Perfect Tour, controlled by Corina Pacuraru, ended 2013 with revenue of around EUR49 million, almost double the 2012 level. In 2013, the agency signed a contract with Romania’s largest company, Petrom, previously a client of Happy Tour, owned by Spain’s GED investment fund.
Petrom organized a tender to contract travel services and the winner was Global Star, whose partner in Romania is Perfect Tour agency. For 2014, the agency forecasts two-digit revenue growth, of between 18% and 20%.
While in the case of Perfect Tour 70% of revenue is brought by contracts with companies, in the case of Christian Tour, controlled by Cristian Pandel, revenue comes from the sale of travel packages to individuals. The agency that sends 150,000 Romanians on holiday expects revenue of EUR60 million and 200,000 tourists this year.
Last year, the agency reached EUR45 million in revenue, up 30% from 2012. Two years ago, businessman Cristian Pandel took over Bibi Touring agencies specialized in internal travel and Europa Travel tour operators in a deal whose value was not disclosed.
Cluj-Napoca-based Eximtur has not budgeted an increase in revenue, which stalled last year. In 2012, the company posted revenue of 157 million lei (EUR35.7 million) and profit of RON1.7 million (EUR386,000), according to Finance Ministry data.
Morariu family opened the travel agency in 1993 in Cluj and Eximtur currently holds a network of 26 own and franchised agencies in Romania’s major cities.
Happy Tour group, held by GED investment fund, which includes Happy Tour travel agency, Paravion.ro online agency, Travel House-luxury holidays (integrated into Happy Tour company) and Prestige Tours, the group’s incoming and outgoing tour operator, projects an over 10% increase in revenue for this year. Happy Tour agency’s revenue slightly tops EUR40 million.
Aerotravel travel agency, controlled by Mihai David and Quark Investment, also bets on revenue growth this year, by around 8%, from EUR32.5 million last year.
Another major player on the market, Paralela 45, last year registered revenue worth EUR35 million, up 12% from 2012, according to the company’s officials.
For 2014, Paralela 45 has budgeted an increase of at least 15%. Touring Europabus Romania, which owns TUI Travel Center and Eurolines agency networks and that also operates person transportation on international routes, also expects rising revenue in 2014, by 20%.
Around 5,000 companies operate on the Romanian travel agency market.
(English version by Catalina Apostoiu)