The 40th Romanian Tourism Fair was held in Bucharest between November 15 and 18. Visitors at the autumn tourism fair had the opportunity to meet people from various parts of Romania who brought along promotional materials and were ready to answer questions. It was the place where everyone could arrange their long-awaited Christmas and New Year holidays, and could also make early bookings for trips in the spring and summer of 2019.
Fulviu Moga is the director of the ‘Lunca Muresului’ Natural Park and he shared with us his wish to see more people visiting Lunca Muresului, in western Romania, next year:
“I love nature myself, so for nature lovers we have several offers such as canoeing on the Mures River, one of the most beautiful places in the Lunca Muresului landscape. Tourists can also opt for bike rides along marked routes in the forest or along the Mures River course. We also have many offers for those interested in bird and wildlife watching. Tourists are welcome to Lunca Muresului all year long, because each season has something to offer. The visitor center is also the headquarters of the park, and it is located 4 km from the city of Arad. We set up a small ethnographic museum there. We also have another museum which displays the natural riches of the park.”
Catalina Orban, the director of the Tourist Information Center in Reghin, recommends a trip to the town of violins, the starting point for many other trips.
“Tourists can see for themselves how violins are made by taking part in workshops. The famous violinist Yehudi Menuhin used to play on a violin made in Reghin. Tourists can also visit the town of Reghin, a small burgh in Transylvania which is home to a Saxon church dating back to 1330. The town of Reghin is located at the crossroads of 4 interesting castles: Teleki Castle in Gornesti, Rakoczi-Bornmisza Castle in Gurghiu, the former hunting castle of the former dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in Lapusna and Kemeny Castle in Brancovenesti. For tourists who like trekking, there are two sites near Reghin that are perfect for this kind of activity. On the one hand, they can visit the lava caves, which are unique in Romania. In Europe, such caves can only be found in Romania, Slovakia and Hungary. Access to these caves is possible along two routes, marked by the Mountain Rescue team. On the other hand, the more daring tourists can climb up the Scaunul Domnului peak, at an altitude of 1,300 meters.”
Dan Carpov, the representative of the Maramures County Council, recommends tourists to spend their winter holidays in Maramures:
“Christmas in Maramures is an already famous program, it has reached its 10th edition. It is an urban event which brings together Christmas traditions from all corners of Maramures, from its four regions: Chioar, Codru, Historical Maramures and Lapus Land. We try to provide our tourists with a wide range of offers, be it business, rural or spa tourism. At Christmas, apart from the programme offered by each guesthouse, tourists can go on short trips, which can create unique experiences, such as a ride with the narrow-gauge train or a trip to the eight wooden churches, included on UNESCO’s heritage list. And, before Christmas, we have prepared a surprise, the Union Road. There will be ten wagons starting off from historical Maramures, from Sighetul Marmatiei, taking people to Alba Iulia, where they will meet other representatives from around the country.”
The mountain area of Bacau County, in eastern Romania, is a less-promoted tourist region which truly deserves to become better known. George Gaman is the executive manager of Montpesa Association. He came to the Romanian Tourism Fair to speak about eight towns and villages in the western part of Bacau County, whose administrative bodies got together to set up and promote a healing-recreational tourist destination.
“The Targu Ocna salt mine is a very good place for tourists who are also patients, who need to recover from certain illnesses, but also for those who want to prevent certain diseases from damaging their health. What is unusual about this salt mine is that it hosts a church, which is quite unique in Europe. Inside the mine there is a treatment centre, a leisure facility and several km-long corridors. From the salt mine in Targu Ocna tourists can head to the renowned resort of Slanic Moldova, famous for the therapeutic qualities of its mineral water springs. What is special about the place is that there are 21 springs concentrated on a surface area of only two square kilometers. These springs got gold medals in exhibitions staged in Frankfurt and Berlin, as early as the 1900s. Also, the Nemira ski slope was built in the area. “
Monica Gheorghiu is the coordinator of Valcea County’s Tourism Information and Promotion Center. At the autumn edition of the Romanian Tourism Fair she came accompanied by a craftsman, also bringing with her traditional produce typical of the local cuisine.
“Valcea is an area rich in tourist assets, and you don’t have time to get bored there. Apart from spas, where they can have a holiday to remember, people can also visit other areas where they can taste traditional products, participate in events and take wonderful walks in nature. There are several events that have already become tradition in our county: the ‘Hurez Rooster’, the ‘Invartita Dorului’ shepherd’s folklore festival, the ‘Songs of the Olt River’, the ‘Days of Ramnic’. There are, however, several more recent events such as the Open Blues Open Air Festival held in Brezoi, or the Chainsaw Carvers’ Festival in Vaideeni. “
Also attending the autumn edition of the Romanian Tourism Fair were lots of travel agencies, which came with special packages for Christmas, the New Year’s Eve Party and Valentine’s Day, in mountain resorts, but also on the Romanian Black Sea coast. All agencies offered 15 to 50% discounts.
