Regenerating the historic centre to welcome back citizens
The results of the HUB-IN project are included in a new tourism strategy
At the end of October 2023, the new directions of the area’s tourism strategy were launched in the public space, during the conference Vision and directions for tourism in Brașov, city and county organized by the Romanian Ecotourism Association, in partnership with the City Hall of Brașov and the County Council of Brașov.
In the discussions with the participants, as well as in the strategic documents, the studies elaborated within the HUB-IN project were mentioned as being very important to support the new positioning of the city: “Brașov presents itself as a perfect combination between urban and mountainous, thus offering a unique value proposition on the tourism market”.
A tourism strategy that takes into account citizens’ needs
Thus the HUB-IN study Towards a Balanced and Inclusive Use of the Public Realm in the Historic Urban Area (July 2022) shows that tourism in the old town has become an urban and social problem: “The current use of the Innere Stadt is heavily skewed towards tourism and indirectly encourages residents to leave”. Also, the Guide for the Location of Seasonal Commercial Terraces in the Historical Centre of Brașov identifies the problem of the takeover of public space: “In 2022, the surface area used de facto by commercial agents was 55% (1,811 sqm) larger than the one officially declared at the City Hall of Brașov”. It is even recommended to “reduce the props used by commercial agents in public spaces to the minimum necessary: tables, chairs, shading systems, display of menus etc. Planters, dividing panels, and commercial banners have become in the last 2 years illegal means of taking over the public space”.
Brașov’s new tourism strategy has three pillars: Adventainment (adventure & entertainment), Gastrotainment (gastronomy and event-based tourism), and Edutainment (educational entertainment tourism). A series of public debates and realignments of the strategy will follow, while the Destination Management Organisation for the city of Brașov will be established soon.
The HUB-IN project aims to support the sustainable regeneration of the city’s historic center through innovation and entrepreneurship while enhancing local cultural heritage and preserving its unique identity.
Find out more on Brașov’s HUB-IN here!
