National Strategy of ecotourism development for the period of 2019-2029.

This National Strategy of ecotourism development for the period of 2019-2029 establishes the application of current principles for the development of sustainable tourism in protected natural areas and in their adjacent areas prospecting the emergence of ecotourism as a distinct form of tourism, designed to respect the integrity of natural landscapes and ecological biodiversity, in accordance with the requirements of certain segments of tourists who want to spend their vacation in nature and at the same time create possibilities for local development of communities.
The Strategy is aimed to present the current stage of development of this form of tourism at the national level and to come up with a set of directions to guide efforts to capitalize through ecotourism on areas where nature and local culture occupy a central place, in accordance with the requirements imposed by national legislation, as well as the international conventions to which Romania has adhered. The goal of the Strategy is to promote ecotourism as the main form of tourism within these destinations and to increase the role that ecotourism plays in the economic development of these areas and in the prosperity of the local population.
The Strategy also calls for collaboration among various stakeholders, including government entities, local authorities, and private sector actors, to ensure effective execution. In terms of food, agriculture, and natural resource management, the Strategy recognizes the interconnection between ecotourism and sustainable agricultural practices. It advocates for the integration of local food systems into ecotourism offerings, promoting the use of local produce and traditional agricultural methods. In particular, it refers to the establishment of producer groups and organizations in agriculture and forestry – aims to associate agricultural producers in order to better adapt to market requirements and to have access to modern and unified production technologies, corresponding to the requests of processors or wholesalers. Eligible beneficiaries of ecotourism shall be producer groups in the agricultural sector. Relevant measures include developing action plans that support biodiversity conservation and sustainable land use, ensuring that tourism activities do not compromise the integrity of natural resources. This holistic approach aims to foster a sustainable relationship between tourism, agriculture, and environmental stewardship, ultimately benefiting both local communities and the ecosystem.
Ecological education shall be aimed at increasing the level of awareness, appreciation and knowledge of natural and cultural values, of ecotourism principles among local communities and visitors on the one hand, but also among central and local public administrations, NGOs, educational institutions, other institutions and organizations on the other hand, in order to orient their behavior towards responsibility, participation, involvement in specific ecotourism activities.