About the project

Special tourist region, not far from the capital of Moldova, which will allow processing from 100,000 tourists per year and up to a million tourists per year in the developed period, and which will radically improve the lives of the local population who will be involved in the implementation of the project.

Project description ▰ Team ▰ Participants ▰ Local Active Group

Project description

What we do

Creation of a special tourist region, not far from the capital of Moldova, which will allow processing from 100,000 tourists per year and up to a million tourists per year in the developed period, and which will radically improve the lives of the local population who will be involved in the implementation of the project.

Where we do

The project will be implemented on the Cosnita Plateau, on the left bank of the Dniester, the jurisdiction of the Republic of Moldova, settlements – Cosnita, Pohrebea, Pirita and Dorotcaia; and on the right bank other adjacent settlements, such as – Criuleni, Slobozia-Dusca, etc.

Why are we doing there

1) the only place in the Republic of Moldova where the bank of the Dniester River, both on the right and on the left, is under Moldovan jurisdiction for almost 40 km, which creates an opportunity for the implementation of major tourist projects related to the Dniester River.
2) accessibility to Chisinau, 36 km from the city on a high-quality road, which is only 40 minutes away, 1 hour drive from the airport, which allows you to count on the arrival of foreign tourists
3) since this is a conflict zone, significant investments have been made in rural infrastructure in this region over the past two decades. Today – water, electricity, gas, road, lighted streets, developed social infrastructure.
4) the most beautiful region, has hilly terrain, the presence of architectural monuments, as well as the presence of river islands. The territory is rich in archaeological excavations, the presence of one of the largest caves in Europe.

Project objectives

The main objectives of the project:
1) Creation of a large tourist hub, on a national scale, which will allow processing up to 1 million domestic and foreign tourists per year.
2) Development of the local community and local villages, we are talking about 20 settlements, with a population of 50 thousand inhabitants, along the banks of the Dniester River, improving living standards, creating opportunities to work at home, in traditional conditions, but with more substantial earnings.

Development program

1) Construction of key infrastructure:
A. Walking and cycling route.
In the region along the left bank of the Dniester, in the region of the villages of Pohrebea, Cosnita, Pirita and Dorotcaia, it is planned to build a 40 km long pedestrian and bicycle sports and recreation track. The route will run along the Dniester, in picturesque places, using existing pedestrian zones along the river. The pedestrian and bicycle zone will have to consist of two paths, equipped with places for rest, garbage collection, drinking water, shade creation, souvenir and grocery stores. It is supposed to plant valuable tree species along the route to create beauty and shade.
B. Water route.
I. It is planned to build berths at all settlements included in this zone. Electric boats will stop (dock) at the berths for excursions and walks along the Dniester. At the first stage, it is planned to have 2 ships that can accommodate up to 20 people, as well as 10 individual boats that can accommodate up to 4-5 people for private walks along the Dniester. The construction of berths is planned along the entire waterway in order to ensure the transportation of tourists to all settlements of this region.
II. It is planned to build equipped beaches in each locality, both for the local population and for tourists.
Beaches should be equipped with a toilet, shower, trash cans, shade, changing rooms, fresh water and electricity.
2) Development of a sustainable and successful community:
It is necessary to train local residents in the tourism and hospitality business, to help implement projects. How it will happen:
A. The creation of Casa Rurala. Involvement of local residents in the creation of micro-hotels in their residential buildings, which will allow them to earn about 30-40 euros a day from the delivery of such premises.
B. food products:
I. cooking lunches for tourists
II. sale of fresh rural food products on the basis of signed contracts with consumer organizations
III. conservation (cooking, pickling).
C. additional types of tourist services: crafts, souvenir making, guide services, river and land rental services (bicycles, horses, wagon, etc.). In order to train residents in tourism business, on the basis of a business incubator in the village of Cosnita, it is planned to create a permanent school for training local residents of the region in tourism business. (SRE School of Rural Entrepreneurship).

Project management

The project is planned to be managed through the creation of a Local Initiative Group (LAG) (Grupuri de Actiuni Locali GAL), which will bring together local authorities, commercial companies, non-governmental organizations and individuals to implement the project. Infrastructure financing is supposed to be at the expense of state subsidies, or by attracting grants from various donors, the construction of private infrastructure, such as hotels, restaurants, shops at the expense of private money.

Long-term results

1) Increasing the economic well-being of the local population due to its mass involvement in the tourism business. It is assumed that in 3 years after the start of the project, approximately 30% of the population will have additional earnings from tourism activities.
2) Increase of income to the local budget. Given that the infrastructure will be created, a large number of companies will appear – tourism, restaurant business, transport, producers of agricultural products, various additional services will significantly increase revenues to the local budget (taxes and operation of beaches and caves separately).
3) Termination of migration from these settlements. The return of those who left, developing their native places with already existing foreign experience, and attracting residents of other regions, including residents of Chisinau, for permanent residence in this region and doing business.
4) Prospects are opening up for a positive example of the settlement of the Transnistrian conflict, due to the fact that there are adjacent villages from the Transnistrian side.
5) Attracting women and young people to business. Due to the development of crafts, self-employment, the construction of markets, the reception of tourists in their rural homes, the share of women and young people in business will significantly increase.
6) Considering that the project will implement the idea of preserving cultural heritage, not least: architectural. We are talking about the introduction of a design code in each locality that will participate in the program – so that all construction in this region is carried out taking into account local specifics, while preserving its coloristic, stylistics, ornaments, forms of houses, windows, stone fences, etc.

Who implements the project

The initiator of this project is the public organization OSTROV and volunteers who cooperate with it. The organization is registered in the village of Pohrebea, Cosnita commune, specialists, members of the organization and volunteers are people of various professions – specialists in tourism, architecture, specialists in law, winemaking, organizing mass events, opinion-forming leaders, various initiative groups.

Team Members

The initiator of this project is the public organization OSTROV. These are specialists from various industries – tourism, architecture, law, winemaking, organization of mass events. Our team also includes opinion-forming leaders, various initiative groups, organizations and development partners who support our project.

Ruslan Uskov

President of the public organization OSTROV

Alexandra Uskova

director of Amorus Tur Rural SRL, tour operator in Pohrebea village

Nicolae Cojocaru

member of the public organization OSTROV, representative of the public organization ECOLOCAL

Livia Ciorici

Manager and Coordinator for Tourism, NGO OSTROV, operating in the INIMA NISTRULUI region

Serghei Mirza

architect, active representative of the public organization OSTROV, director of the architectural bureau LH47 ARCH

Alexandru Ivanov

tourism specialist, activist of the public organization OSTROV

Participants

Финансирование инфраструктуры предполагается за счет государственных субсидий,
либо за счет привлечения грантов различных доноров, строительство частной
инфраструктуры, такой как: гостиниц, ресторанов, магазинов за счет частных денег.

Local authorities

Mayor’s Office Cosnita Pohrebea
Alexei Gafel

Mayor’s Office Pirita
Yuri Soltan

Mayor’s Office Dorotcaia
Valery Berzan

Mayor’s Office Criuleni
Mihail Sclifos

Mayor’s Office Slobozia-Dusca
Sergiu Istrati

Chairman of the Dubossary District Council
Grigore Filipov

International organizations and partners

Ghenadie Ivascenco, Angela Cascaval

Iulia Costin, Isae Spinu

Iurie Gumeniuc

Tomasz Horbowski

Nata Albot

Iulian Bercu

Anna Cherneva, Patricia Varzari, Anatolie Pirlii, specialist în turism – Svetlana Laraz

Nicolae Cojocaru
Tomara Schiopu

Alexandru Sainsus

Business Sector

Serghei Mirza

Petru and Nadejda Bondari

Alexandra Uskova

David Smith

Denis and Alena Sirotiloа

Ruslan Uskov

Ion Luca

Konstantin Molcean and Oxana Romanskaia

LAG (LAG – Local Active Group)

The formation of LAG INIMA NISTRULUI is being completed, which includes 6 settlements of Dubossary and Criuleni districts – Pirita, Dorotcaia, Pohrebea, Cosnita, Criuleni, Slobozia-Dusca.

At the beginning of 2019, LAG founded the National LEADER Network, which currently unites more than 30 LAG’s.

The National LEADER Network is an association that promotes the LEADER approach in the Republic of Moldova by supporting and representing the interests of Local Initiative Groups (LAG’s). The network was created thanks to a joint initiative of LAGs’ and organizations implementing the LEADER approach in the Republic of Moldova. This initiative was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and Environment, as well as the European Union. Through its activities, the National Network contributes to the development of rural areas in the Republic of Moldova, through the introduction of LEADER processes, establishing partnerships both at the national and international levels. The mission of the organization is to assist in the association and cooperation of LAG’s, as well as other parties and participants interested in promoting the LEADER approach in the Republic of Moldova for sustainable rural development.

More information can be obtained by clicking on the link: https://leaderin.md/ru/12555-2/