

However, the SMEs are not really interested in the trainings either, which might be another reason for the absence of good tourism projects.

In the fall, the money will already be available, but the interested beneficiaries have not found out yet how to obtain it.