On April 21, 2016, took place the official ceremony of signing a Memorandum of understanding between Ministry of Culture, Tourism Agency and Competitiveness Project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on assistance offered to support the development of the cultural-natural Reserve „Old Orhei” and it promoting as touristic destination in the period of 2016-2017.
The document was signed by the Minister of Culture, Monica Babuc, general director of the Tourism Agency, Iurie Carp, and director of the Project, Doina Nistor, in the presence of USAID Moldova director Tomas Roods.
At the event, Minister of Culture, Monica Babuc, reiterated the importance of the development and capitalization of the cultural-natural Reserve „Old Orhei”, in the context of actions undertaken by the Ministry of Culture in the last years to promote archaeological site in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Official thanked the partners for their involvement and collaboration in the development of a common project that will underpin the complex of actions that will contribute to the integrity and authenticity strengthening of the archaeological Landscape "Old Orhei".
In his turn, the director of the USAID Moldova, Tomas Roods mentioned that the actions undertaken together with partners will contribute at the region development being sustainable touristic objective fact that will place the Republic of Moldova on the map of worldwide tourist destinations and it will have positive effects on the country economy.
In this context, the director of the Tourism Agency, Iurie Carp, emphasize that cultural-natural Reserve „Old Orhei” represents a priority touristic objective for our country, being one of the places visited by every tourist who comes to visit the Republic of Moldova.
The memorandum foresees the elaboration of arranging plan of cultural-natural Reserve landscape „Old Orhei”, elaboration of Strategy on tourism development in cultural-natural Reserve "Old Orhei" for 2016-2025 years, as well as the promotion improvement of Old Orhei as a touristic destination.
Promotion of the movable and immovable heritage constitutes the indispensable premise in the development of tourism in the Republic of Moldova. In this sense, cultural-natural Reserve "Old Orhei", created through the law nr.251 from December 4, 2009 and being subordinated to the Ministry of Culture, represents the patrimonial objective with the highest touristic weight in the Republic of Moldova. In 2014 it was approved the Strategy of culture development „Culture 2020” elaborated by the Ministry of Culture, which establishes the priority objectives in the culture development, conservation and tourism enhancement of the national cultural heritage, inclusive the cultural-natural Reserve „Old Orhei”.
In accordance with the objectives established in the Strategy, in 2015, the Ministry of Culture elaborated and submitted the dossier of nomination of the Archaeological Landscape "Old Orhei" into the UNESCO World Heritage List, the respective decision of the international forum being planned for 2017. In the purpose of site assessment of integrity and authenticity, a mission of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) follows to be held in the Republic of Moldova in the next months. After this stage, on June 2017, the dossier will be examined by the Intergovernmental Committee for the protection of the UNESCO World Heritage, to make the final decision on the inclusion of the Archaeological Landscape "Old Orhei" into the UNESCO World Heritage List.
