European Funds for the Management of the Caves in Bihor

18.01.2010

The cave management and tourism development have become a constant preoccupation of the Bihor County Council, which seeks European funds so that it might make the most of the huge spelean potential of the area.

By means of the Open the Gates of Bihor (“Deschide Porţile Bihorului”) Project, the Bihor County Council wishes to attract European funding for the management of several county caves, as well as the access ways to these tourist sights, so that private investors might capitalise on the new opportunities, including by setting up new accommodation and dining units. As part of this endeavour, the Bihor County Council has requested the support of the communes in the area, which have major resources, in terms of land, at their disposal, the support of the Apuseni Nature Park and of the foreign partners already working in the field of sustainable tourist development. “The Bihor County Council will take all the necessary steps to attract funds from the European Union for the management of the major caves in the tourist areas, e.g. the Sighiştel Valley, Fânaţe, the Porţile Bihorului cave, the Waterfall beneath the Bihor Peak and the Vaşcău Plateau. Additionally, we want to develop new access ways to the sights that are hard to reach in the region of the gorges and waterfalls, as well as camping areas with the required facilities, to protect nature and provide the comfort to tourists we want to bring to these areas ”, according to Dumitru Voloşeniuc, the VP of the Bihor County Council.

The Investment starts at the Boundary with the Alba and Arad Counties

Initially, the Bihor County Council will open for tourism such area as may have the largest number of tourist sights and as may be likely to generate the biggest revenues. “ The first stage of the Project involves opening the south – eastern area of our county, an area which shares the border with the Arad and AlbaCounties. We might take advantage of being neighbours with two already famous resorts - Arieşeni and Moneasa -, which are already attracting large numbers of tourists. This area in Bihor is endowed with exceptional tourist sights, such as the karst plateau Vaşcău – Călugări, the Câmpenească Cave and the Izbucul Călugări, The Upper Valley of the Arieş River, The Porţile Bihorului cave, the Bihor Peak, and the Waterfall Valley, Groapa Ruginoasă, the ski slope in Vârtop, the Sighiştel Valley and Canyon, the Măgura, Coliboaia, Corbasca and the Fânaţe caves, which are bound to attract many visitors. These sights are complemented by the traditions, crafts and an original and well kept folklore ’’, Dumitru Voloşeniuc added.

The Stakes: Sustainable Tourism

As a matter of fact, the officials of the ApuseniNaturePark bet more and more on sustainable tourism. To this effect, they have signed a partnership contract with the representatives of the Maritime AlpsNaturePark in Italy, who have already started assisting the Romanian officials in their steps to develop economic activities with a minimal impact on the environment. Some of the most interesting activities would include the production of organic food, as well as the creation of opportunities for the people practising mountain sports, ranging from people specialising in paragliding to those taking part in the mountain bike competitions.

Online resources:

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