September 28, 2005

As part of its celebration of World Tourism Day, yesterday Romania became the third country in the world to adopt an official “geotourism strategy.” The concept, developed by the National Geographic Society, refers to “tourism that sustains or enhances the geographic character of a place – its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.”

The Geotourism Charter was signed during a press conference at the Hotel Intercontinental by Gheorghe Dobre, Minister of Transportation, Construction, and Tourism, John Francis, National Geographic Society Vice President for Research, Conservation and Exploration, and Mark Taplin, U.S. Embassy Charge d’Affaires.

After the signing, Minister Dobre and Vice President Francis joined Mr. Taplin in recognizing the three winners of the 2005 “Greetings from Romania” postcard competition. The competition was organized by the Enterprise Development and Strengthening Program and Junior Achievement Romania in order to promote the image of Romania worldwide through the imagination and talent of Romanian students. The project is an invitation addressed to the world to discover Romania through the greeting cards made by students of ages up to 18. The winning designs will be used at major promotional events by the National Tourism Authority as postcards and posters.

The winners of the 2005 “Greetings from Romania” competition are:

• First place: Florentina Daniela Craciun of Bucharest, 16 years old
• Second place: Alexandru Campean of Brasov, 8 years old
• Third place: Patricia-Nicole Stanciu of Bucharest, 17 years old

Grigoriu Ovidiu Rus (17) of Alba Iulia was also granted a special award for poster design.

World Tourism Day (September 27) was established by the World Tourism Organization in 1979 and first celebrated in 1980. Its primary goal is to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values. Romania, with its rich history and culture and its many natural attractions, is well-positioned to develop a tourism sector that can provide billions to the country’s economic growth.

Funded by the U.S. Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Enterprise Development and Strengthening Program, implemented by CHF International, is a five-year program that began in December, 2002, with the goal of supporting small- and medium-size enterprise development.

For more information, please contact: Corina Mararu – USAID - Tel: 021 316 1222

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28 Septembrie 2005

In cadrul evenimentelor pregatite sa marcheze Ziua Mondiala a Turismului, Romania a devenit ieri cea de-a treia tara din lume care a adoptat o “strategie geoturistica” oficiala. Conceptul, dezvoltat de National Geographic Society, se refera la acel tip de turism care subliniaza caracterul geografic al unui anume loc, mediul sau, cultura, estetica, mostenirea, si contribuie la bunastarea cetatenilor sai.

Carta pentru Geoturism a fost semnata – in cadrul unei conferinte de presa ce a avut loc la Hotelul Intercontinental - de catre Gheorghe Dobre, Ministrul Transporturilor, Constructiilor, si Turismului; John Francis, Vice Presedinte al National Geographic Society; si Excelenta Sa, Mark Taplin, Insarcinatul cu Afaceri al Statelor Unite la Bucuresti.

Dupa semnare, Ministrul Dobre si Vice Presedintele Francis s-au alaturat lui Mark Taplin pentru recunoasterea celor trei invingatori ai competitiei de carti postale “Salutari din Romania” 2005. Competitia a fost organizata de Programul de Sprijinire a Intreprinderilor Mici si Mijlocii si de Junior Achievement Romania pentru promovarea imaginii Romaniei in lume prin imaginatia si talentul elevilor romani. Proiectul este o invitatie adresata lumii, de a descoperi Romania prin intermediul cartilor postale, ale caror autori sunt tineri elevi. Desenele castigatoare vor fi folosite ca vederi si afise, la evenimentele promotionale importante ce urmeaza a fi organizate de Autoritatea Nationala a Turismului.

Castigatorii competitiei “Salutari din Romania” 2005 sunt:

• Premiul intai: Florentina Daniela Craciun din Bucuresti, 16 ani
• Premiul doi: Alexandru Campean din Brasov, 8 ani
• Premiul trei: Patricia-Nicole Stanciu din Bucuresti, 17 ani

Grigoriu Ovidiu Rus (17 ani) a primit premiul special pentru desenarea de afise.

In 1979, Organizatia Mondiala a Turismului a declarat ziua de 27 septembrie “Zi Mondiala a Turismului”, iar aceasta a fost sarbatorita prima oara in intreaga lume in 1980. Obiectivul principal al acestei zile este acela de a determina comunitatea internationala sa constientizeze importanta turismului si a valorilor sale sociale, culturale, politice si economice. Romania, prin istoria si cultura sa, si prin nenumaratele sale atractii naturale, se afla intr-o pozitie favorabila care ii permite dezvoltarea unui sector turistic care sa contribuie cu miliarde de dolari la dezvoltarea economica a tarii.

Finantat de Guvernul Statelor Unite prin Agentia sa de Dezvoltare Internationala (USAID), Programul de Sprijinire a Intreprinderilor Mici si Mijlocii este implementat de CHF International, fiind un program de cinci ani care a inceput in decembrie 2002, cu scopul de a ajuta intreprinderile mici si mijlocii din turism si IT sa fie competitive.

Persoana de contact: Corina Mararu – USAID - Tel: 021 316 1222

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