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Tourism:Draught affects ship traffic on Danube. Romania loses 3 million euro
This summer’s draught made the Danube level in Romania drop below two meters and cruise ships with foreign tourists can no longer access the Delta. Tour operators estimate Romania will lose over 3 million euro unless authorities cleanse the river.
“The problem is mainly on the Bulgarian side between Turnu Magurele and Giurgiu, where there is a threshold that cannot be crossed because of low water levels. People from the Transport Ministry have not reached any results with the Bulgarians and we all have to lose,” said Gheorghe Marginean, the owner of Karpaten Turism agency which covers over 80% of ground services for tourists who choose Danube cruises in Romania. He also says last year solutions were found to stop ships at Turnu Magurele, Calafat or Turnu Severin and then take them by bus to the Delta.
Karpaten has between 1 August and November 304 curises to the Delta, each with 135-150 tourists, that means 41,000 persons should reach the Delta this year. There are also 60 ships belonging to other companies should reach the Delta.
“In terms of money, that would mean over three million euro, incomes which should be received by travel agencies in Romania , which handle trips, ports which get taxes for passengers, transport companies for coaches. The money will be lost unless the Danube is cleansed. The tourists spend three days in Romania in Bucharest, Constanta and the Delta,” Marginean said. Karpaten agency has Danube cruises with 117,000 tourists this year. Tourists are 80% German and 10-15% American. Most cruises start at Passau, Germany and some in Budapest.