Culture/Tourism | Tourism

People Powered Tourism: empowerment of local communities through co-designing experience based transformative travel to enhance visitor economy

A new promotional article for future visitors of the capital has been published in Wanderlust magazine.

In December 2023, an article presenting city of Chișinău as an attractive tourist destination was published in National Geographic Traveller.

In 2024, National Geographic Traveller UK showcased Chișinău as a magical winter destination, where traditions, local food, and warm hospitality create a festive fairytale atmosphere.

A new article about Chișinău was published in April 2025 by National Geographic Traveller UK, presenting the city as one of the most affordable European capitals.

The Guardian promotes Chișinău as a winter destination (November 16, 2024).

"You are Here!" is a tourism project in Chișinău with street plaques showing landmarks and offering info via QR codes.

The Chișinău Tourist Map in AR 3D Technology combines a printed guide with augmented reality. It offers information on key attractions and access, via mobile apps, to 3D models, audio guides, and video content — a modern, interactive way to explore the city.

The strategy was developed by the Directorate General for Economy, Trade and Tourism with the support of the National Association of Inbound and Domestic Tourism of the Republic of Moldova.

The SUSTAIN-2 project (2025–2027) supports sustainable tourism development in the Black Sea region, focusing on the food and beverage (F&B) sector. It promotes ESG principles and the use of artificial intelligence to help especially small tourism operators become more sustainable and competitive. The project includes training activities, digital tools, pilot applications, and international cooperation among partners. Its goal is to strengthen sustainable tourism, improve management practices, and reduce environmental impact. The total budget is about €1.09 million, with 90% funded by the EU.

SUSDEST-NET is a joint project of six partners from Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Türkiye to promote sustainable tourism in the Black Sea Basin. It applies ESG principles in five pilot destinations through management committees, training, digital tools, and pilot actions. Key elements include joint policies, e-learning platforms, AI monitoring, and an award scheme. Total budget: €1.41 million, with 90% EU funding. Chișinău Municipality implements the project with EU support. The project supports the blue economy, heritage protection, and community involvement.

For the first time, the Chisinau City Hall was present as exhibitors and ambassadors of the capital of the Republic of Moldova at the Romanian Tourism Fair, which took place from 23 to 26 February in Bucharest.

The Chisinau Sightseeing Tourist Trolleybus is an innovative and interesting project that encourages the discovery of the history and culture of Chisinau.

The project to create a website visit.chisinau.md was launched by the Chisinau City Hall with the aim of promoting tourism in the city.

Tourist brochure -„ 7 reasons to Visit Chisinau”

The project "Numele meu e - Chisinau" (My name is - Chisinau) was implemented in 2021 through the Chisinau Civil Budget Program with an allocated budget of 298 000 lei.

The "You are Here!" project is an initiative of the Chisinau City Hall, which aims to facilitate tourist orientation in Chisinau.

21 places set up for the sale of craftsmen's work on the pedestrian street. "E.Doga" in 2021.

The informational tourist flyer, "Ask me about Chisinau", printed in English and Romanian, is welcomed for those who want to receive detailed information about the most famous sights in Chisinau.

The clock on the Arc de Triomph has begun to strike again after a 30-year silence.

The "Pomul Vietii" mural painting project was launched on 15 July 2020 and completed on 15 September 2020.

The detailed map is a useful tool for tourists, allowing them to find their way around the city and find the most important tourist attractions.

The inscription "Te iubesc, Chisinau", located in the "Maria Biesu" square was restored in July 2021, after it had been vandalized.

The project to renovate the inscription "Chisinau 1436" is an important initiative from a tourist point of view, as the inscription is a symbol of the city's history.

The two inscriptions - CHISINAU, at the entrance to the city from the direction of Botanica, have been rehabilitated. About 250 thousand lei were allocated from the municipal budget for this purpose.

The project carried out by the Chisinau City Hall consisted in the renovation of the sign "Chisinau" (Riscani district) and the development of the adjacent land.

In order to preserve the aesthetic appearance of the city, a project was carried out in the Ciocana sector to renovate the "CHISINAU" signs at the entrances to the city.

The "CHISINAU" signs at the main entrances to the city and the sectors are emblematic constructions that welcome visitors to the city, representing symbols of its identity.