1. Romania - General information Romania is situated in the southeastern part of Central Europe and shares borders with: Hungary to the northwest, Serbia

1. Romania - General information

Romania is situated in the southeastern part of Central Europe and shares borders with:

Hungary to the northwest,

Serbia to the southwest,

Bulgaria to the south,

the Black Sea to the southeast,

Ukraine to the east and to the north,

the Republic of Moldova to the east.

Physical features

Mountains: 31% of Romania's territory

Hills and orchards: 36%

Plains: 33%

Areas covered by rivers and lakes: 3.7%

Total number of lakes: 3,500

Lakes greater than 250 acres: 300

Highest mountain peak:

Moldoveanu Mt. — 8,349 ft. (2544 m)

2. Tourism in Romania

Tourism in Romania focuses on the

country's natural landscapes and its rich history.

The number of tourists is growing every year and

tourism is becoming an increasingly important

source for Romania's GDP with 7-9 million people

now visiting yearly.

1. Primary tourist enterprises - companies that exclusively or predominantly serve the tourist trade and tourism and are especially dependent on it.

- companies providing transportation services for tourists, accommodation service enterprises, travel agencies and tour operators , insurance and other facilities for tourists and tourist initiatives.

2. Secondary tourism enterprises and support industries - group of firms (industries) that do not depend exclusively on tourism, but serve the needs of the general public.

- service units that stimulates interest in traditional

enterprise support (service road, rail, air, sea), suppliers

of equipment and facilities of different kinds of hotels,

buildings for commerce, management consulting firms.

2.1 Types of tourist enterprises:

2.2 Statistics – Romanian National Institute of Statistics (2011)

1. Number of tourists

-14,7 %

2.2 Statistics – Romanian National Institute of Statistics (2011)

1. Number of touristic establishments

+ 382

+ 7,9%

Even if the number of tourists decreased with15%,

the number of tourism units is 382 higher (7.9%).

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2.3 Tourism – Training and Education

In Romania is possible to do training courses in tourism, but there are also university programs of bachelor and master.University Field of education - Business management

Bachelor study program - Commerce economy, tourism, services and quality management; Commerce economy, tourism and services ;

Field of education - Geography

Bachelor study program Tourism Geography ;

Field of education - Engineering and management

Bachelor study program - Engineering and management in tourism industry;


University

Field of education: Business management

Master program - Touristic and Hotel Management;

Business management in tourism


What’s the similarity between environment and education?

The environment and your education stay with you for life. No question about that.

Sean Connery

3. Sustainable Tourism Sustainable tourism is tourism attempting to make a low impact on

the environment and local culture, while helping to generate future

employment for local people.

3. Sustainable Tourism

According to WTO (World Turism Organisation), "sustainable

tourism development satisfy the needs present tourists and

host regions while protecting and increasing the chances and

opportunities for the future.


According to the World Turism Organisation, the

concept of sustainable tourism is considering three

important aspects:

Quality - sustainable tourism requires a valuable experience for

visitors, while improving quality of life of the host community, cultural

identity, poverty reduction and environmental protection;

Continuity - ensuring the best possible sustainable tourism, natural

resource continuity is based and host community culture

preservation, with satisfactory experience for visitors;


Balance - sustainable tourism industry provides a balance between

the needs of tourism, the environment and local community

supporters, with economic and social benefits, fair distribution to all

stakeholders.


3.1 The Aim of Sustainable Tourism

The aim of sustainable tourism is to ensure that development brings

a positive experience for local people, tourism companies and

the tourists themselves.

Sustainable tourism is not the same as ecotourism.

4. EcotourismEcotourism is a form of tourism in which the main motivation for the

tourist is the observation and appreciation of nature and local tradition

in natural areas.

4. Ecotourism

According to the definition and principles of ecotourism established by

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in 1990, ecotourism is

"Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment

and improves the well-being of local people“ (TIES, 1990, Martha

Honey).

4.1 Ecotourism – Main Features

Main features:

contributes to nature conservation and protection;

supports the well being of local people, stressing local

ownership, as well as business opportunities for local people

(especially in rural areas);

has an educational component that creates awareness about

nature conservation, both for tourists and local communities;

requires the lowest possible negative impact on the

environment and on the socio-cultural component.

4.2 AER - THE ASSOCIATION OF ECOTOURISM IN ROMANIA

The Association of Ecotourism in Romania : a partnership for nature conservation and tourism in Romania.

The innovative idea promoted by AER is to bring together the public and the private sector in a partnership for nature conservation and sustainable tourism development.

4.2.1 Mission

To promote the concept and development of ecotourism for the support of

nature conservation, local communities in natural areas, and for raising the

standard of ecotourism-related services - as well as promotion of the nature

as an essential element of the Romanian tourist destination image.

4.2 AER - THE ASSOCIATION OF ECOTOURISM IN ROMANIA

4.2.2 AER - Objectives

The creation and promotion of a well-defined image of Romania as

an Ecotourism Destination, at an international level.

The development of ecotourism services and infrastructure at the

level of the proposes Eco-Destinations in Romania.

Nature conservation and sustainable development in Romania.

5. Certification System

5.1 Certification and accreditation in the context of ecotourism

Certification in the context of tourism, ‘refers to a procedure that assesses, monitors, gives written assurance, and awards a marketable logo to a business, attraction, destination, tour, service, service provider, process, or management system that meets specific standards’;

Accreditation is ‘the process of qualifying, endorsing and “licensing” entities that perform certification of businesses, products, processes, or services. In other words, an accreditation programme certifies the certifiers’ (Honey and

Rome, 2001).

5.1 The European Ecotourism Labeling Standards (EETLS)

The EETLS shares all of the GSTC (The Global Sustainable Tourism Council ) criteria as all are highly applicable to ecotourism. Currently the EETLS is made up of 40 specific criteria divided into the four pillars of sustainable tourism according to the GSTC:

A. Demonstrate effective sustainability management.

B. Maximize social and economic benefits to the local community

and minimize negative impacts.

C. Maximize benefits to cultural heritage and minimize

negative impacts.

D. Maximize benefits to the environment and minimize

negative impacts.

5.2 Certification System In Romania

The Ecotourism Certification System developed by Association

of Ecotourism in Romania (AER) has adapted the international

experience to the Romanian context.

It is based on the :

- Nature and Ecotourism Accreditation Programme promoted by

the Australian Ecotourism Association (NEAP is the first

accreditation system in ecotourism);

- Nature's Best developed by the Swedish Ecotourism

Association (the first accreditation system in ecotourism in the

northern hemisphere).

5.2.1 Ecotourism Certification System- Applicants

The Ecotourism Certification System address to three different

categories of applicants:

ecotourism programmes / tours provided by tour-operators or

guides (i.e. eco-tours of maximum 15 participants);

small-scale accommodation structures in rural and natural areas

(eco-lodges and guesthouses of maximum 25 rooms);

eco-destinations (one or several communities within natural

areas).

5.2.2 Ecotourism Certification System - Benefits

Benefits:

helps clients to better identify those products that can offer

awesome nature and rural culture experiences,

raises the level of trust in the Romanian ecotourism product on

the international tourist market,

becomes a marketing tool for tour-operators and destinations,

enhances the quality of the ecotourism services,

5.2.2 Ecotourism Certification System - Benefits

Benefits:

contributes actively to nature conservation and leads to

sustainable local development,

supports local administrations of protected areas for development

of low impact tourism,

offers a platform for common activities between the business

sector and nature conservation entities.

5.2.3 EXAMPLES OF ECO-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS

Casa Alexandra Guesthouse- guesthouse and ecotourism activity programmes - Lunca Ilvei


Horse-riding and nature in the Carpathian Mountains-Horse-Riding Tours operated by Equus Sylvania


FELICIA GUESTHOUSE-traditional guesthouse in Sucevita, near the painted churches of Bucovina

5.2.3 EXAMPLES OF ECO-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS "COLOURS OF THE AUTUMN" - PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP-Phototour operated by Phototour.

5.3 Professional Associations in Romanian Tourism

Few examples:

- Romania Hotel Industry Federation (FIHR) is a national

employers' organization representing the professional and

business interests of the hospitality industry in Romania the

parliamentary media / legislative, governmental, media, ONG’s,

trade unions etc., as well as through European and world’s

affiliations.

5.3 Professional Associations in Romanian Tourism

Few examples:

- Employers Federation of Tourism (FPT) represents the interests

of tourism, economic and legal aspects of travel companies that they

run - regardless of ownership (public, private or mixed) from central

and local organs of state administration and justice in relations with

unions and other institutions in the country and abroad.

- National Association of Rural, Ecological and Cultural Turism

(ANTREC) aims at supporting the development of organized practice

or rural tourism, environmental and cultural as well as tourist product

for continuous improvement.

5.2.4 Benefits of ecological tourism

To be labeled green, operators must use alternative energy,

eco-bulbs in the tourist locations, use of ecological detergents

and promoting ecological Romanian traditional products.

Ecological Tourism with 9 percent VAT

To benefit from the normative act, authorized individuals, family

associations and companies must meet at least three of the

following criteria: to use alternative energy at a rate of at least

15% in business travel, use energy saving bulbs in a proportion of

50%, using organic detergents to selectively collect their waste,

traditional Romanian products to promote green exclusive use

means of transport in the programs organized for tourists.

6. Quality in tourism organization

Each organization in Romanian tourism should conduct an analysis

of quality for the activity they perform.

The quality analysis is the starting point in improving the

organization's strategic direction.

Purpose of analysis aims, at least the following aspects:

the level of quality services;

establishing the basic decisions to improve services and

tourism products offered;

knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the organization;

collection of ideas and planning concrete measures to increase

the quality of all activities.

6.1 Quality in Tourism Organization – Labeling

Eco- magazin has proposed the "Ghinda" ecological quality of the provision of tourist services:

1 ACORN – Are those structures that provide tourist services located in areas determined by measurement of environment as being without pollution and, most importantly, does not interact negatively with the environment, allocate at least 1% of revenues for the activities of planting trees and shrubs.

……

6.1 Quality in Tourism Organization – Labeling 5 ACORNS -Extra-urban tourist structures are those structures that display the

symbol of environmental excellence in tourism which more than half of its energy is

produced on green energy, "using organic detergents, have implemented programs

to reduce water consumption up to 10 l flow / min, educate tourists on organized

programs on environmental protection rules, collect their waste sorting (organic,

glass, paper, plastic), using energy saving light bulbs in 100% and use the

exclusive means of transport in programs organized for tourists and allocate at least

5% of revenues for the activities of planting trees and shrubs.

7. Promoting the tourism

In our country, the promotion takes place on three levels,

namely:

nationally by the Ministry of Tourism (MT) under which lies

also the National Authority of Tourism (ANT);

implementation of promotion strategy at the regional

associations is to promote regional(so-called information and

tourist promotion offices);

at the micro level, each economic agent from the hospitality

industry and individually setting their own policy to promote

tourism.

7.1 Promoting the tourism - Sites

www.skiresorts.ro - A professional portal dedicated exclusively

to mountain lovers, especially in winter, containing the most

complete database of more than 40 places where you can ski in

Romania and other countries.

www.infoturism.ro - Portal that contains the member travel

agency offers, more than 200, allowing the site to obtain online

reservations for destinations in Romania or abroad.

7.1 Promoting the tourism - Sites

www.romaniantourism.ro - Is a virtual travel grant, centered on

a database that includes offers of all types of tour operators

(travel agents, accommodation, transport, rent a car, etc.)

Dedicated exclusively Romanian tourism.

8. Jobs in the tourism industry Examples of jobs in the tourism industry found in Code of Occupations in Romania:

1225 Leaders in tourism, hospitality activities, nutrition activities and

leisure activities,

122501 Tourism manager activity,

122503 Tourism manager activity,

122926 Leader agency, tourism office ,

8. Jobs in the tourism industry

Examples of jobs in the tourism industry found in Code of Occupations in Romania: 1315 Leaders of small businesses in tourism, hospitality activities, nutrition activities and leisure activities,

131509 Director of travel agency, tour operator, retailer / subsidiary / branch,

131901 Leader of small enterprise owner (trustee) education, health, sports, information etc,

244204 Analyst in tourism,

2581 Researchers and research assistants in economics.

Thank you very much!

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Documents

1. Romania - General information Romania is situated in the southeastern part of Central Europe and shares borders with: Hungary to the northwest, Serbia