The Danube Delta won the Grand Prize at the "Destination of the Year 2025" in RO
The Danube Delta was named the Grand Prize winner at the “Destination of the Year® 2025” gala, held last night in the Thalia Hall of the Sibiu State Philharmonic. The Danube Delta also won first place in the “Enchanted Realms” category, within the benchmark competition for Romanian tourism, which brings together the most representative destinations in Romania.
The Destination of the Year® competition is a benchmark project in the Romanian tourism landscape, which recognizes and promotes regions, cities and attractions that stand out for their authenticity, quality services and effective promotional initiatives. The 2025 edition was distinguished by a high level of complexity and competitiveness, with the awards being awarded following a process that included public votes and specialist analyses. The other laureates of the evening were: Oradea for "inspiring cities", Sovata (Mureș) for "spa resorts", Rimetea (Alba) for "fairytale villages", Dino Parc (Râșnov, Brașov) for "fun and adventure", Astra Museum (Sibiu) for "culture and education". The complete list of award winners can be found on the official competition page: https://www.destinatiaanului.ro/competitia/castigatori.
This success once again certifies the immense tourism potential of the Danube Delta and Tulcea, but also confirms the efforts that local entities, whether public or private, are making to achieve this potential. OMD Tulcea Municipality played an essential role in organizing the candidacy and in carrying out the promotion campaign, assuming since December 2024 the responsibility of coordinating the approach for this edition. Let us recall some key points that contributed to the success of the competition:
November 2024: Participation in the "Destination of the Year" conference organized at the French Institute in Bucharest.
December 2024: Initiation of dialogue with the competition organizers and assuming the coordination of the campaign.
January 2025: Transmission to the organizers of the 2024 activity report and the draft tourism marketing and development strategy.
February 2025: Creation and sending of the necessary content for the presentation page of the Danube Delta (Tulcea) within the competition.
March 2025: Launch of an extensive promotional campaign - press releases, video clips, radio promotion and TV advertorials.
Following the success of the “Destination of the Year® 2025”, Ștefan ILIE, Mayor of Tulcea Municipality and President of the Board of Directors of OMD Tulcea Municipality, stated:
“Two years ago, the foundations of OMD Tulcea Municipality were laid, which aims to promote our city, the main gateway to the Danube Delta, in a professional, coordinated and integrated manner. After an effort supported by the HoReCa business environment, today we are fully functional and increasingly active, more visible and with an impact on the objectives assumed. Tulcea Municipality is itself in the midst of a substantial transformation, towards better living, but also to reposition it as a tourist destination in itself. This recognition is, by the way, especially the fruit of the efforts of our OMD, if you still had doubts that these organizations do not work and do not bring results. It was a long-term effort that today is so beautifully rewarded! It is our desire and objective to draw attention to a new local tourism proposal, the involvement of local administration in tourism development, the strengthening of public-private partnerships and the awareness that together we are stronger, that the unified voice of the local community is growing and that we all bring value and attractiveness to our places.”
Representing the Danube Delta destination at the “Destination of the Year® 2025” Gala, the manager of OMD Tulcea Municipality, Alexandru FILIP, stated: “The Danube Delta is unique! It is the place where the connection between man and nature is stronger than anywhere else. It is the queen of European ecotourism, as the great Ivan Patzaichin described it. But there is a saying: “God gives it to you, but he doesn’t put it in your pocket!”. No matter how beautiful any place on earth is, sometimes it is not enough to become a tourist landmark or to win an important competition. Especially a competition as prestigious as the Destination of the Year. In its category, at Enchanted Lands, the Danube Delta (Tulcea) competed with destinations such as Eco Maramureș, Țara Făgărașului in Brașov or Șinutul Mănăstirilor in Bucovina. And throughout the competition, in the race for the Grand Prize, with vibrant cities such as Oradea or Iași, with resorts famous cities such as Sinaia or Băile Felix, with picturesque villages such as Biertan (Sibiu) or Vânători (Neamț). These awards show us that we are on the right track at OMD Tulcea Municipality. It is a great honor and a joy that is difficult to describe in words!”.
Following the victory in the competition, Tulcea Municipality will have the honor of hosting the fifth edition of “Destination of the Year®” in 2026. The event will bring to Tulcea important representatives of local authorities, destination managers,
The Destination of the Year® competition is a benchmark project in the Romanian tourism landscape, which recognizes and promotes regions, cities and attractions that stand out for their authenticity, quality services and effective promotional initiatives. The 2025 edition was distinguished by a high level of complexity and competitiveness, with the awards being awarded following a process that included public votes and specialist analyses. The other laureates of the evening were: Oradea for "inspiring cities", Sovata (Mureș) for "spa resorts", Rimetea (Alba) for "fairytale villages", Dino Parc (Râșnov, Brașov) for "fun and adventure", Astra Museum (Sibiu) for "culture and education". The complete list of award winners can be found on the official competition page: https://www.destinatiaanului.ro/competitia/castigatori.
This success once again certifies the immense tourism potential of the Danube Delta and Tulcea, but also confirms the efforts that local entities, whether public or private, are making to achieve this potential. OMD Tulcea Municipality played an essential role in organizing the candidacy and in carrying out the promotion campaign, assuming since December 2024 the responsibility of coordinating the approach for this edition. Let us recall some key points that contributed to the success of the competition:
November 2024: Participation in the "Destination of the Year" conference organized at the French Institute in Bucharest.
December 2024: Initiation of dialogue with the competition organizers and assuming the coordination of the campaign.
January 2025: Transmission to the organizers of the 2024 activity report and the draft tourism marketing and development strategy.
February 2025: Creation and sending of the necessary content for the presentation page of the Danube Delta (Tulcea) within the competition.
March 2025: Launch of an extensive promotional campaign - press releases, video clips, radio promotion and TV advertorials.
Following the success of the “Destination of the Year® 2025”, Ștefan ILIE, Mayor of Tulcea Municipality and President of the Board of Directors of OMD Tulcea Municipality, stated:
“Two years ago, the foundations of OMD Tulcea Municipality were laid, which aims to promote our city, the main gateway to the Danube Delta, in a professional, coordinated and integrated manner. After an effort supported by the HoReCa business environment, today we are fully functional and increasingly active, more visible and with an impact on the objectives assumed. Tulcea Municipality is itself in the midst of a substantial transformation, towards better living, but also to reposition it as a tourist destination in itself. This recognition is, by the way, especially the fruit of the efforts of our OMD, if you still had doubts that these organizations do not work and do not bring results. It was a long-term effort that today is so beautifully rewarded! It is our desire and objective to draw attention to a new local tourism proposal, the involvement of local administration in tourism development, the strengthening of public-private partnerships and the awareness that together we are stronger, that the unified voice of the local community is growing and that we all bring value and attractiveness to our places.”
Representing the Danube Delta destination at the “Destination of the Year® 2025” Gala, the manager of OMD Tulcea Municipality, Alexandru FILIP, stated: “The Danube Delta is unique! It is the place where the connection between man and nature is stronger than anywhere else. It is the queen of European ecotourism, as the great Ivan Patzaichin described it. But there is a saying: “God gives it to you, but he doesn’t put it in your pocket!”. No matter how beautiful any place on earth is, sometimes it is not enough to become a tourist landmark or to win an important competition. Especially a competition as prestigious as the Destination of the Year. In its category, at Enchanted Lands, the Danube Delta (Tulcea) competed with destinations such as Eco Maramureș, Țara Făgărașului in Brașov or Șinutul Mănăstirilor in Bucovina. And throughout the competition, in the race for the Grand Prize, with vibrant cities such as Oradea or Iași, with resorts famous cities such as Sinaia or Băile Felix, with picturesque villages such as Biertan (Sibiu) or Vânători (Neamț). These awards show us that we are on the right track at OMD Tulcea Municipality. It is a great honor and a joy that is difficult to describe in words!”.
Following the victory in the competition, Tulcea Municipality will have the honor of hosting the fifth edition of “Destination of the Year®” in 2026. The event will bring to Tulcea important representatives of local authorities, destination managers,
Știri în presa națională și locală
Apariții media:
https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/travel/romania-si-a-ales-destinatiile-anului-2025-vezi-cine-a-castigat-marele-premiu.html
https://www.europafm.ro/delta-dunarii-destinatia-anului-2025/
https://www.g4media.ro/delta-dunarii-estedestinatia-anului-2025-judetul-tulcea-e-cat-o-tara-fiindca-aici-chiar-le-gasesti-pe-toate-in-competitia-destinatia-anului-2025-s-au-inscri.html
https://www.profit.ro/povesti-cu-profit/turism/delta-dunarii-a-castigat-marele-premiu-al-galei-destinatia-anului-2025-21996978
https://alephnews.ro/travel/delta-dunarii-este-destinatia-anului-2025-in-romania-oradea-ia-primul-loc-la-categoria-orase-care-inspira/
https://www.gandul.ro/diverse/locul-din-romania-premiat-ca-fiind-destinatia-anului-2025-este-un-colt-de-paradis-si-un-sit-protejat-de-unesco-20483169
https://www.radioconstanta.ro/2025/04/11/audio-delta-dunarii-destinatia-anului-2025/
https://ziaruldelta.ro/2025/04/11/reusita-pentru-omd-tulcea-delta-dunarii-este-destinatia-anului-2025/
https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/travel/romania-si-a-ales-destinatiile-anului-2025-vezi-cine-a-castigat-marele-premiu.html
https://www.europafm.ro/delta-dunarii-destinatia-anului-2025/
https://www.g4media.ro/delta-dunarii-estedestinatia-anului-2025-judetul-tulcea-e-cat-o-tara-fiindca-aici-chiar-le-gasesti-pe-toate-in-competitia-destinatia-anului-2025-s-au-inscri.html
https://www.profit.ro/povesti-cu-profit/turism/delta-dunarii-a-castigat-marele-premiu-al-galei-destinatia-anului-2025-21996978
https://alephnews.ro/travel/delta-dunarii-este-destinatia-anului-2025-in-romania-oradea-ia-primul-loc-la-categoria-orase-care-inspira/
https://www.gandul.ro/diverse/locul-din-romania-premiat-ca-fiind-destinatia-anului-2025-este-un-colt-de-paradis-si-un-sit-protejat-de-unesco-20483169
https://www.radioconstanta.ro/2025/04/11/audio-delta-dunarii-destinatia-anului-2025/
https://ziaruldelta.ro/2025/04/11/reusita-pentru-omd-tulcea-delta-dunarii-este-destinatia-anului-2025/