Rural tourism in the Republic of Moldova continues to grow as local guesthouse owners apply creativity, resourcefulness, and tradition to attract visitors. Without mountains, a seashore, or major museums, Moldovan hosts have developed a tourism model centered on hands-on, authentic experiences—many inspired by practices abroad or born of local improvisation. Experts discussed these trends during the ConsensusRural Tourism National program, hosted by Vitalie Dogaru on RLIVE TV.
Liliana Buzila, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors at the National Association for Tourism and International Tourism in Moldova, emphasized that immersive activities remain the key attraction for tourists visiting rural regions.
“Our hostesses show remarkable creativity,” Buzila explained. “They lead cooking workshops featuring sarmale (stuffed cabbage rolls) and plăcinte (savory pastries), and they invite tourists to join grape harvesting, gardening, or horse-drawn carriage rides. These kinds of experiences resonate deeply with guests. More and more, tourists also choose to go cycling, birdwatching, or take part in local cultural events.”
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Ion Stefanita, founder of the Muzeul Taranului (Peasant Museum), noted that foreign visitors especially appreciate Moldova’s rural tourism for its authenticity and opportunities for direct involvement.
“We welcomed two students—one from Romania and one from the Philippines—who came to the Peasant Museum specifically to work,” Ștefăniță recalled. “Two engineers from Vienna wanted to try scything, so they spent the day doing just that and stayed overnight. A museum shouldn’t only display artifacts—it should invite interaction. We let tourists hold a rake or hoe, bake traditional bread, or pickle tomatoes and cucumbers.”
Economist Veaceslav Ionita, in a recent study, reported that the accommodation capacity of rural guesthouses has doubled in the past decade, reaching around 1,750 places. However, guesthouses remain underused, with an average occupancy rate of just 15%, equivalent to about one day per week.
The study also showed that Moldovan tourists usually stay for no more than two nights, while foreign guests tend to remain up to three nights on average.