Moldova has every chance to become a tourist attraction, as the country stands out for its hospitality, authenticity and, above all, for its cuisine and wines. Gastro-wine tourism is an asset that can transform Moldova into a real oasis of experiences, tastes and special places for tourists, but also for Moldovan citizens, says Mariana Iurcu, a specialist at the Călăraşi District Tourism Resource Center and also a museographer.
Mariana Iurcu says that when the “Dumitru Scvorțov-Russu” Museum of History and Ethnography was opened in Călăraşi, foreign tourists began to come and the need to promote the town arose. Tourists always asked if there was anything else they could see in the city. Although the 2020-2021 pandemic closed the country’s borders for the foreign tourists, this was an opportunity for the development of domestic tourism, when Moldovans started travelling from north to south discovering their country.
Tatiana Lupașcu, general secretary of the National Association of Guides, said that gastronomic tourism is present in any trip. Dedicated themed gastronomic routes are not just simple lunch or dinner breaks, but are fixed in advance and discussed with the tourist group. The route may vary according to the group’s preferences. There are many elements that are taken into account in establishing the route. For example, if there are vegetarians in a group, then there is even more work, because all the dishes will be chosen with utmost care.
Tatiana Lupașcu says that foreigners are always curious to find out the peculiarities of the national cuisine. They want to taste pies, sarmale, baba negra, zeama, etc. “On our gastronomic tours we make stops and talk about history, culture, traditions, customs. The tourist must understand the context in which these dishes were created. If we talk about Christmas holidays, Easter holidays, there is a special gastronomy and the tourist must know the meaning of the holiday, not only the final product, to have a maximum experience. Foreign tourists prefer gastronomic tours in rural areas, the most popular of which is Orheiul Vechi.
At the end of last year, the Moldovan authorities together with external partners signed a Tourism Sustainability Commitment whereby the Republic of Moldova will align its domestic tourism industry with global practices. The Sustainability Commitment will be implemented through the Ministry of Culture’s partnership with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and with the support of the USAID Rural Competitiveness and Resilience Project, the strategic partner for the Moldovan tourism industry.
