The number of businesses dealing with rural tourism is expected to rise the coming years, says deputy minister for local public administration Radu Caruta. The official has urged the companies in the sector to attend a national conference in this regard to unfold from January 22 to 24. The conference will be held in three different towns: Balti, Cimislia and Ialoveni, Info-Prim Neo reports. “The companies and the local public authorities will learn those levers in the development of rural tourism which can serve as solutions for more hardships,” said Radu Caruta Wednesday at a news conference. According to him, “the success of implementing the policy of regional development will contribute to the general development of the country.” The projects to be proposed by companies for a tender to select the best business ideas. The project will be implemented with the financial support of the National Fund for Regional development, which gets 1% from the in-flows into the state budget. This fund will get 156 million lei, the deputy minister said. “People need to get rid of stress, the demand for local tourism is growing. Our people has a special cuisine, handicrafts, folklore, nature – all these create a strong foundation to develop the local tourism,” said Stanislav Rusu, the head of the marketing direction of the Culture and Tourism Ministry. Moldova has rich culture, a vast potential which needs to be capitalized, says Victor Ciobanu, the head of the national agency for managing the tourism area. According to him, this year, over 30 important cultural events are going to be organized. Among them: the Nicolae Sulac festival, the Maria Dragan festival and the Festival of winter traditions and customs. In localities, they will organize the Nufarul Alb festival in Cahul, Hora Mare in Rezina, and Mesterul Manole in Criuleni, etc. There were 36 rural resorts working in Moldova by the end of 2008, as other 20 companies want to set up 'agri-industrial' resorts in 2009. “If the number of resorts grows, there accommodation prices may fall,” said Stanislav Rusu. Now a rural resorts takes 25-35 euro/days, offering three meals.