Sustainable Tourism – The Future Starts Now, Romania, Bucharest, 20 May 2025
- Tessy Melidi
- May 27
- 3 min read
On 20 May 2025, the National Union of County Councils of Romania (UNCJR) successfully organised the "Sustainable Tourism – The Future Starts Now" conference as part of the "Green Cities – Active Cities" European project. Held at the UNCJR headquarters, the event saw representatives from all 41 Romanian counties attending.
The conference aimed to support local public authorities in developing sustainable tourism strategies, foster active citizen involvement, and strengthen inter-institutional collaboration for the creation of the "Guide of Good Practices in Sustainable Tourism in Romania".
Sorin Munteanu, General Director of UNCJR, delivered the official opening remarks, emphasising the crucial role of local communities. He stated, "Tourism reflects our values. If we want a sustainable Romania, we must start with responsible tourism." He highlighted sustainable tourism as a long-term necessity, aiming to balance economic development with environmental protection and cultural heritage preservation.
During the first panel, "What Does Sustainable Tourism Really Mean in Practice?", Gabriela Bostănescu, an advisor at the Court of Accounts, discussed "The involvement of local communities in designing and guiding tourism." She stressed that sustainable tourism involves working with local people, improving quality of life, and taking responsibility for the future. She stated that "local communities are the cornerstone of sustainable tourism, and without their involvement, tourism can become invasive or an economic resource that is wasted." She provided practical examples from Romania, including community involvement in maintaining tourist trails (e.g., Via Transilvanica) and traditional accommodation (e.g., Maramureș).
The second panel, "Sustainable Tourism Examples from Romanian Counties", featured Ionela Stoian, communication and public authority relations director, who presented various initiatives to be included in the "Guide to Best Practices in Sustainable Tourism in Romania". She highlighted Alba Iulia's restored Alba Carolina Fortress and Rîmetea village, awarded as "Destination of the Year 2025". Ocna Mureș, known for its new spa complex, attracted over 250,000 visitors in its first year. Arad County's Mureș Floodplain Natural Park, a RAMSAR site, was also showcased.
Also contributing to this panel was Irina Cozma, coordinator for tourism and culture within the EU Strategy for the Danube Region – Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration. She presented on the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) and highlighted the Municipality of Galaţi as an example of European involvement through the "Be Ready - Urban Heat Islands Resilience, Preparedness and Mitigation Strategy" project, inviting local authorities to access its online vulnerability assessment toolkit at be-uhi-ready.net. She also discussed upcoming regional meetings for the "Best Practices Guide", stating, "these meetings will be organised in partnership with county councils to exchange ideas and feedback on the guide's applicability."
Finally, the third panel, "Smart and Sustainable: Digital Tools for Green Travel", was led by Vlad Stoian, telecommunications specialist at Ericsson Romania. He defined sustainable tourism as meeting current needs without compromising future generations' resources. He stressed the need for digital tools to inform tourists and promote eco-friendly options, stating, "mobile apps and mapping platforms facilitate access to eco-friendly options and support responsible planning, while green certifications build trust and transparency." He showcased "Romania Atractivă," a mobile app launched by the Ministry of Investments and European Projects, which offers 12 cultural routes and generated over 12.4 million social media reach. Other apps like "Our Mountains" and "Green Spots Romania" were also mentioned, alongside green certifications such as ECO-ROMANIA and Green Key Romania.
The conference concluded with a roundtable discussion on "fundamental criteria for developing authentic and sustainable tourist destinations", followed by a session summarising the next steps for drafting the national guide.
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