Romania was the first country in Europe to launch a certification system for ecotourism destinations based on international standards, which rigorously evaluates how a destination combines tourism development with environmental protection and the promotion of cultural heritage, interim Minister of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism Irineu Darau said on Tuesday.

'We have a national ecotourism development strategy for the 2019-2029 period, recently complemented by a clear action plan that places the natural and cultural values of our country, as well as improving the lives of local communities, at the centre of development. A defining element that positions us at European level is the certification system for ecotourism destinations. Romania was the first country in Europe to launch such a system, based on international standards, which rigorously evaluates how a destination combines tourism development with environmental protection and the promotion of cultural heritage. This system is not only a recognition tool but also a genuine sustainable development toolkit. It encourages local partnerships between authorities, the private sector, organisations and communities and provides a clear direction for tourism development at local level,' Darau told the closing conference for the project 'Mystical Danube - Green and Mystical Danube Storytelling Route.'

According to the minister, Romania currently has seven certified ecotourist destinations, adding that tourism can become one of the greatest development engines for Romania in the coming years, with the capacity of becoming one of the spotlight destinations in Europe, as it has many authentic landmarks such as the Danube, the Delta, the villages, the cultural heritage and the local communities.

The Ministry of Economy, Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship and Tourism (MEDAT) organised the international conference 'Routes Connecting People' at the Palace of Parliament on Tuesday.

The event marked the completion of the implementation of the project 'Mystical Danube - Green and Mystical Danube Storytelling Route,' carried out between 1 January 2024 and 30 June 2026.

The project is financed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) under the Interreg Danube Region Programme 2021-2027, Priority Axis 3, Specific Objective 3.3 - Socio-economic development through heritage, culture and tourism.

Of the total allocated budget of 1.9 million euros, MEDAT's contribution amounted to 153,000 euros, while 80% represented ERDF funding and 20% national funding.

The initiative was developed within a transnational partnership comprising institutions from nine Danube countries: Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovakia, Montenegro, Hungary and Bulgaria.

MEDAT, as a partner, is implementing the project activities in collaboration with its associated strategic partners, namely Calarasi County Council and the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration.

The aim of the project is to develop a coordinated transnational approach to promoting the intangible cultural and natural heritage of lesser-visited rural areas along the Danube and stimulating local economic development through the promotion of a thematic route.

As an implementation area, the project was carried out in Calarasi County and the south-western part of Constanta County, covering the localities of Ostrov, Lipnita, Ion Corvin, Aliman, Rasova, Adamclisi and Baneasa. As part of the pilot area, an information point for the 'Green and Mystical Danube Storytelling' route will be established within the future Calarasi tourist port. The information point will serve to interpret the route, connect tourists with its story and message and promote the area's tourism offers. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Badea; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)