The fourth edition of the Regional Tourism Conference was held on October 15–16, 2025, once again hosted by Miercurea Ciuc. As one of the most important professional gatherings in the region, the event brought together nearly 200 tourism entrepreneurs, experts, educators, students, and decision-makers to jointly reflect on the future of tourism, innovation, and opportunities for regional cooperation.
Digitalization, AI, and Cooperation in Focus
The first day of the conference was dedicated to innovation and cooperation. Experts from Booking.com and Travelminit presented concrete examples of how artificial intelligence is transforming the travel experience and guest relations. Norbert Fejér, CEO of HelixSoft, highlighted in his presentation that digitalization is not only a technological issue but also a strategic opportunity to increase competitiveness. The presentation of the România Atractivă project also emphasized the importance of digital development and data-driven decision-making in tourism.
The afternoon continued with two sections: in the TDM section, representatives of several Transylvanian tourist destinations – including Brașov, Mureș, Sibiu, Covasna, and Harghita counties – shared their good practices and future plans, while the parallel communication section focused on practical marketing and visual strategies. Erzsébet Kádár (SmartADDs) spoke about the role of database building, Jenő Nagy (OptiBoost) about online advertising strategies, and Ioana Mihaela Cobiliță (Sinaps) about digital trends – including voice search and AI targeting. In the field of visual communication, photographer and graphic editor László Mihály and László Olasz (Alpix Visual Studio) presented the importance of professional photography, while Zoltán Pál (Magenta7) shared practical experiences on creating tourism program packages. The section concluded with a presentation by Zelinda Páll, marketing communication specialist at Visit Harghita (Harghita Community Development Association), who introduced a new community platform designed for entrepreneurs and organizations interested in tourism.
Gastronomy and Local Values
The second day of the conference focused on the diversity of Transylvanian gastronomy and the future of hospitality based on local ingredients.
The day opened with Előd Szőcs (Csíkcsomortán Abattoir – Butcher Manufactory), who spoke about the value of traditional, locally sourced ingredients under the motto “Only from pure sources.” He was followed by Adorján Trucza, founder of Taste of Transylvania, whose presentation titled Pizza or Polenta? explored the search for identity in Transylvanian gastronomy. István Becze, president of the Association of Székely Farmers’ Organizations, highlighted the role of local producers and the opportunities within gastro-tourism, while Károly Szabó, Executive Director of Visit Harghita (Harghita Community Development Association), spoke about the long-term impacts of obtaining the title of European Region of Gastronomy in his presentation What Will Happen in 2027? Is It the Promised Land?
Szilamér Cseh, founder and head sommelier of the Fine Service Academy, shared his experiences on the art of service and creating guest experiences in his presentation The Secrets of Guest Experience, followed by Domokos Bándi (Gastrobun), who presented the future of gastronomy and strategies for sustainable development. Within the framework of the Food Savers project, Claudia Popa, food engineer at Boroinfo, presented concrete solutions for reducing food waste in the HoReCa sector.
The afternoon program highlighted artisanal gastronomy and creative approaches: photographer Zoltán Biró’s presentation The Photographer’s Coffee in Practice brought the role of coffee preparation closer to the world of gastronomy. István Bocskor, founder of Bocskor Bakery, spoke about the secrets of sourdough preparation and the art of good bread in his presentation Our Sourdough. Judit Potyó, founder of the Sasfészek Gastro Point, shared her experiences in creating and operating a gastro point based on local ingredients.
During the panel discussion Transylvanian Gastronomy Books, participants gained insight into gastronomic publications from the region, including the 100 Recipes – 100 Housewives series and the preparation of the Food Saver Book (Food Savers project).
The two-day event was initiated by the tourism organizations of Harghita, Mureș, and Covasna counties, with the Harghita Community Development Association (Visit Harghita) acting as the main organizer this year. The event was supported by the Pro Economica Foundation, Liliac Winery, Bocskor Bakery, as well as the County Councils of Harghita, Mureș, and Covasna.
At the closing of the conference, it was announced that the main organizer of the 5th Regional Tourism Conference in 2026 will be Visit Covasna. The organizers emphasized that next year’s event will continue in the spirit of regional cooperation and the shared vision of developing tourism.
