Colinele Transilvaniei Ecotourism Initiative
Colinele Transilvaniei, which translates to "Transylvanian Highlands," is a certified ecotourism destination located in central Romania. An initiative to promote this destination was created with the backing of many sponsors including the Romanian-American Foundation and the Romanian Environmental Partnership Foundation. It is a united force of many different organizations, all with the common goal of promoting the region. These organizations that have begun to attempt working together in order to increase their collective success are all interested in preserving the heritage, architecture, and environment in this region. Our collaborator, the Transylvanian Highlands Tourism Board, the coalition of organizations involved in the region, hopes to improve their effectiveness through this project.
Colinele Transilvaniei: Inima Transilvaniei / Transylvanian Highlands
The Region
The Transylvanian Highlands is defined as the area south of Sighişoara and north of Făgăraș, west of Rupea and east of Sibiu. The region is best known for its villages with fortified churches, which are recognized as a World Heritage site. It is also notable for long biking and hiking trails through vast areas of lush green hills, making it a wonderful destination for ecotourism. Despite these attributes to draw visitors, the region faces continuing problems, that our collaborator wishes to address by turning the Highlands into a successful ecotourism destination. There have been multiple significant migrations from the region, with residents leaving both due to political reasons during times of tension, and for increased economic opportunity. With these losses, the cultural heritage of the region is threatened, and the economic prospects lowered even more. Through ecotourism, the Transylvanian Highlands Tourism Board hopes to increase economic opportunity in the region, by creating a larger market for local businesses. Tourism in some villages in the region has been historically detrimental, with too many tourists being drawn to the unique landscape, resulting in overcrowding, high housing prices, and environmental damage. Organizations involved in these areas seek to move towards the ideals of ecotourism, in order to minimize the impact on residents and the environments while still reaping the benefits of tourism.