Tatiana Mereniuc Master in Tourism Nature-based Tourism – An Opportunity to Increase Sustainable Development in Moldova 2015 Coordinator: Dr. Ana Maria Rodrigues Monteiro Sousa Acknowledgements I would like to express my gratitude to all persons that contributed directly and indirectly to the successful accomplishment of the present research. First of all, I would like to express my profound respect to my coordinator, Dr. Ana Maria Rodrigues Monteiro Sousa and to thank her for the major investment in my academic formation, but most of all for the unconditional help, support, guidance and motivation provided throughout the entire process of the development of my research. The received advices and the constructive criticism had a decisive impact on the final result of my project. In the same context, I would like to thank the entire academic staff from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Porto and to address special thanks to the Director of the Master in Tourism course, Dr. Luis Paulo Saldanha Martins. The support provided by the representatives of the International Office of the Faculty of Arts helped me a lot in overcoming different issues arisen during the whole period of my professional formation. I would also like to express my unlimited love and gratitude to my family from Moldova, my mom, my elder brother and my grandparents, who despite the distance between us have always supported me, believed in my abilities and encouraged me in every initiative. My warmest thanks are addressed to my husband, Andrei, who accompanied me during the whole process of thesis elaboration and provided constant help and care. It is a blessing to have him close in both cheerful and sad moments and to be sure that he is the person that believes in me unconditionally. And finally, I can’t not mention the plenty of friends from all over the world, I have made during my stay in Porto. Our mutual support was of special value in the context of the cultural melting pot we are living in. 2 Abstract The main objective of the present thesis was to explore the potential of the nature-based tourism in Moldova and to highlight the manner it can contribute to the sustainable development of the country and the benefits it can generate. In this context, the research inspected the general evolution of tourism sector in Moldova and the attractiveness of its natural heritage, jeopardized by the environmental issues. Nature-based tourism, considered the most rapidly developing form of tourism represents a viable tool in the process of sustainability achievement, especially for the developing countries, as it can generate economic, social and environmental benefits. The vast potential of Moldova’s natural tourism, expressed by its biodiversity, various ecosystems, numerous natural protected areas, unique picturesque landscapes, flavored with the renowned hospitality of people, represents an outstanding value and opportunity for its adequate exploitation. The need to incentivize the development of the nature-based tourism becomes even more evident in the context of environmental challenges Moldova is facing: biodiversity loss, pollution of atmospheric air, vulnerability to climate change, vulnerability to water scarcity, exposure to such natural hazards as earthquakes, landslides, floods, droughts and strong blizzards, the antrophogenic factor being the main culprit of these events. In this context, arises the need of a multidimensional cooperation between all major stakeholders, including Governments (central, regional and local), private sector, civil society and host communities. The private sector, as the main contributor to the GDP should be ensured with favorable conditions for the unfolding of their businesses, but only in the framework of sustainability. Thus, the adoption of Corporate Social Responsibility will represent the guarantee that the companies are obtaining profit and in the same time are contributing to the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the whole country. The so much needed social cohesion will be developed as result of the improvement of the sense of identity and pride, generated by the preservation and perpetuation of traditions. A more intense and specific target market oriented promotion policy is suggested for the increase of awareness towards Moldova as an ecotourism destination. Key-words: Nature-based Tourism, Sustainable Development, Natural Resources, Environmental Challenges, Cooperation. 3 List of abbreviations and acronyms ADTM – Asociaţia de Dezvoltare a Turismului în Moldova (Association of Tourism Development in Moldova) AGMR – Agency for Geology and Mineral Resources ANTREC – Asociaţia Nationala de Turism Rural, Ecologic si Cultural din Moldova (National Association of Rural, Ecological and Cultural Tourism in Moldova) ANTRIM –Asociaţia Natională pentru Turism Receptor din Moldova (National Association for Inbound Tourism in Moldova) ARE - Swiss Federal Office for Spatial Development ATRM – Agentia Turismului a Republicii Moldova (Tourism Agency of the Republic of Moldova) bn. – Billion CCAS – Climate Change Adaptation Stratgy CIS – Commonwealth of Independent States CSD – United Nations Comission on Sustainable Development CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility EU – European Union FPTM – Federatia de Promovare a Turismului din Moldova (Federation for the Promotion of Tourism from Moldova) GDP – Gross Domestic Product GNP – Gross National Product GUAM – Organization for Democracy and Economic Development IT – Information Technology IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature LEDS – Low Emission Development Strategy MDGs – Millennium Development Goals MDL – Moldovan Leu (currency) ME – Ministry of Environment NAMA – National Appropriate Mitigation Actions NBS – National Bureau of Statistics NGOs – Non-Governmental Organizations 4 SAEFL - Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape SD – sustainable development SEI – State Ecological Inspection SFSO - Swiss Federal Statistical Office SHS – State Hydrometeorological Service SWOT – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats TBL – Triple Bottom Line T&T – Travel and Tourism UN – United Nations UNCED – United Nations Conference on Environment and Development UNDP – United Nations Development Programme UNDSD – United Nations Division for Sustainable Development UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization WCED – World Commission on Environment and Development WSSD – World Summit on Sustainable Development WTTC – World Travel and Tourism Council 5 Table of Contents Acknowledgements………………………………………………………………………….…..2 Abstract………………………………………………………………………………....…….…3 Abbreviations and acronyms…………………………………………………...….………….…4 Table of contents....................................................................................................................…...6 List of Tables………………………………………..…………………………….……………..8 List of Figures…………………………………………………………………….………...…...9 Chapter I: Introducing the issues…………………………………………….……………11 1.1. Actuality of the topic…………………………………………………..….……………11 1.2. Objectives…………………………………………………………...........................….13 1.3. Methodology………………………………………………………………....……...…13 1.4. Research limitations……………………………………………………...…………......15 1.5. Structure…………………………………………………………………………….......16 Chapter II: Literature review………………………………………………………...…….18 2.1. The emergence and the evolution of sustainable development concept..........................18 2.1.1. Pillars of sustainable development…………………………………….………….…23 2.1.2. Sustainable development spectrum…………………………………..……………...26 2.1.3. Sustainable development measurement……………………………………...……....27 2.2. Sustainable development and sustainable tourism – principles and challenges………...31 2.3. Nature-based tourism and ecotourism – conceptual similarities and distinctions……....39 2.3.1. Nature tourism activities…………………………………………………..……...….43 2.3.2. Defining a nature tourist………………………………………………..………...….44 2.3.3. Nature-based tourism – between destruction and creation………..………………....46 Chapter III: Overview of tourism development in Moldova………………..………….…49 3.1. Location and presentation of the study area………………………………………….…49 3.2. The context of tourism emergence and development………………………………...…51 3.2.1. The evolution of tourism institutional framework………………………………...…51 3.2.2. National Governmental and Non-Governmental Tourism related Organizations…...54 3.3. General overview of the tourism sector……………………………………………...….57 3.4. SWOT analysis of tourism sector…………………………………………………...…..62 6 Chapter IV: Moldova’s natural tourism potential and its valorization…………….……67 4.1. Natural tourism potential…………………………………………………………...…...67 4.1.1. Species – flora, fauna and genetic resources………………………………….......…67 4.1.2. Ecosystems………………………………………………………………...……..….69 4.1.3. Natural protected areas……………………………………………………...….....…74 4.1.3.1. Scientific reserves…………………………………………………………….......75 4.2. “Orhei National Park” – pioneering Moldova’s sustainable development…….….……80 4.2.1. General presentation of the National Park “Orhei”…… ………………………...….80 4.2.2. Tourist routes within the National Park “Orhei”… ……………………………....…83 4.3. Cultural-natural Reserve “Old Orhei” – the core of the greater National Park “Orhei”..86 4.4. Vulnerability of natural tourism resources…………………………………………..….91 4.5. Tourism and sustainable development – an encouraging perspective……............…..…99 4.6. Directions and measures for sustainable development achievement in the framework of a collective implication……………………………………………………………………….....103