Bucharest
CAPDR organized the VIA MOLDAVIA Working Meeting dedicated to the Trotuș Valley micro-destination – spa tourism, nature, heritage, and leisure
Slănic Moldova hosted, on September 8, 2026, a new VIA MOLDAVIA Working Meeting dedicated to the Trotuș Valley Micro-Destination – spa tourism, nature, heritage, leisure
Organized by the Center for Regional Development Analysis and Planning – CAPDR, the meeting was part of the process of configuring and operationalizing the tourist micro-destinations within the VIA MOLDAVIA Northern Route, focusing on identifying local resources, mapping the territory, and connecting the tourism offer into a regional network.
Held at Panoramic Complex Slănic Moldova, the meeting brought to the forefront a territory with a complex tourism profile, where the spa component meets nature, heritage, and leisure activities.
The Trotuș Valley – RN-09 micro-destination has an indicative territorial area that includes Bacău, Dărmănești, Mănăstirea Cașin, Asău and Slănic Moldova, being approached within VIA MOLDAVIA as a territory capable of bringing together and transforming tourism resources, services, experiences, and routes into a coherent offer. The program’s official calendar confirms the inclusion of the Slănic Moldova meeting in the series of meetings dedicated to the VIA MOLDAVIA micro-destinations – Northern Route.
An Approach Built from the Territory
The Trotuș Valley meeting was designed as an applied working meeting, aimed at building an operational overview of the micro-destination: what resources exist, where they are located, how they can be connected, and how they can be transformed into tourism experiences and products.
This approach is part of the overall VIA MOLDAVIA architecture, in which the territorial network builds the offer, the back office verifies and updates it, while the VIA MOLDAVIA application transforms it into an experience that is easy to discover and use.
Within this mechanism, the micro-destination represents the level at which local resources are identified and structured, the route connects them regionally, and the network enables their validation and integration into a broader tourism offer.
Mapping the Trotuș Valley – From Resources to the Tourism Offer
One of the central elements of the meeting was the actual mapping of the micro-destination, starting from a central point and using a standard radius of 20 kilometers.
The VIA MOLDAVIA methodology focuses on inventorying the six components of the tourism offer: accommodation, gastronomy, attractions, events, experiences, and services.
This structure takes into account hotels, guesthouses, and other forms of accommodation, restaurants and gastronomic products, cultural and religious heritage, landscapes and natural attractions, local events, nature, family, adventure, sports, wellness or medical tourism experiences, as well as the services required for a complete tourism experience.
Mapping is not limited to simply listing attractions. For each relevant point, location, access, travel time, opening hours and availability, capacity, contact details, content, the possibility of integration into routes, and responsibility for verifying the information are taken into consideration.
Thus, the micro-destination map becomes an operational tool for tourism product development, rather than merely an inventory of attractions.
From Tourist Attractions to Integrated Experiences
One of the important principles of VIA MOLDAVIA is the transition from promoting individual attractions to creating integrated tourism experiences.
In the case of the Trotuș Valley, the proposed profile – spa tourism, nature, heritage, and leisure – provides the framework for articulating an offer that capitalizes on the territory’s complementary resources.
Resources are analyzed from the tourist’s perspective: where the journey begins, how much time is available, what the budget is, what type of experience is being sought, how the tourist travels, and whether they remain within the micro-destination or continue their journey to another area.
In this way, several points of interest can be connected into a one-day route, an experience lasting several hours, a 2–3-day product, or a broader regional circuit.
The Trotuș Valley as Part of a Regional Network
The micro-destination is not viewed as an isolated territory. The meeting was part of a regional approach in which the local offer is connected with the other micro-destinations of the Northern Route, and subsequently with the Central Route and Southern Route.
The VIA MOLDAVIA methodology seeks to identify the entry and exit points of the micro-destination, the main routes, secondary connections, and circuits that can extend the tourist’s stay. It also takes into consideration 2–7-day inter-micro-destination circuits and subsequent connections with the Romania–Republic of Moldova cross-border component.
This perspective transforms tourism development into a process of connecting territories, in which each micro-destination can become a starting point for other regional experiences.
EVENT PARTICIPANTS:
- ȘTEFANOVICI Ion, President, C.A.P.D.R.
- MORARU Benone, Mayor, Slănic Moldova City Hall
- SOVA Alina, Tourism Manager, Panoramic Complex, Hotel Dobru, Slănic Moldova Casino and Teleconstrucția Villa
- LAZAROIU Marcela, Territorial Representative, Ministry of Culture
- SAVA Cristi, Deputy Director, Bacău County Public Service for Tourism Promotion and Mountain Rescue
- DARIE Olivian, Specialized Inspector, Bacău County Public Service for Tourism Promotion and Mountain Rescue
- BOTEZATU Romil, Director Cosa Gigi, Bacău County Public Service for Tourism Promotion and Mountain Rescue
- BACIU Gheorghe, President, Slănic-Moldova Balneoclimatic Institute
- ABABEI Cristian, Deputy Director, House of Culture, Slănic Moldova Promotion
- BUDACĂ Emilian, Mayor, Asău City Hall, Bacău
- DANA Andreea, Restaurant Manager, Cascada Slănic
- DESFNIESCU Ștefan Gabriel, Restaurant Manager, Cascada Slănic
- RUSU Raluca, Cascada Slănic
- ANISCAN Nicoleta, Administrator, Vatra cu Bere
- SOVA Bogdan, Tourism Manager, Teleconstrucția Villa
- SOLOMON Teodora, Receptionist, Montana Inn Slănic Moldova
- TERZEA Gheorghe, Administrator, EDI Tourist Complex
- GURGUTĂ Violeta, Căsuța Prieteniei
- BUSNEA Dan Valentin, Journalist
- HÎNCU Nadia, Network Manager, C.A.P.D.R.
- CUCOȘ Andreea, Manager, C.A.P.D.R.
- MATEICIUC Denisa-Bianca, Sales Department, C.A.P.D.R.
Slănic Moldova – Spa Identity and Tourism Potential
The discussions in Slănic Moldova started from one of the main resources defining the local identity: the spa tourism profile of the resort. Participants emphasized the need to capitalize on this component in a broader manner by connecting spa services with nature, relaxation, wellness, leisure, and other experiences available in the territory. From this perspective, the resort can move beyond an approach focused exclusively on treatment and medical recovery and develop a tourism product addressed to a much more diverse audience.
“Slănic Moldova has the advantage of a strong spa tourism identity, but this resource needs to be capitalized on through a broader tourism offer. We should not speak only about medical recovery, but about a destination where spa tourism meets nature, relaxation, wellness, and tourism experiences”, Ion ȘTEFANOVICI, President, C.A.P.D.R.
Infrastructure – A Condition for Tourism Development
Another important topic of the meeting was the infrastructure required to support tourism development. The discussions highlighted the fact that a destination’s potential cannot be capitalized on without accessibility, tourism infrastructure, and functional connections between the localities that are part of the micro-destination. In the case of the Trotuș Valley, the approach proposed through VIA MOLDAVIA specifically seeks to connect resources and services from several localities into a common offer. The RN-09 micro-destination includes, indicatively, Bacău, Dărmănești, Mănăstirea Cașin, Asău and Slănic Moldova.
“Tourism development in Slănic Moldova cannot be separated from infrastructure. We need investments and better connections between localities so that the area’s tourism resources can be accessed and capitalized on together”, Benone MORARU, Mayor, Slănic Moldova City Hall
The Trotuș Valley – A Micro-Destination Built through Cooperation
An important direction of the discussions was cooperation among the localities in the Trotuș Valley. Participants started from the idea that tourists do not perceive the territory through administrative boundaries, but through the experiences they can discover in a particular area. Therefore, Slănic Moldova must be connected with the other localities and attractions within the micro-destination so that routes and tourism products can be developed at territorial level.
“We cannot build tourism products separately, each locality on its own. Slănic Moldova, Asău, Târgu Ocna and the other localities in the Trotuș Valley need to complement one another and jointly build routes and experiences that encourage tourists to stay longer in the area”, SOVA Alina, Tourism Manager, Panoramic Complex, Hotel Dobru, Slănic Moldova Casino and Teleconstrucția Villa
From Tourist Attractions to Experiences
The meeting also addressed the need to change the way the tourism offer is developed. The existence of individual tourist attractions is not enough; they must be connected with services, gastronomy, accommodation, and activities in order to generate integrated tourism experiences. The VIA MOLDAVIA methodology focuses on inventorying six components of the offer – accommodation, gastronomy, attractions, events, experiences, and services – and integrating them into tourism routes and products.
“Tourists are not looking only for an attraction to visit. They are looking for an experience. That is why it is important to connect nature, leisure activities, sports, heritage, and the spa component into an offer that tourists can easily discover and enjoy”, Cristi SAVA, Deputy Director, Bacău County Public Service for Tourism Promotion and Mountain Rescue
Sports and Leisure – Opportunities for Diversifying the Offer
Participants also identified the need for diversification of tourism activities, including through the development of sports and leisure infrastructure. Discussions also mentioned tennis courts and the possibility that such facilities could contribute to broadening the resort’s tourism profile. The development of complementary activities can attract families, groups, active tourists, and visitors who are not exclusively interested in the spa component.
“Diversifying activities is important so that Slănic Moldova can offer tourists more than treatment and relaxation. Sports and leisure can become important components of the tourism product and can contribute to increasing the resort’s attractiveness”, Olivian DARIE, Specialized Inspector, Bacău County Public Service for Tourism Promotion and Mountain Rescue
The Private Sector – A Partner in Building the Micro-Destination
Another central point of the meeting was the involvement of the private sector in developing the micro-destination. Representatives of accommodation units, restaurants, and tourism structures from Slănic Moldova attended the meeting, making it possible to discuss the actual needs of operators and how the private offer can be connected into a common tourism product. The list of participants includes representatives of Cascada Slănic, Vatra cu Bere, Teleconstrucția Villa, Montana Inn Slănic Moldova, EDI Tourist Complex, Slănic Moldova Casino, and Căsuța Prieteniei.
“Local operators must be active participants in the process of building the micro-destination. Hotels, restaurants, spa centers, and experience providers need to be connected into a common offer that can be promoted and marketed together”, BUDACĂ Emilian, Mayor, Asău City Hall, Bacău
Heritage and Culture – Components of the Tourism Experience
The cultural dimension was addressed as part of building an integrated tourism offer. The presence of the territorial representative of the Ministry of Culture and the representative of the House of Culture and Promotion of Slănic Moldova made it possible to include heritage and cultural activities in the discussion on diversifying the tourism product.
“Cultural heritage and local identity must be part of the tourist’s experience. It is not enough to have attractions; we need to highlight them and connect them with the other components of the destination”, Marcela LAZAROIU, Territorial Representative, Ministry of Culture
Promotion and Access to Tourism Markets
The discussions also addressed the need for promotion better targeted toward markets with potential, including Bucharest. Participants emphasized the importance of participating in tourism fairs and events, but with a change in approach: not merely promoting attractions, but presenting concrete tourism products and packages. This direction is directly linked to the next stage of VIA MOLDAVIA, namely the presentation of products developed in the territory at the VIA MOLDAVIA International Tourism Fair in Bucharest.
“We need more targeted promotion and a presence in important markets. Bucharest represents a market with potential, and participation in tourism fairs and events should be used to present not only Slănic, but the entire offer of the Trotuș Valley”, Cristian ABABEI, Deputy Director, House of Culture, Slănic Moldova Promotion
SWOT Analysis – A Starting Point for Developing the Micro-Destination
One tool identified during the discussions for the next stage of work is the SWOT analysis of the micro-destination. This will allow the identification of strengths and weaknesses, as well as the structuring of opportunities and risks that may influence the tourism development of the Trotuș Valley.
“We need a clear picture of the territory’s tourism potential, as well as of the problems that need to be addressed. A SWOT analysis can help us establish priorities and further develop realistic and competitive tourism products”, Ion ȘTEFANOVICI, President, Center for Regional Development Analysis and Planning – CAPDR
VIA MOLDAVIA – From Local Resource to Tourism Product
At the conclusion of the discussions, emphasis was placed on the role of VIA MOLDAVIA as a mechanism for connecting stakeholders and transforming local resources into tourism products. The model proposed by CAPDR follows a process from identifying and validating resources to building, testing, and marketing products: SELECT → VALIDATE → BUILD → TEST → SELL.
“VIA MOLDAVIA is not only about promoting beautiful places. It means building, together with the people in the territory, tourism products that can be identified, verified, connected and, ultimately, presented and sold on the market. The meeting in Slănic Moldova is a concrete stage in this construction process”, Ion ȘTEFANOVICI, President, Center for Regional Development Analysis and Planning – CAPDR
The Next Step – Bringing Tourism Stakeholders Together
The meeting highlighted the need for a local collaboration network in which public administration, cultural institutions, spa structures, private operators, and tourism promotion organizations work together. For CAPDR, the objective is for discussions in the territory to lead to concrete results: a working map, a register of attractions and services, local and inter-micro-destination routes, as well as the first product sheets prepared for promotion and B2B engagement.
“The micro-destination is built locally. We come to connect these resources, validate them together with the stakeholders in the territory, and prepare them for the market. The goal is for the Trotuș Valley not to be merely an area with many attractions, but a destination with clear and easily discoverable tourism products”, Ion ȘTEFANOVICI, President, Center for Regional Development Analysis and Planning – CAPDR
A Laboratory for Tourism Products
Within the VIA MOLDAVIA methodology, the transformation of resources into products follows the flow:
SELECT → VALIDATE → BUILD → TEST → SELL.
For each product, elements such as the route, included services, capacity, operating period, indicative price, target audience, and sales channel are taken into consideration.
Therefore, the Trotuș Valley meeting was part of a process aimed at taking local resources further – from identification and geolocation to validation, integration into routes, promotion, and commercialization.
From Local Meetings to the VIA MOLDAVIA International Tourism Fair
An important milestone of the entire process is the VIA MOLDAVIA International Tourism Fair, scheduled for October 26–28, 2026, at the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest.
The meetings held in the territory represent the stage of building the offer, while the fair will represent the stage of presentation, B2B networking, and preparation of commercial relationships. At this stage, the focus will be on selecting representative products and packages, preparing presentation materials, identifying B2B meetings, and presenting destinations to agencies, operators, and partners.
Thus, the work carried out in the territory has a concrete purpose: creating an offer that can be presented, promoted, and connected with the tourism market.
VIA MOLDAVIA Continues in the Territory: A Calendar Dedicated to Building the Micro-Destinations of the Northern Route
The meeting dedicated to the Trotuș Valley is part of a broader calendar of working meetings through which VIA MOLDAVIA is gradually building the network of tourist micro-destinations in the northern part of the region. Following the meetings dedicated to the Târgu Neamț and Bicaz micro-destinations, the process will continue in several territories, with each meeting focused on identifying local resources, mapping them, defining connections, and transforming them into integrated tourism products. The program’s official calendar establishes a sequence of meetings that will make it possible to approach the territory as a network rather than as a sum of independent destinations.
Calendar of VIA MOLDAVIA Meetings – Northern Route:
The first meeting in this series took place in Târgu Neamț, on September 1, 2026, and was dedicated to the RN-02 – Târgu Neamț – Neamț Fortress, monasteries and Bison Land micro-destination. The meeting focused on identifying tourism resources and building an experience connecting heritage, spirituality, nature, and local hospitality.
On September 3, 2026, the process continued in Bicaz, for micro-destination RN-01, with a focus on nature, landscape, leisure, and local experiences. The territory analyzed brings together Bicaz, Bicazu-Ardelean, Bicaz-Chei, Tarcău, Ceahlău, Hangu, Grințieș, and Durău. The meeting emphasized the need to connect resources and transform them into tourism experiences and products.
On September 10, 2026, the process will continue with the meeting dedicated to RN-07 – Ariniș and the Gura Humorului ski area, hosted by the Council Chamber of Ariniș City Hall. The area will be analyzed through the relationship between Gura Humorului, Mănăstirea Humorului, Frasin, Păltinoasa, and the territorial area corresponding to the micro-destination.
On September 14, attention will turn to RN-06 – Suceava Fortress – Suceava Municipality, with the meeting scheduled to take place at the Suceava County Council. In the case of this micro-destination, the working area will focus on Suceava Municipality and the points of interest within the corresponding territory.
On September 18, VIA MOLDAVIA will reach RN-12 – Bistrița Valley, with the meeting scheduled at Fărcașa City Hall. The micro-destination will include, within its indicative area, the localities of Poiana Teiului, Fărcașa, Borca, and Broșteni, together with the corresponding territory.
On September 21, the series of meetings will continue with RN-13 – Talienilor Road, in a distinctive setting at the Suceava Forestry Directorate Lodge. The indicative territorial area will include Mălini, Berchișești, Moara, Brăiești, Cornu Luncii, Slatina, Valea Moldovei, and Găinești.
On September 25, the meetings will continue with RN-08 – TransRarău and the ski area, at the Council Chamber of Vama City Hall. Câmpulung Moldovenesc, Vama, Prisaca Dornei, Bistrița Valley, Stulpicani, and Ostra will be part of the indicative territorial area analyzed within this micro-destination.
On September 28, VIA MOLDAVIA will dedicate another meeting to RN-05 – Land of Monasteries, held at Sucevița City Hall. The micro-destination will bring together Sucevița, Voroneț, Dragomirna, Putna, and the corresponding monastic area, with an approach focused on integrating heritage into a regional tourism circuit.
On October 2, the series will continue with RN-04 – Dorna Basin, with the meeting to be hosted by Șaru Dornei City Hall. The indicative area of this micro-destination includes Șaru Dornei, Dorna Arini, Panaci, Dorna Candrenilor, Vatra Dornei, and Poiana Stampei.
On October 6, the program will include a stage dedicated to RN-14 – Chișinău, Republic of Moldova. The meeting is scheduled to take place at the Ministry of Economic Development and Digitalization in Chișinău and will have the Republic of Moldova as its indicative territorial area, strengthening the perspective of connecting the VIA MOLDAVIA network with the Romania–Republic of Moldova cross-border component.
On October 9, the calendar provides for the meeting dedicated to RN-10 – Botoșani Cultural – Memorial Houses and Cultural Heritage. The date has been established, while the location is yet to be confirmed. The micro-destination will have Botoșani Municipality and the surrounding territory as its indicative area.
As the calendar continues, the meeting dedicated to RN-11 – Iași – business tourism, city breaks, and religious tourism will have a date to be confirmed. The micro-destination will have Iași Municipality and the surrounding territory as its indicative area.
Also with a date to be confirmed is the meeting dedicated to RN-15 – Red Lake, with the indicative territorial area of Red Lake / Harghita. This will complete the series of micro-destinations included in the VIA MOLDAVIA calendar.
A Network Built from the Bottom Up
Through the series of VIA MOLDAVIA meetings, CAPDR proposes a tourism development model in which the territory is the starting point, while regional connectivity and access to the market represent the subsequent stages.
For the Trotuș Valley, the meeting in Slănic Moldova represented a stage in the process of building the micro-destination and integrating it into the Northern Route.
Within the VIA MOLDAVIA framework, the intended outcome is an offer that can be identified, verified, connected, and transformed into a concrete tourism product. Therefore, the meetings aim to create a working map, a register of attractions and services, local and inter-micro-destination routes, initial product sheets, and a selection of offers prepared for presentation and B2B engagement.
Thus, the Trotuș Valley becomes part of a broader regional construction, in which each micro-destination capitalizes on its own identity while also contributing to an integrated tourism experience across the entire VIA MOLDAVIA network.
The micro-destination is built locally. The Route connects it regionally. The network validates it. And VIA MOLDAVIA transforms territorial resources into tourism experiences that can reach the market.
