Message from Ana Maria ARDELEANU (Pensiunea “Grădinile Romane”, Neamț) at the launch event of the Interreg CAPDR🇷🇴 – ADR Chișinău🇲🇩 project at the Palace of the Republic in Chișinău | 11.09.2025
Mesaje publice
Chișinău, September 11, 2025 – The Palace of the Republic in Chișinău hosted on Thursday the launch conference of the project “Transfer of Good Practices and Strengthening Administrative Capacity in Regional Development Policy between Romania and the Republic of Moldova”, funded by the Interreg NEXT Romania – Republic of Moldova Program.
The event brought together representatives of public administration, regional development experts, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers from Romania and the Republic of Moldova, and was organized by the Center for Analysis and Planning of Regional Development (CAPDR) in partnership with the Regional Development Agency of Chișinău (ADR Chișinău).
The purpose of the meeting was to identify and promote good practices in regional development, increase the administrative capacity of local authorities, and stimulate cross-border cooperation, with a special focus on regional tourism and the Via Moldavia project.
The event provided a framework where successful entrepreneurs and public authorities could share experiences and concrete examples of projects combining private innovation with public strategy.
Lessons from Private Experience: Grădinile Romane – A Model of Good Practices
One of the central interventions of the conference was given by Ana Maria Ardeleanu, manager and owner of Pensiunea Grădinile Romane, located on the shores of Lake Bicaz, Neamț County. Ardeleanu explained how she transformed a completely undeveloped area into a premium tourism concept, emphasizing the importance of collaboration between the private sector and public administration:
“We established a premium location, a unique concept, with a well-prepared development plan, in a place where there was nothing. It was a country road’s dead-end, unpaved, without infrastructure, without tourism vision. What I want to talk about today is the importance of collaboration between private and public sectors.”
Ana Maria Ardeleanu highlighted that the success of private investments depends not only on the entrepreneur’s initiative but also on support from public administration:
“The collaboration between all private stakeholders in related fields and the entire public administration, local or higher level, is essential. Our investment was 100% private, fully developed from our own funds.”
She described the challenges faced over the years: lack of infrastructure, unpaved roads, and the need to build a network among local operators:
“When we arrived there, there was nothing. We had to lay the foundations for everything that later became a collaboration between stakeholders: accommodations, restaurants, recreational activities, services, and local culture. Today, after six years of activity and almost twenty years since starting the project, we are still on a 700-meter unpaved road.”
Through this experience, Ardeleanu emphasized the importance of supporting private investments for community development:
“If you manage to support people who truly want to act, they will support the quality of life in your area. Through tourism and the wonderful project starting here, Via Moldavia, we can create prosperity for everyone.”
Youth and Local Communities – A Priority for Sustainable Development
A central point of Ana Maria Ardeleanu’s speech was the connection between tourism development and keeping young people in communities:
“Our children have left home, and we want them back, because they belong to us and we want them at home, where their roots are and where they feel well. To achieve this, we must create beautiful and safe conditions at home: sidewalks, public lighting, parks, and basic infrastructure.”
Ardeleanu insisted that developing infrastructure and creating integrated services is not just an administrative issue, but a key factor for community cohesion and residents’ well-being.
“When thinking about roads, you must also consider what comes next: the community’s well-being, how to bring them home by creating the premises for an active social life in their courtyard, in their home, in their village.”
This vision highlights that private investments, supported by effective public policies, can become an engine for regional development, especially in rural or semi-rural areas.
The Example of Grădinile Romane and Regional Tourism Development
CAPDR President, Ion Ștefanovici, continued the discussion, using the Grădinile Romane experience as a concrete example of good practices for the entire Moldavian region:
“The manager explained the challenges she faced until she managed to combine various elements: water sports, recreational activities, and relaxation, all integrated into a coherent concept. This unit is a model of good practices that I recommend everyone to visit.”
Ion Ștefanovici highlighted the tourist potential of the Stânca-Costești reservoir, located on the border between Romania and the Republic of Moldova:
“There are natural and recreational facilities that can be leveraged to create an important tourist hub. The Via Moldavia project, through its three routes – north, central, and south – will transport Romanian, Moldovan, and international tourists, making all projects in the area profitable.”
He pointed out that although the Moldovan side had previously developed tourist facilities, they had been neglected over time, and their valorization requires a coordinated strategy and European funds:
“Until 1990, the Moldovan side had already developed certain facilities. Now they are used randomly. If we centralize and strategically valorize them, we can create an attractive tourist hub for the entire region.”
Via Moldavia – Connecting Tourism and Communities
Via Moldavia is an ambitious initiative to create an integrated tourist network connecting the region’s cultural, natural, and gastronomic attractions, offering tourists varied experiences: from rural and gastronomic tourism to water sports and recreational activities.
Through the example of Grădinile Romane, the project demonstrates that tourism development is not just infrastructure, but also involves creating an attractive environment for communities, with social, economic, and cultural impact:
“I really hope that the Via Moldavia project will take shape and start. I am convinced that, by sitting together at a table, we can design possibilities and partnerships that will deliver remarkable results.” – Ana Maria Ardeleanu
Thus, Via Moldavia not only attracts tourists but also stimulates cross-border cooperation, local community development, and quality of life, becoming a successful model for similar regional projects.
Conclusion – Partnerships as a Vector of Regional Development
The Chișinău conference demonstrated that sustainable development of the Moldavian region depends on solid partnerships between the private sector and public authorities. Examples presented, such as Grădinile Romane and the Via Moldavia project, show that tourism can be a driver of economic and social well-being by creating jobs, attracting young people to communities, and stimulating local investments.
By implementing good practices, leveraging natural and cultural resources, and creating integrated infrastructure, Romania and the Republic of Moldova can transform the Moldavian region into a reference tourist destination with a positive impact on communities and the regional economy.
The message of the conference was clear: through collaboration, vision, and engagement, regional tourism becomes a tool for cohesion, economic development, and sustainable prosperity for communities across the entire region.
