Development Of Romania's Tourism Infrastructure example essay topic

Fascinating Romania At the eastern edge of Europe, Romania is perhaps best known for its Black Sea resorts, such as Ma maia and the Greco-Byzantine port of Constanta, and the Danube delta, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its rich wetlands and abundant bird-life. The Transylvanian Alps occupy much of the northern half of the country, the waters of their many spa resorts having been appreciated for their healing properties since Roman times. Romania offers a rich tapestry tourist attractions and vacation experiences unique in Central-Eastern Europe: medieval towns in Transylvania, the world-famous Painted Monasteries in Bucovina, traditional villages in Maramures, the magnificent architecture of Bucharest, the romantic Danube Delta, fairy-tale castles, the Black Sea resorts, the majestic Carpathian Mountains, spas and much more. Transylvania is also the legendary home of Bram Stoker's Dracula, based on an infamous medieval king 'Vlad the Impaler' whose spooky abode at Bran Castle may be visited.

The northern half of the country is bisected by the great Carpathian Mountains, most of which are covered by pristine mountain forests which shelter one of Europe's last strongholds for large carnivore populations. Romania is a country with rich biodiversity (ecosystems, species and genetic diversity) and a high percentage of natural ecosystems 47% of the land area of the country is covered with natural and semi-natural ecosystems. The natural integrity of forest ecosystems is indicated by the presence of the full range of European forest fauna, including 60% and 40% of all European brown bears and wolves, respectively. Europe's largest wetland, the Danube Delta, also lies predominantly in Romania. Major grasslands, caves, and an extensive network of rivers, add to the ecosystem richness. Important for Romania as well as for all Europe, is that the territory of Romania is a confluence point between bio geographic regions between arctic, alpine, west and central European, pannonia, balkan ic, sub Mediterranean and even eastern col chic.

The high level of geographic diversity in Romania and the consequence of its location as a biological confluence place have produced a floral diversity that includes over 3,700 species and fauna diversity estimated to be more than 33,800 species. Many of the wild plant and animal species from the country's territory are endemic or relict with evolution significance and other species like the brown bear, the lynx or the wolf which have disappeared or are hardly surviving in other European countries, in Romania they are in a very good state of conservation. The Carpathian Mountains are amongst the most pristine ecosystems left in Europe. Here, about 80% are covered with unspoiled mountain forests, which represent the largest contiguous forest ecosystem in Central and Eastern Europe. Economic Effects of Travel and Tourism Most of Romania's tourism facilities are run down and operated by incompetent management.

In the 1960's, Romania invested heavily in its tourism facilities, especially at the Black Sea, and was at that time successful in attracting international tourists mostly from Germany, Great Britain, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Austria and Belgium. During the eighties, quality of tourist accommodation was not maintained, with a resultant decline in the number of foreign tourists. During the past ten years, Romania has experienced: A 20% decline in the number of foreign tourists arriving, from 6.5 million to 5.2 million since 1990; A 14% drop in total number of beds in hotels and accommodation facilities, from 328,000 in 1990 to 283,000 in 1999; A drop in the accommodation occupancy rate from 57.8% to 34.5%; A reduction in the length of stays in accommodation by 61% for Romanian tourists and 53% for foreign tourists. The national and regional transportation infrastructure is inadequate and represents the main obstacle to the development of the tourism sector. Marketing needs to be upgraded, especially with American and European tour operators, and overall service quality needs to be competitive with other European resorts. Romania's receipts from international tourism estimated at $490 million.

The foreign exchange receipts of Romania from international tourism rose to $490 million in 2001. This is $71 million over the receipts of the previous year, according to the estimates made by the National Institute of Research - Development in Tourism (IN CDT), based on the performances of the first 10 months of the year. The number of people who visited Romania last year for exclusively tourism purposes was anticipated at 970,000. The direct receipts registered by hotels amounted to $325 million in 2001, compared with $271.3 million in the previous year. The commission related to contract - based tourism (through tourism agencies) was estimated at $20 million, against $17.4 million in 2000.

The foreign currency exchange related to international tourism amounts, according to the same estimates, to around $145 million, compared to $130 million in 2000. In 2000, the average amount cashed per tourist in the accommodation entities (commission included) was $333, while the average receipt / day /tourist was $196. Cultural Conflicts Conflicts exist at all levels, within and between individuals, communities, countries and cultures. Conflicts are natural. They are experienced by people of every background, culture, class, nationality, age, and gender every single day. What is important is not whether conflicts themselves are good or bad, but how we wish to deal with them.

National and ethnic tolerance is an aspiration of many Balkan nations. Historically, the region has been subject to intensely felt national and ethnic pride emanating from the numerous ethnic groups living in close proximity to each other, exaggerating their differences and claiming indigenous rights to the same areas of land. Romania has not escaped these tensions. With large Hungarian, German and Gypsy minorities, Romania has faced her own ethnic problems.

In Transylvania live about 1.6 million Hungarians, making up 8% of Romania's population. However, since the onset of the Kosovo conflict, Romania has frequently been referred to as a country that knows how to treat her ethnic minorities: a prime example for her Serb neighbors to follow. On a political and economic level Romania is attempting to alleviate ethnic rivalries. However, socially, ethnicity is becoming less important for the Hungarians and Romanians of Transylvania.

A new generation with a limited experience of Communism is taking a more liberal stance. As one ethnic Hungarian graduate, Janos Orban, put it: 'We are not interested in the nationalist debate, we are Transylvanians, we " ve always mixed cultures here. ' Some Critics argue that a 'Transylvanian identity' is developing. This may help to explain why there was no escalation of violent ethnic conflict in Transylvania. The notion assumes that all nationalities living in Transylvania - Romanians, Hungarians and Germans - have more in common than distinctive features in their present perception of their civilization and behavior. In other words, they form an in-group with other Transylvanians, regardless of their ethnic origin.

The collapse of Communism brought with it uncertainty and confusion. In Yugoslavia nationalism became the motivating force for unifying the nation. In Romania, motivation emanated from the desire to integrate with the Euro-Atlantic institutions, to create a stable and secure environment. This necessitated cooperation. Violent conflict has not escalated in Romania but ethnic differences do remain despite the idea of a developing Transylvanian identity. As long as distinctions are made between ethnic groups there is always a possibility that violence will erupt.

Sensitive Natural Areas and Ways to Minimize Damage One of the last remaining true wilderness areas in Europe is found amongst the peaks and ancient forests of the Carpathian Mountains in central Romania. For centuries the people here have farmed the mountain pastures and harvested the produce of the forest, existing in finely-balanced harmony with a rich variety of rare wildlife. This area of wild and undeveloped habitat is home to Europe's highest concentration of bears, wolves and lynx, but there is increasing economic pressure for change. Tourist activities here are designed to support a conservation initiative backed by the World Wildlife Fund.

The Carpathian Large Carnivore Project has established the eco-tourism programme 'Wolves and Bears in Transylvania' as a first step towards making the conservation of bears, wolves and lynx economically profitable for local people. This project passes the benefits of a developing tourism industry to the local population, giving them an incentive to preserve the wilderness areas and at the same time promoting sustainable economic activity to the benefit of the local community. Although rich in biological resources and important as a corridor for the movement of species, Romania resented the consequence of human activity. Pollution, river damming, hydro technical works, industrial agriculture, the overexploitation of natural resources, among other factors, have each had their particular role in decreasing the biodiversity.

Taking into account these particularly significant problems, Romania has an active governmental and non-governmental commitment to reverse the trends of biodiversity loss. A National Strategy and Action Plan for biological diversity conservation and sustainable use of its components, both of which integrate the principles and objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Strategy was adopted. A large number of areas (4.8% of the country's land area) have been designated as protected areas. Forests and landscapes in their natural state, with the wealth of biological diversity, are proof of the deep understanding by the people of these places of the importance of natural heritage protection of which their past, present and future is bound.

An important number of natural areas, among which there is the Danube Delta, are subject to a special regime of protection and conservation. Future of Travel and Tourism in the Region Few countries can offer the variety of attractions for tourists as Romania. From beach holidays at the Black Sea Coast to viewing rare birds at the Danube Delta to snow skiing or soaking in curative mineral waters in mountainous Transylvania, Romania's physical features offer a multitude of attractions for tourists. Add on centuries of accumulated history, preserved medieval villages, unique rural culture, and beautiful palaces and monasteries, it is clear why the current government has put developing tourism as one of its main objectives.

The development of the industry will present both opportunities and challenges. Since the end of communism, Romania's infrastructure, transportation and hotel accommodation have yet to fully evolve to meet western standards. For investors looking for an early market entry, Romania can be considered an excellent option, as development levels are comparable to Poland or the Czech Republic ten years ago. Since tourism is in its infancy in Romania, investors will need to undertake the challenges of growing the market by improving both the domestic conditions and its international image as a tourist destination. Large hotel chains like the Marriott, Hilton, Ibis and Holiday Inn, have invested heavily in Romania, a sign that potential for a return on investment exists. However, the Romanian tourism industry is characterized by a number of shortcomings, which in turn create opportunities for U.S. firms.

The development of Romania's tourism infrastructure is one of the highest priorities of the Ministry of Tourism. Major emphasis is being placed on the introduction of more efficient management systems, better pricing strategies and advertising methods. To accomplish the tourism reform, the Ministry of Tourism fosters the development of the transportation and communications sectors and of local infrastructure. It also promotes the technological progress, environmental protection activities, and the financial sector reorganization. The development and restructuring of these fields are prerequisites for the increased traffic of local and international tourists. Well known for a long time on international scale, the Romanian hospitality proved to be, over the years and quite often, not only a characteristic of the Romanian people but, using the touristic language, a promoting instrument of the national offer on the international market, too.

The idea of developing the tourism in Romania is based on this characteristic of the Romanians, and on the beauty of the Romanian village and landscape. Biography web rom. htm web Tourism. htm web.