Ana Maria ARDELEANU, manager of Grădinile Romane Guesthouse, at FERM 2025: “Our salvation in the mountain areas is tourism”

REGIONAL ECONOMIC FORUM MOLDOVA 2025

19th Edition – Vatra Dornei, July 9–13, 2025

Thematic Panel:

Mountain Economy – Sustainable Development and Valorization of Local Resources

Speaker:

Ana Maria Ardeleanu – Owner and Manager of Grădinile Romane Guesthouse

Speech Topic:
“Bicaz Area: workforce shortage, lack of events and tourism strategy; the need to modernize road infrastructure”

Ana Maria Ardeleanu, manager of Grădinile Romane Guesthouse, presented at the Moldova 2025 Regional Economic Forum a compelling example of meaningful rural entrepreneurship. In an isolated village in the mountainous region of Neamț County, she turned an idea into a refined tourism concept built around authenticity, emotional recovery, and the valorization of local resources.

Grădinile Romane Guesthouse – a soulful and visionary tourism concept

Ana Maria Ardeleanu opened her speech by highlighting that her place is not just an ordinary tourist location, but a “boutique hotel” with a well-defined concept meant to offer an experience of reconnection, relaxation, and regeneration.

“We wanted a place where we could gather ourselves, heal, and restore our vital energy, considering that we are all, in our own ways, affected by the economic hardships we face.”

She mentioned that the business was built with care not just to create quality infrastructure, but also to build an “emotional structure of the person,” an oasis of tranquility where the story and atmosphere remain vivid for guests.

Tourism – the key to saving the mountain area

In Ana Maria Ardeleanu’s view, tourism is the only real solution for revitalizing the mountain areas of Moldova.

“Our salvation in the mountain areas is tourism. I see no other potential to keep young people at home, otherwise half of the country will remain deserted.”

She emphasized the need for infrastructure, both road and tourism-related, to create attractive conditions for residents and visitors alike.

“We need to offer them a life beyond work. We don’t have cafés, streetlights, sidewalks. Young people have seen the world and want something more; if we don’t provide alternatives, they will leave.”

The major challenge: workforce shortage

Nonetheless, one of the biggest obstacles faced by Ana Maria’s business is the labor shortage, a reality that especially affects small and medium-sized companies in mountain areas.

“As small businesses, we don’t have the tools and resources of large companies, and the distances from urban centers – 30–60 km to Piatra-Neamț, Bicaz, or Târgu-Neamț – make recruitment and employee retention very difficult,” she explained.

The deeper issue, as Ana Maria stressed, is the depopulation of villages and the lack of local opportunities for youth, who leave for cities or abroad.

“Children over 14 go away to high school, university, and never come back. The rural mountain area offers only limited jobs – in forestry, logging, or livestock farming – and even these are in decline.”

This situation leads to major difficulties in offering premium services, as the staff is often unskilled or unstable.

Opportunities in Slow Travel and collaborative development

Ana Maria Ardeleanu sees great opportunity in promoting the Slow Travel concept in the region – a form of responsible tourism that focuses on authentic experiences, a slower pace, and the valorization of local resources.

“Moldova is still a ‘blank slate’ in terms of tourism development, and this is our chance to build something coherent and sustainable, without being hindered by the failed experiences of others.”

She called for close collaboration between authorities, entrepreneurs, and organizations to develop a common strategy that harnesses the region’s huge potential.

Natural potential – an unexploited corner of paradise

A striking example of the area’s beauty is Lake Bicaz, visible from the guesthouse yard, offering spectacular mountain landscapes.

“It’s something from another world,” said Ana Maria, emphasizing that the region holds immense untapped potential.

Ana Maria Ardeleanu concluded her speech with a call to action and genuine collaboration.

“I don’t like to expose problems without offering solutions. My solution is collaboration among us – I see no other.”

“I hope these meetings lead to concrete results, and I still believe in the potential of Moldova, especially of this region.”

Conclusions

The speech of Ana Maria Ardeleanu highlighted one of the most pressing challenges of the mountain economy: the labor crisis and its impact on sustainable development. Tourism, built on authentic concepts adapted to local realities, appears to be a beacon of hope for revitalizing the region, but success depends on the collaboration between public institutions, entrepreneurs, and communities.