Innovative and sustainable tourism strategies

Abstract

Purpose According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, sustainable tourism is a form of tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing the opportunity for the future. It is an industry that aims at having a low impact upon the environment and local culture, generating income and employment, and ensuring the conservation of local ecosystems. The aim of this paper is to examine the ways in which the development and promotion of a new tourism product based on unique rural heritage and traditions contribute to the development of sustainable tourism strategies in Romania. Design/methodology/approach This paper includes a literature review on the topic of sustainable tourism in post-conflict destinations and provides arguments for the adoption and development of sustainable tourism. Using a case study methodological approach, this paper provides an example of a sustainable tourism destination from the Central development region of Romania (Alba County, Transylvania) to depict specific sustainable tourism practices and their impact on the place, in a post-communist and post-conflict context. The study uses a comprehensive desk-research based on secondary data from key industry and academic sources. Findings The research findings show that rural tourism can greatly support the (re)development of post-conflict destinations, and it makes a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the Romanian tourism industry, in general, and rural economies in particular, as shown in the case examined in this paper. Practical implications This paper illustrates that fostering the unique rural heritage and traditions of a post-conflict destination can contribute to the revival and sustainable development of the place. Sustainable tourism practices contribute not only financially to a destination but also to its social infrastructures, jobs, nature conservation, adoption of new working practices and the revitalisation of passive and poor rural areas. Originality/value This paper examines and depicts rural tourism development as an innovative and sustainable strategy for Romania, a post-conflict destination that experienced severe political and social turmoil during the communist regime, and ethnic conflicts and violent events in the 1990s. The research findings may be applicable to other geographic regions and post-conflict destinations with similar contexts.

Barriers to tourism participation: A case of first‐generation local community service providers

“…2013) and ethnic clashes (Coros et al. 2017). Hence, barriers can come from various sources, and their intensity can also differ from region to region.…”

“…The barriers to participating in tourism businesses exist in land, labour, and capital (Goodwin and Roe 2001;Murti and Boydell 2008;Telfer and Wall 1996). Very often these barriers are coupled with the conflict between tourists and residents (Moscardo et al 2013) and ethnic clashes (Coros et al 2017). Hence, barriers can come from various sources, and their intensity can also differ from region to region.…”

“…This kind of vision is a one-sided approach of taking the development corridor and a seed of negative impact of tourism in a destination. And this tells us that core sustainability needs a genuine opportunity given as a participatory approach from a bottom-up development model (Coros et al 2017;Hall 1998). Aref (2011) in Shiraz, Iran found that barriers to local participation in the tourism market exist both at operational and community levels, such as a lack of decision-making, lack of trained human resources, a sense of ownership, necessary skills, and education to participate in tourism ventures.…”

Vineyards and Wineries in Alba County, Romania towards Sustainable Business Development

“…Tourism has proven to be a successful alternative for many urban and rural areas from Alba County that have faced major economic challenges after 1990. Thus, mountain tourism has developed in areas such as The Apuseni National Park but also in Aries , eni and S , ureanu ski resorts; rural tourism is practiced on Aries , ului Valley and around Albac, particularly on Aiud Valley, in Rîmetea and Colt , es , ti heritage villages, two highly attractive sustainable destinations [50] (pp. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

Montenegro’s Road to Sustainable Tourism Growth and Innovation

“…There are a few studies that link innovation in tourism and sustainable tourism [60][61][62] and suggest a new way of thinking as a solution. Three possible synergies between tourism and other activities are observed-product, market, and marketing synergies [63].…”