Rural areas in mountains are essential for preserving biodiversity, but also for farming and agriculture, which represent 18 % of agricultural holdings in Europe. In one hand, constraints play a structural role in rural development, and other challenges such as climate change or the lack of working force intensify the pressure on these territories. On the other hand, these places are tourist areas contributing to flourishing economies.

Since 1999, the TARS Romanian Academy has been organising conferences combining best practice and multi-disciplinary research to support and justify Romanian development strategies in the field of tourism and rural areas.

This year, the 26th World Conference, co-organised by our member CE-MONT, the Institute for Economic and Social Research and the National Agency for Mountain Areas will address best practice in tourism at both global and European level, on a variety of topics ranging from rural development, agritourism and sustainable tourism to cross-border cooperation and economic growth.