DOC // Employees to be able to enjoy holiday vouchers; legislative changes published in Official Journal of Moldova

Employees will be able to benefit from holiday vouchers for accessing tourism services provided in Moldova. The amendments made to the Law on the organization and conduct of tourism activities today were published in the Official Journal of Moldova.

According to the document, the holiday voucher represents a ticket or card with a nominal value, issued electronically or on paper by an authorized operator, provided by the employer to the employee, in order to cover expenses incurred in tourist reception facilities in rural areas of Moldova. The granting of holiday vouchers will be optional and will take place at the discretion of the entity's leader, depending on the financial means held or planned. The vouchers will be valid for one year starting the date of issuance and the procedure for their issuance, release, use and return will be established by the government.

At the same time, the amendments proposed to the regulatory framework define a range of concepts, such as tourist destination, tourist route, informational and directional indicators, tour-operating agency, tourist destination management organization, etc. The government is also required to approve the way of establishment and operation of Destination Management Organizations (DMOs), in accordance with World Tourism Organization’spractices.

Another amendment concerns the establishment of an inventory of economic agents in the tourism industry of Moldova, which will be an official, systematically updated record of all entities (natural and legal persons) conducting economic activities in the tourism field. The document also contains provisions regarding the status and activity of the National Tourism Office, a structure subordinate to the Ministry of Culture.

The draft amendment to the Law on the organization and conduct of tourism activities in Moldova was developed, in order to adjust the regulatory framework in the tourism sector for the efficient implementation of public policies in the field, development of domestic and inbound tourism, promotion of the country as a tourist destination abroad and to ensure the provision of tourism services at international standards.