The 3rd Regional Tourism Conference, a benchmark event for regional tourism professionals, came to a successful end after two intense days of discussions, exchange of ideas and networking, held on October 17-18, 2024 in Targu Mures. The first day of the conference kicked off at the Palace of Culture in Târgu Mureș with speeches by officials from the three co-organizing counties. Present were Mr. Péter Ferenc – President of Mures County Council, Mr. Jakab István Barna – Vice President of Covasna County Council and Mr. Soós Zoltán – Mayor of Târgu Mureș, followed by the representatives of the three tourism associations that co-organized the conference: Mr. Mr. Szántó Lóránt Szántó – Executive Director Visit Mures, Mrs. Deák Gyöngyvér – Executive Director Visit Covasna and Mr. Szabó Károly – Executive Director ADI Harghita and Visit Harghita. The morning continued with a series of presentations and debates focusing on sustainability, active tourism and tourism marketing. Participants had the opportunity to discover examples of best practices such as Via Transilvanica, the Transylvanian Hills Ecotourism Destination, the Years of Hiking project and the itinerant bicycle camps in the Secuim region, topics that captivated the audience and generated valuable discussions. The marketing section focused on the imminent presence of artificial intelligence in tourism and the importance of search engine optimization (SEO) in the tourism industry, as well as Romania’s image on Tripadvisor, analyzed from the users’ perspective. The second day, held at Hotel Privo, was entirely dedicated to gastronomy. Chefs, chefs and experts in the field discussed the challenges faced in using local products and reinterpreting traditional recipes in an effort to promote the gastronomic authenticity of the region. Leading names in the culinary world from Transylvania and abroad gathered at the same table, sharing their ideas and experiences with each other and with the audience, including Mircea Groza, Iulia Drăguț, Adorján Trucza, Előd Szőcs, Tímea Gáll and others. New professional relationships were formed and experiences were exchanged between colleagues in a friendly and constructive atmosphere. The conference brought together around 150 participants, including entrepreneurs, experts, civil society representatives and policy makers, who discussed current challenges in tourism and explored innovative solutions to respond to the changes in the industry.
Regional Tourism Conference dedicated to regional tourism professionals
