There's an acute shortage of workers on the coast, so hoteliers are increasingly turning to workers from Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka.
This season, all accommodation establishments will most likely employ foreigners. The salaries they receive are higher than in their home countries, especially as meals and accommodation are provided.
Tourism employers say skilled Romanian workers are increasingly scarce because they too are leaving for better salaries abroad.
Alex is from Sri Lanka and works in a hotel in Eforie Nord. He's a waiter. As well as a salary, he gets three meals a day and accommodation. Just like anyone from outside Constanta who wants to work on the coast.
Alex Stuwert, waiter from Sri Lanka: "I like working in Romania, the wages are better, in Sri Lanka there are only problems. They offer us food, accommodation, medical services, everything is better".
Foreign employees who come to work in the hospitality industry here receive between 2,500 and over 6,000 lei per month.
Manju, Sri Lankan worker: "I have a family in Sri Lanka and I want to arrange for them to come here. There is a lot of freedom, people are smiling, the situation is very good, that's why I decided to come to Romania".
According to employers, tens of thousands of employees are needed on the coast. Since Romanians are not interested, hoteliers say they will try to fill the gaps with Sri Lankans, Nepalese and Bangladeshis.
Lakme Bolat, manager of a hotel in Eforie: "We already have 80 people coming, since last year we have 22 who have stayed permanently. They come qualified. It's a basic criterion, and in Romania we don't find many qualified people, so we opt for foreign staff.
In the first three months of this year, more than 1,800 work permits have already been issued to foreigners, almost as many as in the whole of 2019.
Corina Misilcu, representative of a hotel in Mamaia: "As the summer season is approaching, we are preparing to increase our team and we are looking for Asian staff for the position of cook, assistant cook, house keeping".
Demand is so high that some hoteliers and restaurant managers are waiting months for their employees to arrive.
Yosi Peisakh, manager of a catering company: "It takes a long time to get a visa. On the seaside those who are being hired are for the HORECA segment, waitresses, all kinds of kitchen workers, cooks, kitchen help, waiters, waiters, picol. There are thousands of applications".
According to recruitment firms, hotels on the seaside have also started to recruit gardeners, electricians, beach boys and pool lifeguards from abroad.
