Publications

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EU CITIZENS’ PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES

The present paper aims to determine the influence of EU member countries’ economic development on their citizens’ pro-environmental attitudes, using a Cluster Analysis, a Principal Components Analysis and a series of multiple regressions. In this sense, we have used the results of the 2012 survey on the „Attitudes of Europeans towards building the single market for green products”, as well as the 2012 statistical information referring to EU member countries’ economic development, provided by Eurostat. Using multiple regression analyses, we have outlined a significant influence of macroeconomic variables, such as: the employment rate, tertiary educational attainment, GDP per capita, human development index value, unemployment rate, share of gross value added in services and share of employment in services on European citizens’ pro-environmental attitudes.

Tourism market heterogeneity in Romanian urban destinations, the case of Brasov

This paper is set on the context of tourism marketing and it investigates the concept of segmentation as an important tool in the management of urban tourism destinations. Segmentation presumes the existence of heterogeneity among customers in the market, and has received considerable support within the tourism literature while urban tourism has been the object of intensive research for several years. Based on a quantitative research, the present study, aims to provide a deeper insight into the typology of tourists visiting Romanian urban tourism destinations, with a focus on the city of Brasov. The survey reveals that the studied sample can be grouped into different clusters according to their socio-demographic and travel characteristics. As the results demonstrate that each of the identified tourists segments has different profiles, the implications for destination management are discussed. Recommendations are also highlighted in order to assist destination managers to formulate marketing strategies adapted to the different market segments, aiming to better position Brasov as an urban destination on the competitive national and international market.

CRM (Customer Relationship Management) in SMEs in wood industry.

No abstract is provided for this article.

National Parks’ Web-Based Communication with Visitors. Evidence from Piatra Craiului National Park in Romania and Paklenica National Park in Croatia

No abstract is provided for this article.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EU CITIZENS’ PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES

The present paper aims to determine the influence of EU member countries’ economic development on their citizens’ pro-environmental attitudes, using a Cluster Analysis, a Principal Components Analysis and a series of multiple regressions. In this sense, we have used the results of the 2012 survey on the „Attitudes of Europeans towards building the single market for green products”, as well as the 2012 statistical information referring to EU member countries’ economic development, provided by Eurostat. Using multiple regression analyses, we have outlined a significant influence of macroeconomic variables, such as: the employment rate, tertiary educational attainment, GDP per capita, human development index value, unemployment rate, share of gross value added in services and share of employment in services on European citizens’ pro-environmental attitudes.

PERSPECTIVES ON TOUR GUIDING BEYOND THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. A ROMANIAN OVERVIEW

The COVID-19 outbreak has negatively affected all categories of tourism services operators and tour guides became especially vulnerable due to their small size, independent activity and difficulty in accessing governmental funding and support. Romanian tour guides make no exception and face increased vulnerability in the context of dramatic decline of international tourism. The present study aims to reveal the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic had on the activity of Romanian tour guides and to identify possible measures which may mitigate the effects of such crises on the activity of tour guides and support their revival. A qualitative research was conducted, using structured interviews among 15 tour guides from Romania. Results indicate a series of challenges faced by tour guides in Romania, as well as the outcome of the following period. These findings may be useful to tourism policy-makers and tourism organizations in order to develop effective measures which may support tour guiding activities during crises.

The Importance of the Protected Area for the Life of the Local Community—A Case Study of the Deliblato Sands Special Nature Reserve

The Deliblato Sands Special Nature Reserve encompasses five municipalities and several settlements. This significantly protected region has a strong relationship between its ecosystem and the people who live there. The local population benefits from various advantages provided by this reserve. The residents’ quality of life greatly depends on the reserve’s resources. When used responsibly, they can guarantee a sustainable system with assets that are renewable. Additionally, both locals and tourists benefit from the utilization of forest space for recreation. Above all, endangered plant and animal species are protected in the Deliblato Sands woodlands. Therefore, the role of the local population in protecting this reserve is crucial for the survival of these species. Visitors from both domestic and foreign countries visit this reserve each year in considerable numbers. The study included a quantitative methodology, in which data were collected using questionnaires. The study’s goal is to find out whether the nature reserve has an impact on residents’ lives, activities, and habits, i.e., whether characteristics have an impact on respondents’ contentment. This research aims to examine how the protected area (PA) affects the life of the local community. A total of 1450 residents were surveyed regarding the impact of the Deliblato Sands ecosystem on their habits and activities. Analysis of the data indicates that the inhabitants are significantly impacted by the PA. The strongest impacts are grouped into the ecological and socio-cultural dimensions, while the economic dimension is the one with the weakest impact. The study’s value is evident in the crucial information that was supplied for the creation of national and local planning documents pertaining to the development of rural areas and tourism. The active participation of communities must be the foundation of any planning for tourism growth.

Permaculture and Downshifting-Sources of Sustainable Tourism Development in Rural Areas

The purpose of this research is to find if the stakeholders involved in rural tourism (primary producers of ecological goods, tourism service providers, and tourists, as carriers of demand for tangible products and ecological services) are concerned with integrating principles and values of sustainable tourism through permaculture and downshifting, and how these two phenomena might become sources for sustainable development in rural areas. To achieve this purpose, qualitative research was conducted among tourism producers, intermediaries, and tourists from the Brașov region–one of the most important touristic areas of Romania and, also, an important region with rural tourism destinations. The results revealed that there is a particular preoccupation regarding permaculture and downshifting, and they might contribute to the local development of rural tourism areas. The novelty elements brought by this research are synthesized in a matrix where permaculture and downshifting were presented as important sources for the sustainable development of tourism in rural areas.

National Parks’ Web-Based Communication with Visitors. Evidence from Piatra Craiului National Park in Romania and Paklenica National Park in Croatia

How Do Visitors to Mountain Museums Think? A Cross-Country Perspective on the Sentiments Decoded from TripAdvisor Reviews

In the digital era, user-generated online reviews serve as a valuable resource for understanding visitor experiences in cultural institutions. This study analyses sentiments and thematic trends in TripAdvisor reviews of mountain museums, using Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic modelling and sentiment analysis. A dataset of 2157 reviews from ten museums was classified into local and non-local perspectives, revealing significant differences in visitor expectations. Findings indicate that local visitors prioritize historical authenticity and educational value, whereas non-local visitors emphasize aesthetic appeal, interactivity, and cultural immersion. Sentiment analysis highlights generally positive perceptions, with business travellers and groups of friends reporting the highest satisfaction levels. Comparative analysis across visitor types reveals distinct engagement patterns, with families valuing child-friendly exhibits, couples seeking cultural enrichment, and solo travellers focusing on intellectual depth. These insights inform strategic recommendations for museum management, including multilingual content, interactive elements, and guided tours dedicated to specific visitor profiles. Despite limitations related to lack of real-time feedback, this research demonstrates the potential of sentiment analysis in enhancing museum experiences. Future studies should integrate multimodal analysis and real-time tracking to further refine visitor experience evaluation.

Promotion of Intangible Heritage on Social Media

Abstract This paper explores the role of social media platforms in promoting and preserving intangible heritage, a key element of local, regional, and national identity. Platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok enhance the visibility and appreciation of traditions, customs, and artistic expressions while encouraging their transmission to future generations. Through engaging and interactive content, we can capture the attention of young audiences and stimulate interest in local traditions and practices. The paper distinguishes between “intangible heritage,” which includes a wide range of community practices and traditions, and “intangible cultural heritage,” which refers explicitly to UNESCO-recognized heritage of universal value. In the digital age, adapting heritage promotion strategies to social media is crucial for engaging younger audiences. Given the cultural significance of intangible heritage and its growing role in promoting tourism, examining how it is conveyed through social networks is essential. This paper presents an exploratory case study of the Museum of Canvases and Stories in Mândra, Romania, focusing on using platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to promote intangible heritage, highlighting key strategies such as increasing visibility through multimedia content, stimulating participation with online contests and workshops, and preserving practices in digital formats. The case study aims to (i) identify the intangible heritage elements highlighted on social media and (ii) analyze the methods used by the museum to promote these elements across its social media channels employing a quantitative and thematic content analysis. The conclusion emphasizes that effectively leveraging social media is essential for preserving and transmitting intangible heritage and offers recommendations for maximizing its outreach and impact.

Ecotourism development strategies in the Retezat National Park.

Sustainable development means “Think global but act local” (David Brower the founder of the nongovernmental organization Friends of the Earth 1969). Lasting tourism is considered in most of the cases a tourism manner, but all the touristy activities should be durable and bring economic and social benefices to local communities and to encourage the conservation with nature. On the international level, many destinations have chosen to promote ecotourism in order to improve the problems regarding the environment, and for to encouraging the area development. This kind of tourism encourages the responsible behavior of the tourists, local culture and appreciation for the traditional way of living, the conservation of some habitats and ecosystems and brings ways of sustainable development for local communities situated in natural areas with infrastructure problems. Ecotourism is the most recommended one in the protected areas, because the local resources can be advantageous used without causing the degradation of the area. The Retezat National Park is the first park founded in Romania and has a remarkable tourism potential, insufficiently exploited and many times deteriorated by applying an inadequate tourism to a protected area. Ecotourism can bring socio-economic development for the communities round the park, natural and cultural potential capitalization in the area and can be a catalyzing for a sustainable development of tourism and nature conservation. For the development of this kind of tourism the administration efforts of the park, authorities and local communities should be directed to sustainable forms of development and the adjustment of touristy infrastructure of ecotourism requirements.

Challenges and Opportunities Regarding the Sustainable Development of Dark Tourism in Romania

Dark tourism has received growing interest from both practitioners and scientists in the last decades. Romania has a rich tourism potential in this area. Therefore, this chapter aims to map the dark tourism destinations in the country and to analyze the role of...

Developing ecotourism destinations in Romania. A case study approach

Romania has an outstanding natural and cultural heritage which is not yet valorised to its full potential through ecotourism. In order to do so, the existence of green tourism businesses is not enough to assure authentic ecotourism experiences. Ecotourism principles and guidelines need to be applied and reinforced by all stakeholders: businesses, governmental authorities and NGOs, with the aim of developing ecotourism destinations. In this context, the present paper uses a case study approach to outline the challenges of developing these ecotourism destinations in Romania. Several initiatives and projects are outlined as well as their work in progress.

IS BRAN CASTLE THE PLACE TO MEET DRACULA? A QUALITATIVE STUDY ON VISITORS' OPINIONS REGARDING DRACULA TOURISM IN THE MEDIEVAL FORTRESS

No abstract is provided for this article.

ChatGPT TECHNOLOGY AS A STRATEGIC TOOL IN ECOTOURISM DESTINATION MARKETING: A ROMANIAN CASE STUDY

In the era of digital communication, the utilization of technology in tourism marketing strategies has gained paramount importance. As digital technologies continue to evolve, their impact on marketing strategies across various sectors has become increasingly significant. The practical potential of AI-generated content may be considered by destination marketing practitioners to create personalized, effective campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences, enhancing their connection with travelers. Therefore, this paper specifically examines how advanced artificial intelligence, such as OpenAI�s GPT-3, is shaping the future of destination marketing in the ecotourism industry. The main purpose of this study is to ascertain how Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) can utilize Chat GPT-3 to produce engaging and targeted content on Facebook, thereby increasing visitor engagement. The methodology involves a mixed approach, starting with the analysis of existing content on selected ecotourism Facebook pages, followed by the creation and evaluation of new GPT-3 generated posts. Data was gathered through secondary research and surveys administered to administrators from seven ecotourism destinations in Romania. The study aims to determine how AIgenerated content can influence user interaction and preferences, offering insights into the practical applications of Chat GPT-3 in destination marketing. This research is significant as it provides empirical data on the integration and impact of Chat GPT-3 technology in the promotion of ecotourism, offering actionable insights for DMOs to enhance their digital marketing strategies.

Ecotourism development in Romania - a possible contribution to the fulfilment of the real convergence criteria for Euro adoption

No abstract is provided for this article.

THE INFLUENCE OF EU MEMBER COUNTRIES’ ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ON THEIR CITIZENS’ PRO-ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES

The present paper aims to determine the influence of EU member countries’ economic development on their citizens’ pro-environmental attitudes using a path analysis. In this sense, we have used the results of the 2012 survey on the „Attitudes of Europeans towards building the single market for green products”, as well as the 2012 statistical information referring to EU member countries’ economic development, provided by Eurostat. The results indicated which macroeconomic variables exert a significant influence on each pro-environmental attitudinal component. Future studies may consider using less macroeconomic variables in order to identify their influence on different pro-environmental attitudinal components.

Visitor Management, a Tool for Sustainable Tourism Development in Protected Areas

The article analyzes visitor management techniques as a way to develop sustainable tourism in protected areas. Visitor management is an important tool in recreational and protected areas, as increasing use levels can negatively impact the quality of recreational experience as well as natural resources. To meet the requirements of both nature and visitors, a prudent and careful management is necessary. In order to manage protected areas within acceptable ecological and social carrying capacities, tourism planners need to monitor visitor numbers, leisure activities and behaviour and understand expectations and motivations.