President Ion ȘTEFANOVICI, CAPDR: „The VIA MOLDAVIA Tourism Fair – the Regional Response to Global Tourism Competition”
100 economic opportunities for the development of the Moldova Region on the A7 Highway route
REGIONAL TOURISM FAIR “VIA MOLDAVIA” – Discover the Moldova Region. Palas Iași, May 1–3, 2026
I support the VIA MOLDAVIA Regional Tourism Fair because this event is the direct result of a thorough interregional analysis conducted within the framework of the Moldova Regional Economic Forum – 2024 and 2025 editions
These analyses clearly highlighted the need to bring together domestic and international tourism demand with our regional tourism offerings – accommodation, attractions, related services, events, and experiences.
At the same time, the strong necessity of creating a Regional Tourism Program emerged, built on integrated packages capable of providing coherence, attractiveness, and international competitiveness.
Some of these objectives have already been achieved.
VIA MOLDAVIA Regional Tourism Fair – Explore the Moldova Region. Palas Iași | May 1–3, 2026
VIA MOLDAVIA – From Regional Analysis to Concrete Action
#VIAMOLDAVIA is this regional program and will integrate, through the Regional Tourism Fair organized at Palas Iași from May 1–3, 2026, tourism packages from the Moldova Region and the Republic of Moldova. In the future, with the conclusion of the war in the Odesa region, the program aims to expand towards the Black Sea, completing a coherent regional tourism route.
Why are we organizing in these trilateral terms?
How many of you knew that, for example, Chinese tourists visiting Europe generally choose three countries during the same trip?
How many of you have truly considered that promoting our tourism packages abroad takes place in direct competition with the world’s major tourist destinations: Paris, Milan, Dubai, Beijing, Shanghai, Frankfurt, Budapest, Barcelona, Rabat, Riyadh, New Delhi, Cairo, etc.?
This reality shows that promoting a region requires critical mass, a diversity of experiences, coordination, and strategic tools adapted to global competition. Some of these tools are already being implemented through VIA MOLDAVIA.
In 2026, through joint coordination with the Republic of Moldova, we will succeed in positioning the Moldova Region as an international tourism destination, by integrating packages, attractions, events, and tourist sites into a unified and competitive offer.
We have long-standing traditions, rich culinary experiences, uniquely beautiful places, captivating events, and authentic hospitality.
Today, these assets are being fully leveraged through coordination and unified action.
Building an International Destination: VIA MOLDAVIA
We have structured ourselves by domains, we are more efficient, and sufficiently representative to signal the region’s tourism potential at an international level.
We will consolidate the Top 5 source countries for incoming tourism to our region and aim to develop incoming tourism from the Middle East and Asia, by strengthening bilateral regional relations.
The strategic analysis conducted at the end of 2025 led to the decision to structure the Moldova Regional Economic Forum by thematic domains.
A calendar of 10 regional events has been adopted, organized in the Moldova Region (Romania) and the Republic of Moldova, and the Moldova Regional Economic Forum, in a special format, will be organized in Odesa, depending on the evolution of the war in Ukraine.
I will provide details about this calendar separately. It is important to emphasize that each domain will be maximized through careful selection of localities, partners, and desired outcomes.
I thank our partners at Palas Iași for their openness and collaboration in organizing the VIA MOLDAVIA Regional Tourism Fair.
I have full confidence in our colleagues, partners, and collaborators, and in the organizational system we have built together, and the experience gained so far confirms that the VIA MOLDAVIA Regional Tourism Fair will be an ABSOLUTE SUCCESS.
