Starters International Business

Ardexx
Basic Data
SIB voucher
Period
Contact
Terwel
Country
Sector/indus
try

1500522
11th of August 2015 11th of February 2016
M. (Marius) van Aller
Moldova
Tourism

Company Profile
Company
Address
Telephone
Email
Website

Goals in Country of Interest

Country
Sector
Goal

Moldova
Tourism
Feasibility study

Montion travel agency is interested in expanding activities abroad and is exploring

different markets. The company is interested in gaining more insight on the opportunities
and possibilities for Montion travel agency in exploring Moldova as a travel destination.

2Starters International Business Ardexx BV

Country & Sector Profile

Country
Capital
Inhabitants
Location

Languages
GNI/capita
Religion
Doing business 2015
rank
Sectors with potential

Moldova
Chisinau
3.56 million
Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
- Border countries (2): Romania 683 km, Ukraine 1,202
km
- Landlocked
Moldovan/Romanian, Russian
US$ 2,460
Orthodox (93.3%)
63 (82 in 2014)
Moldovas most strategic and promising industries for
foreign companies: Agribusiness, Alternative energy,
Sustainable construction and Textiles.

Country short
The Republic of Moldova can be a promising new tourism destination in the region. With a
very favorable location, mil climate, rich culture and tradition, Moldova has made in the
recent years important developments in the area of tourism with a significant potential
for investments in the sector.
Sector introduction
OPPORTUNITIES:
Favourable institutional framework for development of tourism. Public policies promoted
in tourism are focused on development of domestic and inbound tourism, increasing the
country's tourism image, and supporting local SMEs for economic diversification.
Moldovan tourism has a good legislative coverage.
Moldova has an open international collaboration in the area of tourism. In the last years
Moldova has made efforts to participate in some representative partnerships for tourism.
Local tourism companies are cooperative. The number of travel companies is growing, as
well as their incomes from inbound tourists. Leisure tourism for foreigners in Moldova had
a confident dynamic growth of approx. 8.6% annually.
New possibilities for business development in hospitality. In the Republic of Moldova
there are active over 250 accommodation units with a capacity of 28.400
accommodation places. 3/5 out of them are places for rest.
Moldova has important tourist attractions. In Moldova there are over 15.000
anthropogenic tourist attractions, including: thousands of prehistoric resorts (e.g. Orheiul
Vechi), about 400 places since Cucuteni-Tripolie period, about 50 ancient fortified towns,
about 500 early medieval places, numerous medieval fortresses in earth, six stone
medieval cities (in various states of preservation), over 1,000 protected architectural
monuments, about 55 Orthodox monasteries. The country has a complex system of 12
categories of protected areas (over 300 important natural areas, including Emil Racovi
cave, as the third largest gypsum cave in Europe). Also, Moldova is hosting about 5-7
international festivals and competitions, 15 -18 national scale events (such as National
Wine Holiday, with a participation of at least 2.500 foreign tourists in 2015). There is
potential for art tourism and ecoturism. There are five national tourist routes, including 7
wine tours on the "Wine Route"(e.g Milestii Mici winery has registered the largest wine
collection according to Guiness book). Ecotourism is another opportunity for domestic
tourism.
Positive developments on domestic and inbound tourism market. Moldavian tourist is a
secure client with high growth potential for national destinations.The amount of proceeds
in domestic tourism increased 2.2 times over the past 8 years. Foreign travelers
motivation has changed qualitatively by increasing the choise for leisure travel,
treatment and visiting wineries in Moldova.
THREATS:
Macro-economic instability in the country, insufficient management of national tourist
sector, insufficient implementation of legislation in the field, insufficient number of travel
agencies to offer high quality domestic turism services, most of the accommodation
facilities outside Chisinau do not meet the international standards in tourism,
insufficiently trained proffesional staff, lack of efficient marketing toos and visibility,

Starters International Business Montion3

Doing Business
Favourable institutional framework for development of tourism. Tourism sector is
managed by a distinct national authority reporting directly to the Government. It has its
own College and is assisted by the Advisory Council. Public policies promoted in tourism
are focused on development of domestic and inbound tourism, increasing the country's
tourism image, and supporting local SMEs for economic diversification.
Moldovan legislation in general regulatory framework promotes entrepreneurship
development, including tourism. Moldova has one of the most advanced tourism
legislation from the CIS and criteria for the classification of tourist accommodation units
meets the European standards.
Even if Moldovan tourism has a good legislative coverage, the tourism legislation is
insufficiently applied. The legislation regulates manly the activity of intermediaries and
hoteliers. There is also an insufficient harmonization of tourism legislation with other
legislation in related areas, there are also some confusions for certain tourist activities
(such as ecotourism). There are no clear sanctions to be applied to agencies which do not
meet the international standards for service quality.
There are not clear financial facilities for investment in tourism, such as lack of financial
incentives for agencies Investing in restoration and monuments. There is also a lack of
progress in harmonizing national tourism legislation with EU legislation.

4Starters International Business Ardexx BV