Romania's government officially designated Via Transilvanica as a national-interest hiking route, granting additional protection and establishing clear rules for its maintenance and management. The announcement was made by interim economy and tourism minister Irineu Darău, who said he had signed the order formalizing the status. Stretching more than 1,630 kilometers, Via Transilvanica crosses the historical regions of Bucovina, Transylvania, Banat, and Oltenia, connecting communities across 10 counties.