Purple bracelets at Black Sea hotel for Israeli tourists stir tensions. Israeli embassy satisfied with hotel representatives’ explanations

The Phoenicia hotel chain representatives claim that the purple bracelets for Israeli tourists are meant to make the difference between the meals and not between nationalities, as they have chosen breakfast and dinner, while most of the tourists have opted for breakfast and lunch.

Phoenicia Hotel in Mamaia says in a release quoted by adevarul.ro that “we have always considered the services and Romania’s image. We strongly deny the recent accusations, which are unfounded and misinterpreted. Regarding the Israeli tourists, we stress that 90% of them on the Romanian seaside during the past four years have chosen to spend the holiday at Phoenicia Hotel (more than 10,000 tourists have come to us during the past four years) and we have had no complaint whatsoever.”

They claim that, according to the internal regulations, the colour of the bracelets is representative for the chosen tourist package, as it works in all international tourist facilities. “The package chosen by the Israeli tourists is very seldom chosen by the Romanian tourists,” the hotel representatives say.

Israeli embassy – satisfied by clarifications

The Israeli Embassy in Bucharest has announced on Tuesday that it has checked the situation of Israeli tourists at Phoenicia Hotel in Mamaia and that the hotel representatives have “satisfactorily clarified the problem,” digi24.ro informs.

The explanations follow the comments made by an Israeli tourist in Mamaia, who mentioned he received a purple bracelet to indicate his citizenship, later the story has turned into a revolt of the Israeli tourists present in the Romanian Black Sea report.

The tourist revealed in a feature published by Israel Hayom he was forced to wear a purple bracelet to make the difference between Israeli tourists and the other tourists. Some of the tourists claimed the resemblance with the Nazi yellow stars for the Jews during WWII and voiced being discriminated.

The five-star hotel was inaugurated on July 18 within the Phoenicia complex in Mamaia Nord-Navodari resort and belongs to businessman Mohammad Murad. The inauguration was attended by PM Mihai Tudose, Tourism Minister Mircea Titus Dobre and by PSD chairman Liviu Dragnea.