A cluster for the promotion and development of green tourism, in the Danube region of the Black Sea basin (Cahul district, Republic of Moldova; Galați county, Romania; and Reni territorial community, Ukraine), will be created within the cross-border project "Development and promotion of green tourism in the Danube sector of the Black Sea basin". The first meeting regarding the creation of the Cahul-Galați-Reni cluster took place in Cahul on Thursday, April 6. Project experts, representatives of the local public administration and tourism service providers from the region participated in the activity. They were informed about the advantages of creating the tourism cluster.

The creation of the cluster aims to strengthen the capacities of tourism service providers, local and regional authorities in Cahul, Reni and Galați, but also to develop cross-border and green tourism, by promoting cooperation and the exchange of good practices. The cluster will promote the tourism potential of the region, including green tourism; will organize events to promote tourism service providers, who are members of the cluster; will develop promotional materials and develop additional tourist routes in the Danube region of the Black Sea basin.

Also, the cluster will contribute to promoting cooperation with tourism clusters from other regions and countries, to attracting European funds for the development of cross-border tourism, to increasing the exchange of information and best practices between its members, to the geographical expansion of the cluster by attracting new members, to the organization of trainings to improve the skills of tourism service providers, but also to the development of regional policies regarding the development of cross-border and green tourism.

Nicolae Dunas, president of the Cahul district, present at the meeting to establish the Tourist Cluster, stated that: "Your work in this project allows the citizen to see a beautifully done thing, to feel that he lives here in the given region. We have the friendship that leaves beautiful moments, clearly outlined events, that help our citizens want to stay at home".

Liubomir Chiriac, executive director of IDIS "Viitorul", the project leader, mentioned: "The most valuable thing is the interaction between the economic agents from Cahul, Reni and Galați, a connection that was built over time, with a lot of effort. We want this cross-border region, which has an unprecedented tourism potential, to be exploited, so that everyone benefits".

Sergiu Renta, the project coordinator from the Cahul District Council, said: "My expectations from this cluster are that the citizens of our region will benefit from green, ecological tourism that will unite us and help us become better."

Cristian Munteniță, project coordinator from "Dănărea de Jos" University in Galaţi, said: "We are happy that today, on the occasion of this meeting, we are laying the foundations of this cluster, which is a result of the project. We need to understand what a cluster means, what it implies. We need to form a cluster that will remain a tangible result of the project, produce results, unite economic agents from the three countries".

Oxana Efimenco, secretary of the Reni City Hall, Ukraine, specified: "When we applied for this project, we had some expectations for Ukraine. Because of the war we had to change priorities. Now that the situation has stabilized we can return to these priorities. We are geographically favorably positioned, and the existence of a tourist cluster is very important. It opens certain opportunities for us, it will allow us to develop the region, create jobs and attract tourists".

Afanasie Prepelița, expert în marketingul turistic al proiectului, a  specificat: "The cluster is a geographical concentration of institutions, interconnected in a field. Entities that are part of a cluster compete and cooperate with each other for a benefit. A tourism cluster mobilizes economic agents to create, promote and capitalize on a product from the region. The cluster is to stimulate the development of green tourism on the border, to increase the quality of tourist services and the number of tourists in the region. The tourism cluster is seen as a model of regional, national and international development. It is one of the best ways to create attractive tourist destinations. By means of the tourist cluster, the touristic elements of a territory are highlighted".

Mihai Țurcanu, a member of the project implementation team, said: "The population of the Cahul-Reni-Galați Danube region is large. It amounts to almost 800 thousand inhabitants, and most of it is in Galati County. An advantage for the development of green tourism is the changes taking place in the region. The degree of urbanization is relatively low and represents an opportunity for the development of rural tourism. Life expectancy is relatively high. Here is noted a relatively diverse and rich potential of natural resources, soil, but also the existence of known reserves, natural monuments and tourist attractions with historical and archaeological potential. It is also about favorable positioning with access to the Danube and the sea, about the growth potential of adults, able to work, able to develop the branch of green or rural tourism".

Veaceslav Ioniță, expert in business development within the project, said: "For several years, the Republic of Moldova has been making efforts to create clusters based on the experience of other countries. We need to know what benefits we can get from having a cluster. There is the part about competition between businessmen, but there is one thing that unites them. In the relationship with the state, you all have the same problem. Let's work together, it sounds much stronger and your voice will be much stronger. This form of tourism promotion is currently the best in the Republic of Moldova".

Lucia Căpățînă, the project's main tourism expert, said: "Anyone can be part of a tourism cluster, from an individual, community, town hall, local action groups, native associations, etc. The cluster is seen as a stimulating factor of development progress, attracting investments. The cluster is the one that unites natural and legal persons, with different interests, but who have a common goal. It is not mandatory for cluster members to be only from the field of tourism, but from related, closer fields. Another advantage that is integrated here is the increase in the quality of life".

Liubomir Chiriac, executive director of IDIS "Viitorul", stated at the end of the meeting: "What we want to do, the creation of this cluster, will benefit economic agents who want to develop more intensively. Economic agents can be members of two or more clusters. I don't see a problem that an economic agent from another district is not part of this cluster. Cooperation between the Cahul District Council, the University of Galati, the Galati County Council and the Reni Territorial Community is important. We have prepared a series of informative materials that will be of interest to that cluster. We aim to create an economic mechanism that benefits everyone."

The cluster will be an associative type structure with a governing body, statute and will include tourism service providers from the 3 regions. Cluster members will meet regularly. The sustainability of the cluster will be ensured through a website, which will be created to promote green tourism in the cross-border region. The local public administrations in the 3 regions will contribute to supporting the activities, promoting the cluster, which favors all the actors involved.

As part of the project, a practical guide for service providers on business development in green tourism was created, a map with three cross-border tourist routes, an informative brochure for tourists was created. A joint program for the development of cross-border tourism in Cahul, Reni and Galați is to be developed. Six trainings, two study visits, round tables and workshops were organized in order to strengthen the capacities of tourism service providers. Two festivals will be organized between May and June 2023 and podcasts on green tourism in the region will be produced. A study on good neighborliness along the Danube sector was developed, and the project website was also created. A film will be made about the potential of green tourism in the Danube sector of the Black Sea basin.

The cross-border project "Development and promotion of green tourism in the Danube sector of the Black Sea basin (Cahul district, Republic of Moldova; Reni territorial community, Ukraine and Galați county, Romania)", BSB-817, is implemented by IDIS "Viitorul", in partnership with the Cahul District Council (Moldova), the Executive Committee of the Local Council of the city. Reni (Ukraine) and "Dunarea de Jos" University from Galati (Romania).

The project is part of the Black Sea Basin Joint Operational Program 2014-2020 and is co-financed by the European Union through the European Neighborhood Instrument and by the participating countries: Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine.

This press release was produced with the financial support of the European Union. Its content is the exclusive responsibility of the cross-border project BSB 817, and can not be, in any way, considered to reflect the views of the European Union. To find out more details about the project, you can contact us at idis.crossborderproject@gmail.com.

------------------------------

IDIS „Viitorul” is an independent think tank founded in 1993 that combines social, political and economic research with strong advocacy components. The institution carries out applied monitoring research in several fields: economy, social policy, EU policies, regional development, but also security and foreign policy risks.

Follow us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/IDISViitorul ;
Subscribe to our channel by Telegram - https://t.me/idis93 ;
Watch us on our channel Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@idisviitorul8539 .