After a break of 20 years, the tourist train to Tiraspol left Chisinau station on 22 September. About 150 people, mainly guides, tourist agents and professionals in the field, were part of a very special tourist project - a round-trip by train. The tourist train race was organized by the Tourism Platform, created and supported with the financial support of the European Union through the Confidence Building Measures Program, implemented by UNDP, IPN.md reports.

The tourist itinerary has been designed in such a way that the guides and tourists can discover the most interesting locations on both banks of the Nistru River. The first stop was the Tighina Fortress (Bender), from where the tourists traveled to Tiraspol, where they visited the central park, then took the train back to Chișinău.

“The aim of this trip was to demonstrate the tourism potential of the region on both banks of the Nistru River and to show that joining efforts in the tourism sector can promote mutual understanding and cooperation between the inhabitants of both sides. Such a tourist train not only expands the opportunities for tourism development, but also helps bring people closer together, creating a space for cultural exchange and interaction,” says Ivan Ganenco leader of the Tourism Platform.

“The tour was organized impeccably; the route was thoroughly thought out. The tourists showed great interest in the cultural and historical heritage of the region and asked a lot of questions. This shows that this travel format helps people to deepen the culture on both banks of the Nistru. We see how important it is to continue to develop such projects, which help to strengthen the ties between the regions,” says Irina Ladaniuc, tour guide.

“The tourists were also impressed by their first opportunity to travel to the left bank by train: "It was an amazing experience! I saw so many interesting places I had never heard of before. The organization of the tour was top-notch - comfortable transportation, fascinating excursions, the opportunity to try the local cuisine. A train like this really brings the two banks of the Nistru closer together and we hope that such trips will be organized more often," says Lucia.

Another traveller, Irina was also enthusiastic about the trip: “The trip was rich and informative. I liked the way the guides spoke passionately about the history and culture of the region. I felt warmth and friendliness throughout the trip. It really helps to understand each other better and see how much we have in common.”

“Participating in the development of this unique tourist trail was an honour for us. We wanted to create not just a tour, but a journey that will open new horizons for our tourists and show how rich and interesting the regions on both sides of the Nistru are. This project proves that tourism can be a powerful tool for strengthening cultural ties. We are confident that such initiatives will be an important step towards bringing the two shores closer,” adds Valeria Chebanova, tour organizer and director of a tourism company.

After a year since its founding, the Tourism Platform, supported by the European Union (EU) and UNDP, has 45 active members from both banks of the Nistru River and over 200 beneficiaries - representatives of tour operators and tourism managers from district councils. 1,800 tourist destinations were inventoried, 10 guides were certified within the Higher School of Tourism and Hotel Services of the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova.