Responsible tourism in Transylvania

Protecting the wildlife in Transylvania's forest filled valleys is just as important as preserving the region's cultural heritage and without a sensible and sustainable approach to tourism several of the more remote villages might well find themselves cut off from positive financial and social benefits. Supporting local communities can be as simple as seeking out family run guesthouses as alternatives to city hotels where the pace of life is slower and souvenirs come in the form of locally made cheese and handcrafted spoons as opposed to mass produced vampire mugs and fridge magnets. Finally, although hunting is part of life in rural Transylvania attitudes to animals are starting to change with bison rewildling projects and the Libearty Bear Sanctuary becoming the norm as opposed to the caged horror shows associated with the past.

From UNESCO to King Charles III, Transylvania is not lacking in supporters when it comes to preserving its cultural and natural heritage. Regarded as Romania’s hidden gem, the region is still resisting the charms of mass tourism and although the Transylvanian tourist board continues to float the idea of a Dracula inspired theme park, plans have so far gone down with locals like a lead bat. Although tourist hubs, like Brasov, do exist they are still in the minority with the rest of the region, especially outside of the major cities, providing a glimpse at an authentic way of life about as far from vampire mugs and blood-smeared kitchen aprons as you could hope to conceive. The more tourists that spend their time and their holiday funds in rural areas of Transylvania the better for local economies with Saxon villages, Carpathian foothills and wildlife watching tours all doing their level best to coax responsible travellers out of the city and into the wild. Charity schemes, such as the ADEPT Foundation, have also started to work with farming communities to help them develop a sustainable future without compromising traditional livelihoods. For over a decade, ADEPT have been protecting Transylvania’s countryside and rural landscapes by encouraging farmers to develop species-rich meadows where natural biodiversity is far more important than the need to use artificial fertilisers and hazardous weed control. Local craftspeople and food producers are also encouraged to continue their traditional production techniques whilst utilising new skills to market high quality products at the heart of rural tourism. It's this sort of commitment to sustainable tourism that makes Transylvania such a pleasure for responsible travellers, with local communities right at the heart of organised tours.

What you can do
Getting out of the city centres and into the countryside is the best way to help Transylvania protect its rural traditions and ensure a sustainable future for farming communities and smaller villages. Buying authentic, locally made, products and meals in independent taverns is another way to ensure your money is going where it is needed most with overnight stays in village guesthouses and with local families certain to give you a far deeper understanding of the real Transylvania.

A visit to Transylvania is guaranteed to get your pulse racing and not least of all through tales of 'you know who' around a log fire on a cold winter's night. Unfortunately, for some, legends of old aren't enough to keep the wolf from the door and the only way they can get their adrenaline kicks is to hunt animals for 'sport'. Transylvania, and the rest of rural Romania, has a long history of hunting with boar, deer, badgers, rabbits and chamois all regarded as prime targets between the cross hairs. Believe it or not, brown bears are also regarded as fair game for hunters with 250 permits issued during autumn (Sep – Dec) and spring (Mar – May) hunting seasons. Hunting is as much a part of life in the Transylvanian countryside as farming or wine making and don't be surprised if you hear the crack of a shotgun or the baying of bloodhounds from as early as August 1st – the opening of wild boar hunting season. Understanding that the traditions of Transylvania aren't always going to be in keeping with our own values is another aspect of approaching with an open mind. Rural communities have often had to hunt for food or to protect their livestock, with bears, wolves and lynx all considered to be predators rather than animals that should be protected. Responsible tourism in Transylvania is not about changing traditions and lifestyles through telling people what they can and can’t do; it’s far better to demonstrate tangible, positive results that benefit both local communities and the surrounding natural environment. In the case of hunting: the more tourists that come and stay in remote areas because they want to see and track animals in the wild, the more local people will see the financial benefits of protecting wildlife and in so doing develop a more sustainable future through responsible rural tourism.

What you can do
Keep your eyes peeled for rural restaurants featuring tocanita de urs cu ciuperci (bear stew with wild mushrooms) or laba de urs (bear paw) on the menu. Maybe voice your opinion or maybe boycott the restaurant, but do remember that smaller rural restaurants need your trade. The choice is yours. Go on bear, wolf and lynx tracking trips with a local expert who will show you how to hunt these wild animals without weapons. The adrenaline will still flow just as freely and memories of your first sighting will be more than worthy of trophy status.