Moldova rolls out vacation vouchers worth up to €444
Private companies in Moldova have begun offering employees vacation vouchers that can be used at 31 registered guesthouses across the country. The maximum annual benefit is €444 (approx. 8,700 MDL), and the sum is tax-exempt for both employer and employee.
One guesthouse accepting the vouchers sits in Orheiul Vechi, a historic monastic and archaeological site in central Moldova. Guests stay in traditional clay houses built in the style of old rural households, and can join hands-on workshops — including one where guests help stir strawberry-and-cherry compote in glass jars.
"Things are just getting started, but I hope this will work and benefit Moldova's villages," said Anatolie Botnaru, the guesthouse's owner. He added that the vouchers, reserved for domestic tourists, should draw more visitors who love rural life.
Chisinau residents welcomed the idea. "Supporting local tourism is a brilliant idea — Orhei, the south, the north, everywhere. I'd explore Moldova at home," one said. Another expressed interest in visiting a quieter, forested area like Orheiul Vechi.
The voucher is available only to private-sector employees, who can use the 8,700 lei over the course of a year for one or several trips. "This amount isn't taxable for either employers or employees, so both sides benefit," said Valentin Ceban, head of section at the National Tourism Office. He noted that the initial focus is on private-sector workers; a decision on extending the scheme to public-sector employees rests with the Ministry of Culture.
Romania has offered similar vacation vouchers since 2009, though only to public-sector employees. In 2026, their value stands at roughly 3,000 lei in Moldovan-currency terms (about €153), and recipients must contribute a matching amount themselves to cover the full cost of their stay.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
