The Regional Development of the Romanian Rural Tourism Sector

Abstract

In the present paper we put forward a clear assessment of the Romanian rural tourism, from a regional perspective. Based on data for 2016, using principal component analysis for mixed data and cluster analysis, we outline an accurate image of the Romanian rural tourism at NUTS level 3, focusing on its main determinants and key regional poles of development. The novelty of the paper lays in developing one of the first composite indices measuring the rural tourism sector, in the Romanian scientific literature, which allows to rank the counties based on their performance and in providing a mapping of rural tourism, highlighting the counties with promising potential for developing activities in this sector. With high practical value, our empirical results may represent an important starting point in developing coherent policies meant at supporting and promoting rural tourism which can become an important generator of wealth and growth in the rural areas of Romania.Analysing the potential of rural tourism at county level in Romania in 2016, based on our composite index, the main poles of development are the counties of Suceava, Harghita, Brasov, Arges, Mures, Sibiu, and Cluj, with values of the index greater than 80 points. Referring to the NUTS level 2, the Center region is, by far, the leader in terms of potential for rural tourism; four out of the seven identified poles belong to this region, respectively Harghita, Brasov, Mures, and Sibiu. At the other end of the spectrum, there are counties like Botosani, Calarasi, Giurgiu, Ialomita, Olt, and Teleorman characterized by a very low potential for developing rural tourism activities. (Figure no. 5) 866 Amfiteatru Economic Figure no. 6: The empirical results of cluster analysis Contemporary Approaches and Challenges of Tourism Sustainability AE

Can We Talk about Smart Tourist Villages in Mărginimea Sibiului, Romania?

“…Davidescu et al also identified the main development pillars of rural tourism in Romania, based on a composite tourism development index. According to this index, Suceava, Harghita, Brasov, Arges , , Mures, Sibiu, and Cluj counties are at the top of the ranking [72].…”

Residents’ Perceptions of Tourism: A Decisive Variable in Stimulating Entrepreneurial Intentions and Activities in Tourism in the Mountainous Rural Area of the North-East Region of Romania

“…To determine the sample size, an analysis of the sample size from similar studies was performed, and it was established that the sample is representative of the study [55,[105][106][107].…”

“…The consulted literature shows that, currently, in Romania, rural tourism is still in an incipient stage of development [105], as it is not in line with the existing tourist demand on the domestic and global market. The contribution of entrepreneurship to the economic development of rural communities, although still modest [106], is seen as a viable solution for diversifying and revitalizing the economy of rural mountain areas [107].…”

Mountain Tourism in the Perception of Romanian Tourists: A Case Study of the Rodna Mountains National Park

“…On one hand, taking into consideration the differentiation elements of Romania as a destination, and on the other hand bearing in mind the very many challenges faced by rural communities in Romania, it becomes obvious that rural tourism is one of the most effective solutions for harmonizing environmental conservation requirements and norms, of increasing sustainability and of providing significant development solutions for vulnerable destinations [4]. Regarding the development of sustainable tourism, Cucculelli and Goffi [5] state in their paper that, although there is no exact definition in the literature, because each destination has its specific attributes, we know that this development of sustainable tourism is a long term objective and a dynamic, ever-changing concept.…”

“…If rural tourism is a wider concept, the agritourism is more rigid, respecting a series of regulations. According to the UNWTO [4,6], agritourism refers to staying in someone's house (boarding house, farm), consuming agricultural products from the locals, and participating in all the specific agricultural activities. A definition of agritourism is stated by Stănciulescu, Lupu, T , igu, Titan, & Stăncioiu [7]: "Agritourism represents a form of tourism, which is practiced in the rural environment, based on providing, under peasant household conditions, services such: accommodation, meal, entertainment and others.…”