Lucrări Ştiinţifice – vol. 55/2012, seria Agronomie

NEAMT COUNTY TOURIST AREA ZONING

Lucian TANASĂ1

e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

The tourist area organization refers to the split of the large territory in relatively homogenous areas from the perspective of the tourist potential and activities, by inventorying and analyzing all the components of the tourist potential: natural potential, anthropic potential, accommodation infrastructure and technical infrastructure. The assessment of the natural potential refers to the analyses of the natural environment, of the existing protected areas, and also of the therapy factors. The anthropic potential can be analyzed by identifying the historic monuments of national interest, the public museums and collections, arts and folk traditions, and also the shows and concerts institutions. The assessment of the accommodation infrastructure takes into account the analyses of the tourist units, the treatment and recreation structures, of the infrastructure necessary for organizing conferences, and also of the sky path and of the cable-transport installations, of the public transport and telecommunication infrastructure. In this study the author presents the tourist organization of the Neamt County by developing and up-dating the study carried out at national level by The Tourist Department during 2005 – 2007. The finality of the current study represents the drawing out of Neamt County’ maps, on communes, which to highlight their evaluation from a natural and anthropic perspective, and also by taking into account their accommodation and technical infrastructure. According to their inventory, there have been identified the tourist area of Neamt County (Ceahlău – , Piatra – Neamţ, Târgu – Neamţ, Cheile Bicazului – Hăşmaş), and also the new tourist sub-zones (Lacul Izvorul Muntelui, Valea Tarcăului, Valea Muntelui şi Roman).

Key words: tourist area, natural potential, anthropic potential, accommodation, infrastructure

The delimitation of the tourist areas and sub- areas proves to be a very benefic work instrument MATERIAL AND METHOD for creating a mid-time tourist development strategy for Neamţ County. The tourist zoning The base for this zoning process are the refers to the division of a large area into smaller methodology and the tourist development criteria areas relatively homogeneous from the point of used for evaluation in Romanian by the Ministry for Small and Medium Size Enterprises, Commerce, view of the tourist potential and of tourist Tourism and Liberal Professions (Romanian activities. This process is carried on by Abbreviation - MIMMCTPL) in 2007. inventorying and analyzing all the elements of the For the tourist zoning of Neamţ County, the tourist potential: natural potential, anthropic evaluation criteria have been adjusted and the potential, accommodation infrastructure and the information up dated at the level of 2011 (excepting technical infrastructure. the technical infrastructure for which the information In the specialty literature regarding the is not up-dated). For the evaluation and the ranking of the tourist zoning of Neamţ County, there are being administrative and territorial units (communes) it has mentioned only the well-known tourist areas been chosen the method of the analysis trees (Ceahlău – Bicaz, Târgu – Neamţ, Cheile according to criteria and sub-criteria, having as Bicazului – Hăşmaş, Piatra – Neamţ), without starting points the components of the county’s tourist being highlighted the tourist sub-zones generally attributes. The appreciation level has been assigned developed after 2000 and whose accommodation through a share from a total of 100 points as it follows: natural potential – 25 points, anthropic and technical infrastructure is currently being potential - 25 points, tourist specific infrastructure – developed (Izvorul Muntelui Lake, Valea 20 points, technical infrastructure– 30 points. Tarcăului, Valea Muntelui and Roman). The 25 points offered to the natural potential have also been distributed to the natural environment (position on relief levels – maximum 4 points, geomorphology - maximum 1 point, vegetation: maximum 1 point, fauna – maximum 1 point, hydrographic elements – maximum 1 point and

1 „Gh. Zane” Institute for Economic and Social Researches, Romanian Academy, Iasi Branch

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landscape – maximum 2 points), protected areas RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS (Natura 2000 SCI/SPA Network, Bird Life International Network and so on – maximum 5 points) The assessment of the natural potential and the natural and therapeutic factors – tourist For the analysis of the county’s natural resorts from the category I-IV – maximum 10 points potential, if we take into account the natural (4, 2008). The points for the anthropic potential were environment of the communes, then, the presence assigned as it follows: historic monuments of national of the two national parks – The National Park interest (archeology, architecture, public and Cheile Bicazului – Hăşmaş and Ceahlău National memorial monuments) – maximum 8 points, Park and Vânători-Neamţ Natural Park (2, 2007), contemporary architecture, museums and public of the 12 sites of communitarian interest (5, 2007) collections – maximum 9 points, folk art and customs and birds and fauna protected areas within Natura (festivals, markets, folk handcrafts and traditions) – maximum 4 points, and also shows and concerts 2000 Network (6, 2007) and BirdLife International institutions (folk groups, orchestras, and so on) – (8, 2011), and also numerous reservations and maximum 4 points. The up-dating of the information natural monuments of local interest (Tanasă L., regarding the anthropic potential of the county was 2010), to which there is added information made according to the Annex to the Ord. no. regarding the assessment of the therapy natural 2.361/2010 for the approval of the Annex no. 1 to factors existing in the county (2 tourist resorts of Ord. 2.314/2004 regarding the approval of the up- local interest – Durău and Bălţăteşti, ranked at the dated list of historic monuments, and of the list of rd disappeared historic monuments (3, 2010). It was 3 category, respectively 2 localities with also used The Museums Guide in digital format as recognized natural factors – Oglinzi and Neguleşti, conceived by Institutul de Memorie Culturală (The ranked at the 4th category ), we obtain Figure 1, Cultural Memory Institute) (7, 2011), up-dated with which offers us a relevant image on the natural the information found on the official sites of the local potential on communes within Neamţ County (fig. councils (internet). 1). In the assessment of the natural resources on To the specific tourist infrastructure was offered 20 points, being taken into account 5 communes, the minimum score is assigned to components: type of accommodation units – commune (3 points), and the maximum maximum 10 points, treatment structures – maximum one to Ceahlău commune (18 points). 2 points, sky path and on-cable transport installations – 2 points, recreation installations – 2 points, infrastructure for conference, meetings and exhibitions – 4 points. Concerning the accommodation infrastructure, there have been taken into account only those units certified by The National Authority for Tourism (the Romanian Abbreviation - ANT), the data being up-dated in 2011 by means of both the list of the classified tourist accommodation set up by The Ministry of Regional Development and Tourism (11, 2011), and the specialized sites (internet). Also, there have been considered only the treatment structures approved by The Health Ministry and the sky path and the on-cable transport installations homologated by ANT, respectively by The State Inspection for the Control of the Tanks, Figure 1 The evaluation of Neamţ County Under-Pressure Recipients and Lifting Installations natural potential (the Romanian Abbreviation - ISCIR). For the assessment of the technical Also, the communes that obtained more than infrastructure, there have been considered three 14 points out 25 worth being taken into account: components: access and transport infrastructure (maximum 16 points), town infrastructure – the supply Ceahlău, Bicaz, , Bălţăteşti, Bicaz-Chei, with common household public services (maximum 9 , Crăcăoani, Dămuc, Gârcina, points) and telecommunication infrastructure – , Tarcău and Taşca. For these communes the electronic communication services (maximum 5 main strong points are the special natural points). environment, the landscape and the existence of The primary data base was processed in Excel the protected areas. A good score, between 11 – files, and there has been drawn the county map on communes for simplifying the analyze of the results. 14 points, is obtained by the communes situated in The points accumulated by each commune were the mountain and sub-Carpathian areas, but on shared on different intervals, each of them being their territory do not exist either recognized drawn with a different intensity. protected areas (Alexandru cel Bun, Borca, Pângăraţi, Piatra Şoimului and ), or the hydrographic and the hunting potential are more reduced (Târgu-Neamţ, Brusturi, Răuceşti).

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An average score, between 7 – 10 points, is Agapia, Ceahlău, Roman, Târgu-Neamţ and obtained by the other communes located in the Tazlău). mountain area (Farcaşa, Grinţieş and Hangu), and The communes with a satisfying score, with also by the communes where sub-Carpathian relief a total amount of points between 10 – 14, are is preponderant (, Grumăzeşti, mainly situated in the Northern area (Borca, Ghindăoani, Bodeşti, Negreşti, , Piatra- Fărcaşa, Poiana Teiului, Pipirig, Brusturi, Neamţ, Borleşti, and Tazlău). In the same Grumăzeşti, Bălţăteşti) and in the Central area of segment are situated the communes/localities along the county (Crăcăoani, Negreşti, Gârcina, the meadow of Siret river (Doljeşti, Tămăşeni, Pângăraţi, Piatra Şoimului, Zăneşti, Mărgineni, Sagna, Roman, Gâdinţi, Horia, Ion Creangă, Bârgăoani, Dragomireşti, Tupilaţi) and only Secuieni and Icuşeşti). Surprising is the fact that in isolated in the Western area (Taşca) or the the same interval there are situated Războieni, Southern area (Români). All these communes are Boteşti, Văleni and communes, which, gifted with a developed anthropic potential. though they have a roughly hilly relief, thanks to A merely lower score is detained by the the presence of some natural monuments and communes in the 5-9 points interval, which can be protected areas of local interest, succeed in identified in the Central, Western, South-Western reaching the inferior limit of the interval (7/8 and only isolated in the Eastern area. The lowest points). The minimum score, the interval between score was assigned with 0 to 4 points to the 3 and 6 points, is gained by the communes situated communes situated mainly in the Eastern area in the Central area and the Western extremity of (, Icuşeşti) and isolated in the Central area the county. (Ghindăoani, Dumbrava Roşie, Săvineşti, Dochia) The assessment of the anthropic potential and the North-Eastern area ( and By overlapping the elements specific to the Păstrăveni). anthropic potential (historic monuments of national The assessment of the tourist interest, contemporary architecture, museums, infrastructure public collections, folk art and traditions, shows When evaluating the specific tourist and concerts institutions), it is obtained Figure 2 infrastructure of Neamţ County, there have been which offers a relevant imagine regarding the taken into account the scores obtained at the sub- anthropic potential on communes in Neamţ County chapters regarding the assessment of the (fig. 2). According to the assessment of the accommodation units, the treatment and recreation anthropic resources, the minimum score is structures, of the infrastructure necessary for assigned to , Horia, Ion Creangă, Oniceni, organizing conferences, and also of the sky path , Săvineşti, Stăniţa and and of the cable-transport installations. But communes (0 points), and the maximum number of analyzing Figure 3, it can be observed that the points were gained, as it was expected, by Piatra- maximum score is gained by Piatra-Neamţ Neamţ municipality (25 points). municipality (18 points), which has numerous tourist accommodation structures, endowed with the infrastructure necessary for organizing conferences, and also recreation installations, cable–transport and sky path. The minimum score was obtained by the communes located especially in the Eastern, North-Eastern and South-Eastern areas (fig. 3). A very high score is assigned to the communes neighboring Piatra-Neamţ municipality (Alexandru cel Bun – 13 points, Dumbrava Roşie – 9 points, Piatra Şoimului – 7 points), Târgu-Neamţ municipality (14 points) and the bordering Figure 2 The evaluation of Neamţ County communes with a high tourist potential (Agapia – anthropic potential 11 points, Răuceşti, Bălţăteşti – 14 points, Vânători-Neamţ – 7 points), Roman municipality A very high score for a rural area, is (12 points), and also the West and South-East areas obtained by Vânători-Neamţ commune (22 points), (Ceahlău – 16 points, Hangu – 13 points, Bicaz – and also by the communes categorized in the 15 – 14 points, Tarcău – 13 points). Though isolated, 19 points interval, whose anthropic patrimony is the same score is obtained by Tupilaţi commune (7 recognized at national level (Alexandru cel Bun, points).

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(19 points) and Alexandru cel Bun and (17 points). Therewith, the communes crossed by important roads gained a satisfactory score (12-16 points): Ceahlău, Bicazu Ardelean, Dumbrava Roşie, Roznov, Zăneşti, Podoleni, Răuceşti, Timişeşti, Tupilaţi, Boteşti, Gherăeşti, Cordun, Dulceşti, Făurei, Trifeşti, Horia and Secuieni. The exception is the commune Oniceni, which, although is not crossed by any important road, comes under the same interval of points. The communes located in the North, North- East, North-West and in the centre of the county, Figure 3 The evaluation of the tourist infrastructure potential in Neamţ County are characterized by lower scores, between 6 and 11 points, and less the ones in the South, South- By analyzing the same figure, one can East and East. observe that the average score (the interval 3-5 The lowest score (0 – 5 points) has been points) is obtained, with little variation, by the gained by the communes with poor roads, communes located both in the mountain and sub- urbanistic and communication net, located mostly Carpathian areas of the county and the communes in the center (Crăcăoani, Grumăzeşti, Ţibucani, around Roman municipality (Horia, Secuieni, Războieni, Dragomireşti, Ştefan cel Mare, Piatra Cordun, Dulceşti, Gherăeşti), it being crossed by Şoimului, Borleşti) and eastern area (Tămăşeni, two important roads: E85 and DN15D. Doljeşti, Bîra, Stăniţa, Ion Creangă, Icuşeşti, Valea The rest of the communes, mainly situated Ursului), and isolated in the South (Rediu, in the Eastern, North-Eastern, Central-Eastern and Cândeşti), North - West (Fărcaşa) and South- West South-Eastern areas, are defective from the point (Dămuc). of view of the tourist infrastructure, reason why they are situated in the interval 0 – 3 points. The assessment of the technical infrastructure In the evaluation of the technical infrastructure, which includes the public transport, the town infrastructure (water and gas supply and sanitation) and the telecommunication infrastructure, the used information are the ones up-dated till 2007. Hence, the investments made between 2007-2010 have not been taken into consideration, especially the modernization of the communal roads, through the European funds Figure 4 The evaluation of the technical SAPARD, respectively FEADR. Therewith in the infrastructure of Neamţ County communes Drăgăneşti, Ghindăoani, Negreşti, Văleni, Ruginoasa, Dochia, Boghicea, Gâdinţi and General tourist assessment Pânceşti there is a lack of data basis. In order to create the Figure 5, that The technical infrastructure is assessed in 0 corresponds to the general tourist assessment of the – 24 points interval. By analyzing Figure 4, one Neamţ County, there were summarized all the can observe that the technical infrastructure is information, which were the basis of the evaluation developed mainly in the municipalities/ towns of of the tourist resources (anthropic and natural the county, as well as in the neighboring potential) and of the infrastructure (tourist and communes (fig. 4). Expectedly Roman technical). Finally, it has been drawn up the tourist municipality has the best score (24 points), the map of the county, marking the limits of the town being crossed by the most important road- communes, and which include all the components E85, that traverses the entire North-East of a general tourist evaluation (fig. 5). Development Area, and which is about 10 km far The final score is between 5 and 72 points, from the cross of two European Roads. Very high the highest score being assigned to Piatra-Neamţ scores have obtained not only the commune municipality, and the lowest to Boghicea Săbăoani (20 points), but also Piatra-Neamţ, commune. The score gained by Piatra-Neamţ Târgu-Neamţ, Bicaz, Pângăraţi, Săvineşti, Taşca municipality is fully legitimate, because it is

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situated at the top of the hierarchy, not only The next two positions, Vânători-Neamţ regarding the tourist resource (37 points – second (fifth place) and Târgu-Neamţ (sixth place) have position), but also regarding the tourist both gained the same score of 47 points. This is infrastructure (37 points – first position). due to both the special natural potential of The second place in the tourist evaluation is Vânători-Neamţ Natural Park, and the anthropic offered to Ceahlău commune with 62 points, being potential in the area (the group of monasteries and situated on the third place from the perspective of hermitages) which positively influence the tourist the tourist resources (33 points), respectively the infrastructure (especially the accommodation one). fourth place at the level of tourist infrastructure (29 In the interval 33 – 46 points there are points). The best score gained by Ceahlău situated the communes/localities with high tourist commune is thanks to Durău Resort with an potential, but not entirely used at its real value. accommodation infrastructure which worth being They are situated mainly in the mountain area envied, and also to the special natural potential of (Taşca – 44 points, Pângăraţi – 43 points, Agapia – Ceahlău National Park. 42 points, Tupilaţi – 40 points, Bicaz – 38 points, The third place, in the interval from 47 to 60 Gârcina – 37 points, Bicazu Ardelean – 36 points, points, is obtained by Roman municipality with a Bălţăteşti – 36 points, Pipirig – 36 points, Răuceşti total amount of 59 points. Though the town is not – 34 points, Bicaz – Chei – 33 points, Borca – 33 very well situated from the point of view of the points). The exception is represented by Tupilaţi tourist resources (23 points), at the level of the commune (40 points) and Săbăoani commune (33 tourist infrastructure it occupies the second place points), which are crossed by the European road with 36 points. This is mainly due to the technical E85, and also Zăneşti commune (33 points), infrastructure in the area, the town being crossed crossed by DN15. by the most important road of the North-East A merely lower general score, situated Development Region which is E85, Roman being between 19 – 32 points, is obtained either by the located at approximately 10 km from the cross of communes that have a poor tourist infrastructure two European roads (E85 and E58). (it is the case of the mountain localities – Fărcaşa, In the same interval it is also situated Poiana Teiului, Grinţieş, Hangu, Crăcăoani, Alexandru cel Bun commune which occupies the Dămuc), or by communes that own limited tourist fourth place in the general hierarchy, with a total resources (it is the case of the localities situated on amount of 56 points, from which 26 points are hill and field areas, in the Central and Central-East gained thanks to the level of tourist resources and zone of the county). 30 points from the infrastructure level.

Figure 5 The general tourist evaluation of Neamţ County

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The lowest score, between 5 and 19 points, This new tourist zoning may represent a is assigned to the communes with deficit both at useful element in setting up new mid-term tourist the tourist resources level and the tourist development strategies for the area. infrastructure level. These localities are located mainly in East (Doljeşti, Boghicea, Stăniţa, REFERENCES Pânceşti, Gâdinţi, Poienari, Bozieni, Ion Creangă, Tanasă, Lucian, 2010 – Promovarea cicloturismului Icuşeşti, Valea Ursului, Oniceni, Văleni, rural în ariile protejate din judeţul Neamţ. Studiu Ruginoasa), North-East (Drăgăneşti, Urecheni, de caz: Velotransmontana, în vol. XX, Turismul Păstrăveni, Ţibucani) and only isolated in the rural românesc în contextul dezvoltării durabile. centre (Negreşti, Ghindăoani) and South (Rediu, Actualitate şi perspectivă, ICES „Gh. Zane‖, Cândeşti). Editura Tehnopress, Iaşi ***, 2007 - Ghidul ariilor naturale protejate, Ministerul Transporturilor, Construcţiilor şi Turismului şi CONCLUSIONS Autoritatea Naţională pentru Turism, Bucureşti ***, 2010 - Anexa Ordinului Ministrului nr. 2.361/2010 According to the presented analysis pentru aprobarea Anexei nr. 1 la Ord. 2.314/2004 privind aprobarea listei monumentelor istorice, regarding the general tourist evaluation of its actualizată şi a listei monumentelor istorice territory, Neamţ County can be divided in several dispărute zones and sub-zones. The well-known tourist ***, 2008 - Hotărârea Guvernului nr. 852/2008 privind zones, mature from the perspective of tourist aprobarea normelor si criteriilor de atestare a infrastructure are: Ceahlău – Bicaz, Târgu–Neamţ, staţiunilor turistice ***, 2007 - Ordinul Ministrului nr. 1964/2007 privind Cheile Bicazului – Hăşmaş and Piatra–Neamţ, and instituirea regimului de arie naturală protejată a the sub-zones, mainly created after 2000 and which siturilor de importanţă comunitară, ca parte are now being developed are: Izvorul Muntelui integrantă a reţelei ecologice europene Natura Lake, Valea Tarcăului, Valea Muntelui and 2000 în România ***, 2007 - Hotărârea Guvernului nr. 1284/2007 privind Roman. The tourist zones are generally situated declararea ariilor de protecţie specială around the national parks Ceahlău and Cheile avifaunistică ca parte integrantă a reţelei Bicazului – Hăşmaş and Vânători-Neamţ Natural ecologice europene Natura 2000 în România Park, but also in Piatra-Neamţ municipality, them http://ghidulmuzeelor.cimec.ro/seljud.asp, access date: being appreciated both at national and international March 2011 http://iba.sor.ro/moldova.htm, access date: March 2011 level. In most of the cases, the sub-zones are http://www.inmi.ro/lmi/erata2005/NT.pdf, access date: complementary to the above mentioned zones, March 2011 being mainly appreciated at the local level, but also http://www.inmi.ro/lmi/neamt.pdf, access date: March at regional level, attracting numerous tourists from 2011 http://www.mdrt.ro/turism/unitati-clasificate, access date: the main towns in the North-East Development March 2011 Region (Iaşi and Bacău).

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