For funding applications that fall under the scope of state aid, the maximum value of the total non-reimbursable amount is 2,000,000 euros.

For financing applications that do not fall under the scope of state aid, the maximum total eligible value is 6,000,000 euros.

Eligible applicants are Administrative-territorial units (UAT): County; commune; Partnerships between the previously mentioned eligible administrative-territorial units.

The North-West Development Region benefits from a complex of morphological, climatic, hydrographic and biogeographical tourist factors with special attractive value, their profile being similar to that of urban areas. The problems faced by the tourism sector in the urban environment are equally found in the rural environment. Moreover, the lack of connectivity is an additional obstacle, more pronounced than in the case of objectives in the urban environment.

The sustainable valorization of the rural environment through tourism requires investment in resources that will allow authentic, attractive and competitive experiences in relation to rural destinations known on a European level.

At the same time, the many resources in the region with the potential to become new attractions or niche tourist destinations are taken into account (such as mountain tourism, speotourism, unconventional niche tourism, nautical tourism, wine tourism, winter sports, ecumenical tourism, recreational tourism etc.).

The integrated approach to the development of rural areas in the NW Region considers sustainable rural development, sectoral, spatial and territorial integration, multi-level governance and partnership approach. Thus, the projects submitted in this call must have an integrated character, targeting the social/economic/cultural components.

These interventions should be aligned with the best practices in the field, also reflecting the use of environmentally friendly solutions that can be found in the NBS (Nature Base Solutions) concept.

The action supported under this call for projects is Improving tourism infrastructure, especially in areas with valuable tourism potential, including improving access to resources and tourist attractions and can be achieved by:

• the construction, expansion, modernization, endowment of specific infrastructures, necessary for the exploitation of tourist resources;
• supporting innovative projects to diversify the services and activities offered to tourists with the aim of increasing the accessibility of tourist attractions, such as: gondolas, chairlifts, via ferata, etc.;
• arranging tourist routes using environmentally friendly solutions (marked mountain routes, observation points, gazebos, rest stops, mountain rescue points, etc.);
• facilities related to relaxation and recreation areas located in the vicinity of tourist resources;
• the utilities necessary for the operation of the investment objective that are found/are proposed on its site;
• complementary activities necessary to ensure the functionality of the interventions carried out.

It will be considered that the investments do not produce negative effects on the natural areas in the vicinity (protected natural areas, forests, valuable meadows, wetlands, etc.). The arrangement of green spaces within the areas with tourism infrastructure will be done with native species. The future investments will be made on areas of land with a reduced construction regime (reduced POT), so as to avoid recurring negative effects on biodiversity during the operation stage of the investments. The tourist resource should be exploited without creating pressure on biodiversity.

Interventions are recommended on natural spaces rich in biodiversity, green areas that bring important benefits to ecosystem services, with a high degree of naturalness, but also access areas, alleys, specific lighting, rest platforms, etc.

The interventions will take into account the interdependence of the actions and the development of the rural ecosystem as a whole, the long-term results and benefits, the needs and challenges of the areas as a whole, the encouragement of the civic spirit, but also of the collaboration between the public and the private environment.

In the next period, an event will be organized to present the Applicant's Guide, and during it the Guide's developers will be at the disposal of those interested for a question and answer session. If you want to participate in this event, we invite you to send us an e-mail at the address regio@nord-vest.ro to express your interest in participating in this event.

We invite you to actively contribute and submit your observations/comments/questions/requests regarding the content of the Applicant Guide and its annexes to regio@nord-vest.ro .

This call contributes to the fulfillment of policy objective 2 "A Europe closer to citizens, by promoting the sustainable and integrated development of all types of territories and local initiatives", priority 7 "An attractive region", specific objective 5.1 "Promoting integrated local development and inclusive in the social, economic and environmental fields, as well as culture, natural heritage, sustainable tourism and security in areas other than urban areas", action b) "Improving tourism infrastructure, especially in areas that have a valuable tourism potential, including improving access to resources and tourist attractions" within the North-West Regional Program 2021-2027.

The North-West Regional Program 2021-2027 proposes interventions for the development of research, development, innovation and digitization capacity, increasing the energy performance of the existing public and residential building fund, capitalizing on degraded spaces at the city level, sustainable urban mobility, investments in the network of county roads and in the educational infrastructure, as well as actions to capitalize on the cultural, touristic and spa potential.

In the financial year 2021-2027, public authorities and institutions, the business environment, the academic and research environment and NGOs can obtain funding.

The Northwest Regional Program benefits from a total allocation of 1,437,252,471 euros.

• Priority 1: A competitive region through innovation, digitization and dynamic enterprises - total value: 327,904,956 euros
• Priority 2: A region with smart localities - total value: 60,332,872 euros
• Priority 3: A region with environmentally friendly localities - total value: 210,666,112 euros
• Priority 4: A region with sustainable multimodal urban mobility – total value: 305,155,751 euros
• Priority 5: An accessible region - total value: 184,978,708 euros
• Priority 6: An educated region - total value: 77,386,100 euros
• Priority 7: An attractive region - total value: 210,363,134 euros
• Technical assistance – total value: 60,464,838 euros

More information about the Northwest Regional Program for 2021-2027 is available here, and the program can be consulted here.