Dobrogea: Laboratory for the Fiscal Future
In Dobrogea, the stakes of short-term rentals are not just fiscal. They're political.
Tulcea: The Hotel Tax That Can No Longer Be Ignored
In Tulcea, the tourism promotion tax – 1% of accommodation revenues – has existed since 2020, but only in 2025 does it become a real topic of discussion: authorities discover that a significant portion of apartments in short-term rental don't pay it, although they benefit from the city's promotion.
Data shows the contrast: 69 accommodation units registered in ministry records vs. 33 more locations (mostly short-term rental apartments) identified on booking platforms but not registered.
OMD Tulcea promises "firm measures" to eliminate unfair competition and bring all renters into legality. The message is clear: if you want to play in the STR league, you must contribute to the city budget.
Constanța: Two New Taxes from 2026?
On the coast, the discussion goes further. Local press has reported that Constanța City Hall is considering introducing two new taxes from 2026, one targeting directly the short-term rental sector.
For now, we're talking about a proposal, not an adopted decision. But the signal is strong:
- Coastal cities, pressed by infrastructure and seasonality, are looking for extra money
- Apartments in short-term rental, which profit from the city's tourism brand, become natural targets for "promotion" or "destination" taxes
For an owner or manager, these taxes may seem like just another cost, but they're also an indicator that the era of "free tourism" is ending – whoever wants to stay in the game must calculate their returns with rising local taxes.
Why These Local Experiments Matter
- Precedent – if Tulcea and Constanța manage to collect consistently, other cities (Brașov, Sibiu, Cluj) will have a ready-made model
- Transparency vs. unfair competition – hoteliers already pay promotion taxes and permits; without similar taxes for apartments, the tension remains
- Political pressure – when residents can't find residential rents, city hall has to choose between taxing or limiting STR
How This Translates for Investors and Managers
- Gross returns no longer tell the complete story – an apartment in Constanța with an apparent 10-12% return may drop to 8-9% after local taxes and the new fiscal regime
- Contract structure will change – managers will need to decide whether to absorb part of the new taxes or transfer them entirely to owners
- Analysis platforms become essential – net income estimates, with local taxes included, and transparency about cities where returns still justify the game
Dobrogea is playing, practically, the role of a laboratory: if the model of "destination tax + platform control" works here, it's just a matter of time until the rest of the country copies it.
Analysis tools like the KeyBid ROI Calculator extension allow rapid calculation of the impact of these taxes on the real return of the investment.
Related articles: SIT: Tourism Information System | EU STR Regulations
