Moldovan owners of agricultural lands to be allowed to build agro-touristic pensions

Chisinau, 17 November /MOLDPRES/ – The agricultural landowners will be able to build agro – tourism pensions without having to change the destination of the lots, according to a draft amendment to the Land Code, adopted in a final reading by Parliament today.

According to the document, the new amendments and additions to the Land Code will provide more opportunities for local agrotourism development. However, the landowners will be able to launch the sector businesses without changing land use, giving considerable savings which may be invested in new business infrastructure.

At present, if changes destination of the land use, tax for one acre is MDL 12 thousand. As such, at least 14 acres are needed to create an agro – pension. Similarly, according to the changes, benefits from new regulations will possess just landowners who have practised agricultural activities for at least five years.

The project initiator, the Ministry of Agriculture, Regional Development and the Environment, hopes that there will be created new employment offers in rural areas by setting accommodation, table – serving facilities and development of wine tourism.

According to the cited source, rural tourism is a form of tourism oriented towards the use of local resources, knowledge of the rural environment, local customs and traditions, peasant farms and farmers.

According to data of the Tourism Agency, there operate seven agrotourist structures in Moldova, but sectorial authorities strive to increase their number. Simultaneously, the document voted by the MPs today is meant to contribute to implementation of the National Agricultural and Rural Development Strategy (SNDAR) for 2014 – 2020.

(Reporter A. Ciobanu, editor L. Alcaza)