The market leader, the Happy Tour group run by Javier Garcia de Valle and owned by Spain’s private equity fund GED, expects EUR77 million revenue compared with 292 million lei (EUR66 million) last year, according to company officials.
“We’ve had growth across all segments. We’ve even seen growth on the charter segment since the beginning of the year. Prestige Tours (Happy Tour’s tour operator) posted higher profit,” said Mircea Vladu, representative of Prestige Tours.
He says demand will continue to increase considering families vacationing with their children get a free stay for their kids (aged up to 16 years) in June, as the agency is running a special.
Sorin Vaduvoiu, general manager of Perfect Tour, an agency controlled by Corina Pacuraru, says his company’s revenue will exceed EUR50 million this year, compared with EUR30 million last year.
“There are two factors contributing to the growth, several big contracts won and the increase in our sales. The market has grown, too,” Sorin Vaduvoiu said.
Perfect Tour won a EUR10 million contract with OMV Petrom (SNP.RO) at the beginning of the year, which those in this business consider to be the biggest travel contract. The agency will handle all travel needs in Romania and abroad for Petrom’s employees, will book hotels and arrange team-building sessions and other events.
Eximtur, based in Cluj-Napoca (NW Romania) and held by the Moraru family, budgeted more than RON161.1 million revenue this year compared with RON157 million in 2012, its officials said. The agency specializes in services for corporate customers and domestic travel.
Christian Tour group, too, saw growth, and posted EUR18 million sales in the first four months of 2013, up 38% on the year-ago period, its owner Cristian Pandel said.
The agency expects EUR50 million revenue this year, 35% higher than in 2012. Christian Tour bought tour operator Europa Travel last year, which became its low-cost arm, and domestic tour operator Bibi Touring.
The officials of Eurolines, another major company in this industry, did not say how high they expect their revenue to be this year. The group run by businessman Dragos Anastasiu, opened 11 agencies in the first four months for a total of 75 nationwide.
Accent Travel&Events run by Lucian Boronea, budgeted higher revenue, as well, RON74 million from the RON72.8 million in 2012, its officials said.
Only a handful of agencies see this year flat. Aerotravel Lufthansa City said it estimated revenue to reach RON160 million, the same last year.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)