European Money for Tourism andAgritourism in Mountain Areas

As we announced in previous press releases, the "Drumeții Montane" Association took part, from 11 to 14 October, in the "Voluntmont Debate" seminar, organised in the town of Nehoiu, Buzău County, by the local "Association for Community Development", as part of a project funded by the European Commission through the "Youth in Action" programme. The project arose from the need to analyse the problems facing mountain areas, namely the causes leading to the lack of a system of good practice in the field of volunteering for local economic development.
The event was attended by fifteen non-governmental organisations from across the country and by volunteers invited by the hosts, the main theme of the debate being the development of tourism and agritourism in sub-mountain areas. During the discussions at the extended seminar, the volunteers expressed their points of view regarding the design of a business plan specific to this area and how such a plan could be put into practice. Five organisations, from different counties, were chosen, with which a partnership will be signed with a view to taking part in the running of the Project until 2012.
Another issue analysed was that of promoting the town of Nehoiu on the tourist circuit, since the area's potential is exploited to a minimum, the extremely beautiful surroundings receiving practically no publicity.
The town of Nehoiu has more than 11,000 inhabitants, and its altitude varies between 450 and 500 metres. From here one can very easily reach the peaks of Monteoru (1,345 m), Rastoaca (1,294 m) and Catiasu (1,014 m). The town has a hospital, a police station, a performance hall, a stadium, a sports hall and well-stocked shops.
The Nehoiu "Association for Community Development" is preparing, between 1 and 15 November 2011, the running of a caravan that will cross the five counties of Romania. During it, the participants will meet local authorities to discuss and analyse the impact that the development of volunteering, as a system of training and professional development for volunteers, could have on the local economic development of the respective mountain area and, implicitly, on the quality of life in the communities they belong to. The "Drumeții Montane" Association has already been selected among the five organisations for the partnership, which will involve planning the caravan's visit to the Gorj lands, in keeping with our reputation as hospitable hosts.
The "Drumeții Montane" Association is currently supported by the following businesses: Ch-Center Hosting, Vector di Sign, Editura Herald, IntegrameOnline.ro, Casa Bobo, Euro Park and SC Lafarge Agregate Betoane SA.