Stakeholders engagement as a key role in the Culinary Trail Project success

Regional Dialogue in Călărași – Culinary Trail Powered by People

On 15 July 2025, the Culinary Trail Project reached an important milestone with a regional dialogue in Călărași, Moldova, gathering local heroes, project partners, and cultural ambassadors to shape the future of culinary tourism in the Danube Region.

Hosted by the Călărași Tourist Information Center, part of the Museum of History and Ethnography, the event brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss:

Education and skill-building in culinary tourism,
Support for small entrepreneurs through legal and fiscal frameworks,
Food safety and authentic gastronomic experiences,
Promotion of local tourism products and global trends.

Representatives of our partner, “Ion Creangă” State Pedagogical University, presented how the project collaborates with local communities to document and celebrate the culinary heritage of the Gagauz ethnic group – with contributions from local businesses like Vinuri Comrat SA, Colos Café, and Gagauz Sofrasi Ethno-Tourist Complex.

Why is this important?

The project preserves 30 ethnic food stories, ensuring they remain alive for future generations.
26 partners from 13 Danube countries are working together to transform tradition into opportunity.
A new Digital Cataloguing Tool will soon be launched, bringing all these unique stories to life.

The Culinary Trail is not just a project – it is a community-driven movement, where locals become co-creators of authentic food experiences that attract travelers and strengthen local economies.