Jurilovca, on the list of future tourist resorts. “Without these people we wouldn't even have been able to dream”

The mayor of Jurilovca commune in Tulcea county announced on Saturday, October 25, 2025, that the locality will become a tourist resort of local interest. A draft government decision was launched in the debate.

Jurilovca has gained momentum in the last 15 years PHOTO: FB/Eugen Ion

Eugen Ion, the mayor of the town of Jurilovca, announced on Saturday through a post that the draft government decision by which several towns become tourist resorts, either of national interest or of local interest, has been launched into public debate. The project can be found on the website of the Ministry of Economy, Digitalization, Entrepreneurship and Tourism.

“My message today is primarily addressed to the residents of our commune. It's news that I'm happy and excited to give you because we're close to an important moment.

Maybe I should have waited until I had the decision, but I'm impatient. And I want to share with you the fact that the draft government decision by which our commune will become a TOURIST RESORT OF LOCAL INTEREST has already been launched in public debate!

It is an important step that we, the whole community, are taking after 13 years of intensive work. Let's remember where we were in 2012, what the commune looked like and how far we were from being a tourist destination, a place where tourism would generate income and a better life for the people here.” Eugen Ion wrote on Facebook.

The mayor also made a brief summary of the successes of the last years, noting that in the last 13 years investments of over 40 million euros have been developed, enormously increasing the accommodation capacity, and in the coming years there are projects for investments of 50 million euros.

“We, the city hall, developed and modernized the infrastructure and created opportunities. But we wouldn't have reached such an important moment if it weren't for private investment. This is the only way we could go from only two authorized accommodation units, 13 years ago, to more than 40 today, and from only 30 accommodation places in the village of Jurilovca to almost 900 accommodation places in the entire commune, in camping, modern guesthouses and two resorts. Not to mention the 5 restaurants and 3 gastronomic points that operate here today. Without these people who invested work and money, who attracted European funds so that they could later attract tourists, we wouldn't even have been able to dream of the resort state”the mayor also specified.

An important part of the territory of Jurilovca commune (60%) is located in the “Danube Delta” Biosphere Reserve, a biosphere reserve on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Two of the 18 strict protection areas of the reserve are located on the territory of the commune: Cap Doloșman and the Periteașca – Leahova Complex, but also the Dealul Călugăra – Iancina Nature Reserve.

One of the events that in recent years has attracted many tourists to Jurilovca was the Jurilovca Lipovene Borscht Festival, initiated in 2009 and becoming a symbol of Tulcea county. This festival was canceled this year due to financial reasons. The mayor announced at the end of July that he is doing everything possible to find sponsors and sources of funding for next year's edition.

“We went through similar situations before during the pandemic, we recovered, we will recover this time as well”, specified the mayor.

The town of Novaci, a tourist resort of national interest

On the government's list, the city of Novaci in Gorj County is mentioned as a locality that would receive the status of a tourist resort of national interest.

Along with Jurilovca, the southern area of ​​the Călărași municipality will also acquire the status of a tourist resort of local interest; the tourist area of ​​the commune of Arcani, Gorj; the tourist area of ​​Bozovici – Poneasca – Valea Miniș, Bozovici commune, Caraș-Severin county; Arefu tourist area – Lake Vidraru, Arefu commune, Argeș county.

The title of tourist resort comes with opportunities for promotion and community development, stimulation of local businesses and inclusion in official catalogs and promotional materials. The preservation and conservation of the cultural, historical and natural heritage of the area and the preservation of traditions are encouraged.