On December 12, 2024, we celebrate the tourism initiatives of Neamț County, alongside those from the North-East Region of Romania—a uniquely beautiful and rich area that deserves to be discovered by tourists.

This gala event for best practices, exemplary projects, activities, and initiatives in the hospitality industry has become a key milestone in recognizing and developing the tourism sector in this part of the country.

For nine years, representatives of public and private institutions, academia, organizations, and associations involved in tourism have come together at a gala dedicated to discovering the North-East Region. This gathering highlights practices, exemplary activities, and initiatives that stood out over the year and are now, on the eve of the winter holidays, assembled like gifts in Santa’s bag to be recognized, encouraged, and even rewarded by the organizers—North-East Regional Development Agency, through CRS – North-East Regional Studies Center, and EUROPE DIRECT North-East.

This year, the organizers aim to promote sustainable consumption, active tourism, eco-tourism, and cultural circular tourism while emphasizing the importance of revitalizing rural areas from both a tourism and socio-economic perspective, aligned with the main action points of the Farm to Fork strategy.

Public and private institutions contributing to placing Romania’s North-East Region on the international tourism map will also be recognized and rewarded.

Last year, December 20 was a day of dialogue for tourism stakeholders in our region. It featured debates, discussions, dynamic and interactive workshops, a culinary exhibition with tastings of highly appreciated local products, and an awards ceremony recognizing initiatives, projects, and organizations that distinguished themselves through their activities, turning the North-East Region into an unforgettable journey for any tourist. Last year’s gala was hosted in Neamț County.

Awards for Neamț Tourism at the December 20, 2023 Edition:

• Photo Club Neamț
• Victor Tofan Ethnography Museum, Tazlău
• Tesa Boutique Hotel
• Valea celor Doisprezece SRL
• AER LOCAL, Piatra-Neamț
• OMD Piatra-Neamț: Hai la Piatra
• Archaeologist Vasile Diaconu
• Santa’s Village, Negrești
• Atlas Aparthotel, Piatra-Neamț
• Casa Arcașului Motel, Târgu-Neamț
• Hotel Victoria, Târgu-Neamț
• Armonia by Aristocratis, Târgu-Neamț
• A&T Harmony Land, Târgu-Neamț
• Belvedere Guesthouse, Târgu-Neamț
• Eden Guesthouse, Agapia
• Bucătăria Zimbrului, Târgu-Neamț
• Il Viaggio Restaurant, Piatra-Neamț
• Ținutul Zimbrului Association: EcoBrunch
• Neamț County Council
• Târgu-Neamț City Hall
• Carmen Saeculare Center for Culture and Arts, Neamț

In 2022, some of the region’s most impactful and recent achievements were also recognized:

• The Neamț County Council received three Excellence Trophies for:

o          The presentation film Journey to the Land of the Bison, highlighting the county’s essence through its featured landmarks and thematic diversity.

o          The Camino de România pilgrimage route, part of the European Cultural Itinerary Camino de Santiago, traversed annually by approximately 350,000 people from 160 countries.

o          The Toaca Peak staircase project, completed in 2018, now one of the county’s most visited tourist attractions.

Other Awards for Neamț Tourism Initiatives at the September 22–24, 2022 Edition:

• Ținutul Zimbrului Association
• Valea Bistriței Association
• Produs în Neamț Cluster Association
• Carmen Saeculare Center for Culture and Arts, Neamț
• Târgu-Neamț History and Ethnography Museum
• Tazlău Ethnographic Museum
• Olga Mavrocordat-Sturdza History and Ethnography Museum, Grințieș
• Aviasport
• Valea celor XII
• Hanul Ancuței Turism S.A.
• Roman Gardens Guesthouse
• Via Ferrata Astragalus
• BikeTrip
• Durău Park – Durău S.A.

We hope this year’s nominees and Excellence Trophies will bring joy and encouragement to the representatives of this wide-ranging activity sector. We are confident that many more operators in Neamț tourism, still unknown or undiscovered by us, our partners, or the event organizers, deserve recognition for their outstanding work and quality services offered to tourists. Together with local and county public administrations, they contribute significantly to promoting Neamț as a European Destination of Excellence.

Images, information, and local products from Neamț County at the Discover North-East Tourism Gala, December 12, 2024: