Workshop of Martisors made of clay takes place in central Moldova village

Chisinau, 28 February /MOLDPRES/ - The Potter’s House, Vasilii Gonciari, from the Hoginesti village, central Calarasi district, on 27 February hosted a topic-related master-class. During the event, representatives of strategic development partners created, with their own hands, pottery vessels which were subsequently decorated with handmade Martisors (trinkets worn in honour of 1 March).    

According to the organizers, the unique experience of the foreign guests, combined with the traditions of the local communities, is part of the tourist supply of Moldova, which fits the global trends focused on cultural tourism and light adventure. Thus, for several years already, the Moldova Competitiveness Project, financed by USAID, Sweden and UK aid, has been backing the development of the tourism sector, by providing technical support for the diversification of goods and services.  

Attending the event, the state secretary in the culture sector, Andrei Chistol, has said that the possibility to develop tourism in Moldova, through cultural elements, was nice and opportune. “We are happy that we have had occasion to combine this nice tradition of pottery with the one of the Martisor, included in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity,” the official noted.    

For his part, the head of the development cooperation section at the Embassy of Sweden in Moldova, Adam Amberg, said that his country’s government was supporting the sustainable development of tourism in Moldova – a sector which can bring economic growth. “Together with our partners, USAID and UK aid, we provided needed technical support, including to the craftsmen who continue creating authentic products and preserve the nation’s traditions. Namely these are the most important distinctive signs which the nowadays tourists are willing to discover,” Adam Amberg stressed.     

After the end of the master-class, the guests took part in a tour of the complex, with visiting the traditional pottery museum and the guests’ hall; afterwards, they enjoyed themselves with traditional native dishes. The Potter’s House Vasilii Gonciari was modernized with the support of the Moldova Competitiveness Project, financed by USAID, Sweden and UK aid, which carry out a comprehensive programme on backing the local tourism, focused on authentic experiences of exploring the traditions, rural life, gastronomy and wines.    

The executive director of the National Inbound Tourism Association, Natalia Turcanu, said that as estimated number of 1.2 million foreign tourists had visited Moldova in 2019.