Historic sites, natural landscapes, authentic traditions and gastronomic culture have all been interconnected through four tourist routes in the south of Moldova, with a total distance of over 170 kilometers. The first 16 amateur athletes, passionate about running and cycling, gave the new routes a try.

The routes were created and launched by the Moldovan Association for Inbound Tourism, as part of a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“Supporting the tourism sector creates jobs in rural areas, especially for women, and stimulates regional development and entrepreneurship. The expansion of the tourist offer, with emphasis on local attractions, and the improvement of rural tourism facilities stimulates the attraction of international tourists. Connecting guesthouses, wineries, small artisans and museums to tourist routes offers a wide range of new experiences for tourists and can create opportunities for tourism development in the region,” said USAID Moldova Mission Director Scott Hocklander.

Each route is about 40 km long and can be covered either by bike or on foot, from any starting point the tourist wants. The cycling routes are well marked, with ecological signs. With the help of QR codes it is possible to download maps in digital format from the portal moldova.travel. On the portal you can find recommendations about places to rest, accommodation, relaxation, outdoor activities, events of interest to tourists. The routes mostly follow national roads, but there are also segments with a country road or passing through forests.

Natalia Turcanu, executive director of the Moldovan Association for Inbound Tourism, pointed out that some guesthouses and wineries on the routes were equipped with bicycles and tents to be offered for rent to tourists visiting them.

The investment made in marking 173 km of the route, as well as for digitizing the maps, amounted to $40,000.