Private and public representatives from Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine met in Odessa at an event to discuss the launch of the Iasi-Chisinau regular train route synchronized with the existing Chisinau-Odessa route. The goal of the event was to consult the key players from the three countries so as to adjust the timetable of routes in a bid to realize the regional tourism potential by launching a train route that connects the three cities, offering tourists the possibility of going on city breaks.
In a news conference at IPN, president of the Employers’ Association of the Tourism Industry of Moldova Sergiu Manea said the objective was to bring together key participants that will cooperate to ensure a favorable climate for restoring regional tourism by the synchronized Iasi-Chisinau-Odessa train route.
As a result of the event, it was decided to constitute a working group consisting of specialists from the three countries. During the most difficult periods, regional tourism is possible if the anti-pandemic rules are obeyed. The experts will work on tourist routes, while the people will be motivated to choose a short visit by travelling to one city or even to the tree cities.
Dora Morhan, executive director of the association Destination Iasi, said it is great that Iasi is part of the project. At the next stage, there will be specified the railway route so that the experience of tourists is memorable. The tourists on this route will definitely will be not only from the tree countries, but also from other states. In about a month, the partnership will be formalized and details of the projects that is expected to be a success will be presented.
Iurie Calestru, programs director at the Institute for Development and Expertise of the Project, said that IDEP Moldova assumed the role of a dialogue platform between the key players so that this segment is put to good use. Connectivity is an important objective found in the Association Agreement with the EU, which was signed by Moldova and also by Ukraine.
“We were honored to get the consent of a number of members of the European Parliament to put questions to the European Commission concerning the possible support for the Iasi-Chisinau-Odessa train route, one of which was recently published. We have asked for support from the Railway Services of the Republic of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine for stimulating regional tourism that can be a catalyst for saving jobs given that tourism is one of the sectors that was worst hit by the COVID-19 pandemic,” stated Iurie Calestru.
Constantin Vieru, chairman of the Moldova–Romania Bilateral Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the extension wish of the business communities from the two states beyond the Nistru is evident. “The business community supports and wants this extension. Alternative routes have always been looked for. At the moment, there is no direct flight from Iasi to Odessa. We can break this circle by railway. Maybe the railways haven’t been developed the past few years or have been neglected. This revitalization is a very good signal for each public institution in Romania, the Republic Moldova and Ukraine,” stated Constantin Vieru.
