Between 25 – 27 May 2023, the National Agency of the Mountain Area (ANZM), together with the Romanian Academy – Iasi branch, the “Georghe Zane” Institute for Economic and Social Research and the Mountain Economy Centre CEMONT Vatra Dornei organized the 25th edition of the International Scientific Conference ‘Tourism and Rural Space in National and International Context’ (TARS), previously known as “Romanian Rural Tourism in International Context. Present and Prospects” (TRR). The conference was held in a hybrid format, with physical attendance at the National Agency of the Mountain Area headquarters, as well as online participation.

The event is directed towards scientists, researchers, academics, PhD students, master students and journalists with research interests in tourism and rural areas, who aim to find solutions to the multiple and difficult problems facing the international countryside and tourism activity in these areas.
This year, 157 people participated with 93 scientific papers. From abroad, researchers/academics from the following countries were present physically or online: Republic of Moldova, Turkey, Italy, France, Switzerland, Iraq, Iran, India, Spain and Serbia.
The conference was structured in two parts: a presentation of scientific papers – in plenum and in 9 thematic sessions, two workshops, a book launch and a practical application to representative rural development objectives in the surroundings. Visits were made to the cheese factory “La izvorul Dornei” in Poiana Stampei (owner Mezdrea Roman), Tășuleasa Social (founder of the project “Via Transilvanica”) – Tiha Bârgăului, the Monastery “Nașterea Maicii Domnului” Piatra Fântânele, Local Gastronomic Point Maria Bidian – Bistrița Bârgăului (BN).