Entrepreneurs in the Moldovan tourism industry launched a new campaign to promote tourism after the pandemic period that paused visits but not the work of Moldovan hospitality hosts.

The crisis caused by the Covid-19 virus has severely impacted the tourism sector. Travel restrictions have resulted in an unprecedented decline in the number of foreign tourists worldwide and a $ 1.3 trillion loss in revenue. In Moldova, the total loss of income in the tourism industry is estimated at about 350 million dollars.

“Nevertheless, the owners of guest houses and wineries, organizers of tourist events, guides, owners of restaurants and hotels, tour operators did not waste time, but used it to renovate and create new premises for receiving tourists. They opened new terraces, created new routes, purchased bicycles and new floating facilities (kayaks, canoes), built swimming pools, and each of them prepared special treats for long-awaited guests in their basements and storerooms. And, as the local proverb says: “Guests come when someone is waiting for them.” Thus, the new campaign is a tribute to the people who work in the tourism industry and their optimism. “They are the ones who will restore tourism in Moldova,” says Diana Lazar, deputy director of the Moldova Competitiveness Project, funded by USAID, the Swedish government and Ukaid.

The campaign was launched in mid-June with a video that conveys the optimism and joy of meeting long-awaited tourists, as well as Moldovans from all over the world and closest neighbors. The protagonists of the campaign are the owners of rural guesthouses and wineries which over the years have welcomed tens of thousands of tourists and are ready to reopen their doors to visitors, offering an unforgettable travel experience. Locations featured in the video include: “Hanul lui Hanganu” in the village of Lalova, “Eco-resort Butuceni” in the cultural and natural reserve “Old Orhei”, underground galleries “Milestii Mici”, agro-boarding house “Gaguz Sofrasi” in the village of Kongaz, winery “Poiana” in the village of Ulmu, Valente Village Museum, kayaking excursions from Vadul lui Voda, Lake Beleu in the Prutul de Jos nature reserve and others.

The Asociatia Nationala pentru Turism Receptor (ANTRIM) announces the resumption of tourism in Moldova and invites visitors to discover our original travel offers in maximum safety. Most of the tourist destinations are already implementing the international standard “Safe Travel”, introduced in Moldova by ANTRIM with the accreditation of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Through this campaign, we aim to revive domestic tourism, invite tourists from neighboring countries such as Ukraine, Romania, Poland, as well as attract tourists who have already visited Moldova before and who could again become our guests or promote this direction in social networks”, – said Victoria Bucătaru, executive director of ANTRIM.

The “Be our guest again” campaign is run by a young creative team whose goal is the interconnection between the various industries in Moldova. The campaign is aimed at retaining talent in the country and contributing to the sustainable development of the Republic. The soundtrack is provided by the Trigon group, which is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its activity, and the traditional shirt presented in the video is dedicated to the international holiday of the Romanian national shirt “ia”, which is celebrated on June 24th. The video will be translated into Russian, as well as into foreign languages: English, Ukrainian, Polish, Italian and others, and will be promoted mainly in the online space. In the early days after launch, the video gained widespread organic popularity, reaching over 330,000 unique users, over 475,000 views on Facebook, and over 3,000 shares of support.

The new campaign continues to promote the tourism potential of the Republic of Moldova, implemented in the period from 2015 to 2121. within the framework of the Moldova Competitiveness Project and funded by USAID, the Government of Sweden and Ukaid in cooperation with the National Association for Inbound Tourism (ANTRIM). These efforts resulted in an average annual increase in the number of foreign tourists of 20% between 2015 and 2019. At the same time, the campaign conveys a real message of hospitality that reinforces the amazing successes of the initial Be Our Guest campaign and the mysterious and famous guest video created by Atelier under the leadership of the late Viorel Mardaria. The campaign has received valuable awards from foreign experts, as well as an audience of about 20 million people. The campaign also aims to strengthen the new national slogan “Moldova: A place to find yourself” and the national campaign #neampornit.

Official campaign hashtags:

#FiiOaspeteleNostruDinNou #BeOurGuestAgain #MoldovaAplaceToFindYourself #neampornit

ANTRIM is a non-profit organization representing the voice of the private sector in Moldova’s inbound tourism industry.

• ANTRIM
• Asociatia Nationala pentru Turism Receptor
• Be our guest again
• Diana Lazar
• Moldova Competitiveness Project
• National Association for Inbound Tourism
• Safe Travel
• Tourism of Moldova
• Ukaid
• USAID
• Victoria Bucătaru
• World Travel & Tourism Council