OREANDA-NEWS. January 26, 2009. This was informed by the chairman of the National Association of Travel Agencies of Moldova Nikolai Platon.

According to him, for the first nine months of the last year, only 7 thousand of tourists vs. 15 thousand in 2007 have visited Moldova. Nikolai Platon explained that in conditions of the world financial crisis, the number of tourists coming to Moldova for business is declining.

Thus, the share of these tourists accounted for 65% of the total number of tourists visiting our country. In his view, this year's decline will continue. In addition, the reduction of the tourists flow was stipulated by the closure of the consular services at the borders and the airport.

Thus, after closing of the consular service at the airport, the number of tourists from Turkey has fallen from 5 up to 1.5 thousands. In 2008, most tourists came to Moldova from CIS countries, in particular, from Russia and Ukraine as well as from EU states - Romania, Bulgaria, Italy and Turkey.

Speaking of the outbound tourism, the chairman of the National Association of Travel Agencies of Moldova said that the last year those visiting ski resorts preferred to stay in 2-3 star hotels.

The main tour directions are Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Turkey.