Ticketing made up some €8-9 million in the tour operator’s turnover, which amounted to €50 million last year.
“We cannot turn into banks. In the end, these people must comply. Why do you think people come to travel agencies? They can also go to an airline, but there they must pay for the ticket when they order it,” Burcea told Business Standard.
The businessman said that focusing on domestic tourism in 2009 is a safe strategy for local players. “This would have been the time. If I had cash-flow, I would go get domestic tour packages, because these will sell this year,” Burcea said.
He added he plans to sell the four-star Stil hotel in Bucharest and invest the money in the travel agency. In the current economic context, Burcea expects to sell the unit for some €3.8-4.2 million.
Beside the hotel, the businessman also has a residential project in the Neptun resort on the Black Sea, and a plot of land in Snagov, north of Bucharest, where he planned to build a residential project. Both projects are on hold for the time being. “I will focus on my core business, tourism,” Burcea said.
The local tourism market amounted to some €800 million in 2008, 25 percent higher year-on-year. The main players are Happy Tour, Paralela 45, Eximtur, Aerotravel, Marshal Turism, and J’Info Tours.
