Bucharest- Romania has introduced the Fisheries Tourism Network, an innovative online platform offering tourists the opportunity to explore and discover the rich cultural heritage of its fisheries areas. Developed by local fisheries action groups (LAGs) with support from EU funding, the user-friendly platform creates an immersive experience by presenting sites in interactive tours.
The primary goal of this project is to enhance the visibility and promotion of cultural heritage within the territories of four local action groups, with the aim of attracting visitors to Romania’s lesser-known fisheries areas.
Corina Sofrone, Project Manager at Galeti LAG, explained, “We created easy-to-use interactive maps of the four fishing areas, providing information about their activities, traditions, and local customs.”
As with many fisheries regions across the European Union, diversification is a key focus for local development efforts. The Fisheries Tourism Network project aims to capitalize on the human, material, and spiritual resources of these fisheries areas. This collaboration has resulted in mutual capacity building and the expansion of small-scale fisheries into activities such as tours, arts and crafts, gastronomy, and hospitality. Additionally, it has highlighted best practices for creating a viable tourist offer.
Among the hidden gems featured on the platform are a fish museum with traditional households in the Gârboavele Forest, a traditional fish collecting point known as “cherhanaua,” and an outdoor cultural activities pavilion.
Visitors to the cherhanaua can experience traditional fisheries practices firsthand, including receiving, sorting, and selling fish in a wooden structure covered with reeds. Other sites showcased on the platform include former fish farming ponds now repurposed for recreation. These locations offer not only a traditional fishing experience but also quirky accommodations, swimming pools, cycling routes, and restaurants. Lake Sulimanu even boasts a cable-based watersports facility.
The web-based platform and its dedicated mobile app provide four interactive maps for the four fisheries areas. These user-friendly maps feature suggested tours, contact details, and coordinates for each destination.
The platform serves as a practical tool for tourists actively exploring the LAG areas and, simultaneously, a means for attracting prospective visitors. For each destination on the map, comprehensive information is provided, including an attraction overview, video tours, a photo gallery, and 360-degree panoramic views of key sites.
The four fisheries local action groups involved—Galati, Calarasi Danube, Dolj Danube, and Valea Mostistea—recognized the benefits of collaboration in attracting more tourists to their respective areas. The creation of a single, user-friendly platform for promoting their tourist activities has brought collective advantages to each of their fisheries communities.
The Fisheries Tourism Network platform serves as a one-stop shop for tourists interested in fisheries-based activities while planning their visit to Romania.