National programme Eco-Tourism Compass launched at Casa din Luncă in central Moldova village

The village of Trebujeni, located in the picturesque area of the Cultural and Nature Reserve Orheiul Vechi (Old Orhei) today became the host of a landmark event for the development of rural tourism in Moldova. At the 'Casa din Luncă agrotourism guesthouse, the Eco-Tourism Compass programme was officially launched, a complex initiative aimed at supporting local entrepreneurs in creating and promoting sustainable tourism products.

The programme, running from July to November 2025, aims to provide direct support to 20 entrepreneurs in rural areas, who are developing tourism activities based on respect for nature, cultural heritage and community values.

‘’Participants in the program benefit from specialized training sessions in sustainable tourism; individual mentoring with international experts; support in the  creation of brands and promotion of services; access to funding opportunities through competitions on projects. The first training module, held on July 21-24, is facilitated by Łukasz Długowski, a Polish expert in ecological tourism, a trainer at Rewilding Europe and founder of the Mikrowyprawy platform. The topics covered include the development of authentic micro-tourism experiences, European models adaptable to the local context and building sustainable relationships with visitors,’’ said the National Office of Tourism.

By launching this programme in the village of Trebujeni, the Orheiul Vechi area strengthens its position as a leader in promoting responsible tourism and green initiatives that contribute to the economic diversification of the rural environment.

The Eco-Tourism Compass programme is implemented with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the National Office of Tourism, HumanDoc, InnoVillage, the Cultural and Nature Reserve Orheiul Vechi, the Embassy of Poland in Chisinau, Polish Aid Moldova, Eko App Moldova, Local Action Group (GAL) Farmecul Nistrului (Charm of Dniester), and the National LEADER Rural Development Network.