Chișinău and Black Sea Region Cities to Develop Joint Sustainable Tourism Initiatives

Chișinău, together with cities in Greece, Bulgaria, Romania and Türkiye, is implementing the international SUSDEST-NET project, aimed at promoting sustainable tourism, developing new tourist routes and introducing innovative destination management tools across the Black Sea Basin.

On 13 October 2026, Chișinău hosted the third meeting of the partners of the Sustainable Destinations Black Sea Network (SUSDEST-NET) project, co-financed by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT Black Sea Basin Programme.

The meeting brought together representatives from Greece, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania and Türkiye. Discussions focused on tourism infrastructure development, support for local businesses, the exchange of management expertise and the establishment of common approaches to sustainable tourism.

One of the key outcomes for Chișinău will be the development of a Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy for 2027–2032. The document will identify priorities for modernising the tourism sector, strengthening the city's competitiveness and integrating its tourism potential into regional routes.

The project covers five pilot destinations: Chișinău (Moldova), Albena (Bulgaria), Kavala (Greece), Limanu (Romania) and Üsküdar (Türkiye).

A distinctive feature of SUSDEST-NET is its application of ESG principles — environmental responsibility, social sustainability and good governance. The initiative envisages destination management committees, digital platforms and artificial intelligence technologies to monitor tourism flows and assess the sustainability of territorial development.

The project's total budget exceeds €1.4 million, approximately 90% of which is financed by the European Union. The financial contribution allocated to Chișinău's participation amounts to €223,200. Launched in November 2025, the project will continue until 2028.

Commentary by the Institute of Danube Research

According to experts from the Institute of Danube Research (IDR), SUSDEST-NET reflects the gradual emergence of a new model of regional cooperation in which tourism is regarded not only as an economic sector but also as an instrument of territorial integration, local community development and stronger cross-border relations.

Such initiatives are particularly relevant to the Danube–Black Sea macroregion, where the natural, cultural, historical and transport resources of several countries intersect.

For Ukraine, the experience of SUSDEST-NET could provide valuable insights into new approaches to restoring the tourism potential of Odesa Oblast and the Ukrainian Danube region. Promising areas include the development of cross-border tourist routes in the Danube Delta, joint promotion of natural and cultural heritage, digitalisation of tourism services and integration of local businesses into international partnership networks.

At the same time, the practical implementation of such initiatives in Ukraine will depend on the security situation, the condition of transport infrastructure and access to international financing.

The Institute of Danube Research emphasises that international tourism projects should also be considered an integral component of post-war recovery, local economic diversification and deeper cooperation between Ukraine and European Union member states.

The creation of an integrated tourism space between the Danube and the Black Sea could become a promising driver of regional economic development and a practical instrument for implementing European principles of sustainable territorial development.