Village Travel Bot, an innovative Telegram bot about Moldova’s countryside developed with the European Union’s funding, has launched a strategic collaboration with the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova to promote rural tourism. As part of this initiative, the first Village Travel Bot promotional banner was installed at the Leușeni border crossing on 19 November 2024, inviting thousands of visitors to explore Moldova’s authentic rural destinations by scanning the displayed QR code.
Village Travel Bot (https://t.me/VillageTravel_bot) is an interactive Telegram chatbot that serves as a personal travel assistant and a local guide to those interested in a journey to Moldova’s countryside. It was developed and launched in August 2024 by AO “InnoVillage”, a Moldovan CSO that works to revive the cultural heritage and history of Moldovan villages. The Customs Service supports InnoVillage’s efforts to boost rural tourism in Moldova by displaying the Village Travel Bot informational banners at the busiest border crossing points.
“We want all visitors to Moldova to have the opportunity to discover its unique locations while their documents are being processed at the border. Every traveler can begin exploring our country and planning a rural getaway from the moment they arrive in Moldova,” stated Adrian Brașoveanu, a representative of the Customs Service of the Republic of Moldova.
Today Village Travel Bot offers its users to explore 57 sights located in eight villages of Moldova, with new locations and routes being added every month. “Village Travel Bot is more than a digital assistant; it is a bridge between the past and the present, between tradition and technology. With the support of the Customs Service and the European Union, we bring Moldova’s rich rural history and culture closer to our visitors, offering them an authentic and accessible experience. Every journey to Moldova’s villages can become a memorable adventure, right from your phone,” said Tatiana Arcan, creator of the Village Travel Bot.
User may access the Village Travel Bot online at www.villagetravel.md or directly on Telegram (https://t.me/VillageTravel_bot), and follow InnoVillage on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to stay updated about upcoming events and new locations.
Village Travel Bot is part of the European Union’ broader effort to support digital innovation in the Eastern Partnership countries through the annual EaP Civic Tech Hackathons organised by the EU-funded Eastern Partnership Civil Society Facility project.
For further information or more details about “Village Travel Bot”, please visit www.villagetravel.md, or contact Tatiana Arcan, Project Manager at AO “InnoVillage,” at [email protected], or +37360985329.
For further information or more details about the EaP Civil Society Facility please contact Elena Palivoda, Communication Expert of the EU-funded EaP Civil Society Facility project at [email protected].
