"During an online meeting, the possibility of expanding one of the longest routes in Europe, 'Voivode Stefan the Great and Holy,' to include Ukrainian territory was discussed. The meeting was attended by the Head of the State Tourism Development Agency of Ukraine, Mariana Oleskiv, and the State Secretary of the Ministry of Culture of Moldova, Andrii Chistol, as well as representatives of the Moldovan Embassy in Ukraine and the Director of the Investment Agency of Moldova, Ion Iordaki.
The Head of the State Tourism Development Agency of Ukraine supported the initiative of Moldovan colleagues to create a cross-border route because the activities of Stefan the Great have left a mark not only on Ukraine but also on other significant cultural and tourist attractions, such as Hotin, Chernivtsi, Izmail, and more.
"This project has tremendous value in its mission to preserve historical and cultural heritage. By joining forces through joint initiatives like the 'Voivode Stefan the Great and Holy' route, we aim to ensure a lasting memory of outstanding historical figures. Moreover, it provides us with an excellent opportunity to create attractive destinations for potential tourists, both domestic and foreign," noted Mariana Oleskiv.
During the meeting, it was agreed to establish a trilateral working group (Republic of Moldova - Ukraine - Romania) that will work on the project's implementation. Additionally, the signing of a memorandum of cooperation to extend the route into Ukraine is planned.
Background: The 'Voivode Stefan the Great and Holy' route was established in 2019 at the initiative of the Invest Moldova Agency and the Ministry of Tourism of Romania. Currently, the route covers approximately 2000 km, crossing eighteen localities in Romania and eleven localities in the Republic of Moldova. In addition to the 30 main landmarks, the route includes an additional 80 tourist locations."