The number of tourists visiting Harghita County has decreased

Károly Szabó, director of the Harghita Community Development Association and Visit Harghita, told the Agerpres news agency: the number of tourists decreased by about 20 percent, with domestic tourism in particular experiencing a nationwide decline. According to him, the main reason for the decrease is the reduction in the value of holiday vouchers for civil servants and the lack of a comprehensive strategy to stimulate domestic tourism.

According to the tourism expert, Romanian citizens prefer to spend their summer holidays in foreign destinations, as domestic ones are not promoted enough. The offers of Romanian tourism fairs are largely aimed at foreign tourists.

The number of tourists has also decreased by about 20 percent this summer in the Lake Saint Anna and the Mossy Peat Bog Nature Reserve, one of the most significant natural attractions in the Székelyföld County.

Dósa Elek-Levente, head of the Pro Szent Anna Association, which manages the reserve, told the news agency that she also believes that there are fewer tourists in the area due to the decrease in the value of holiday vouchers. They visit the volcanic lake and its surroundings for a day trip, and if there are no tourists in the area, the number of their visitors also decreases, she pointed out.

She added that the Prajd mine disaster is also affecting tourism in the area, as those who came to the salt mine for medical purposes also went on trips to the surrounding resorts, Szóváta, Korund, Gyilkos Lake, Gyimesek and Lake Saint Anna.

In order to boost tourism in the region, the Harghita Community Development Association organized a visit to Praid and Sóvidék for Romanian journalists and influencers between July 28-31. During the visit, it drew their attention to the natural, cultural and gastronomic treasures of the area, in order to promote the region as a destination on the Romanian tourist map.