WSEAS International Conference on CULTURAL HERITAGE AND TOURISM (CUHT'08), Heraklion, Crete Island, Greece, July 22-24, 2008 Risk Management Practical Aspects For Protection of Romanian UNESCO Sites GAVRILETEA MARIUS DAN, DUMBRAVA PARTENIE Faculty of Business University Babes Bolyai Horea 7, Cluj Napoca ROMANIA Abstract: - An actual problem of each generation is to conserve its history, its artifacts, the culture and national identity. In this paper we will debate the influence of the external risks to the heritage sites in Romania. As a UNESCO member Romania include some of the most important national heritage sites in the UNESCO patrimony. We will present the type of these sites and will analyze the risk management process for assuring a good conservation of them. The most important risks that may affect them are the catastrophic ones. The core of the paper presents the situation of these risks in the world and the existing situation in Romania. Our study refers to the risk control process for Romanian UNESCO sites and the active measures taken in the insurance industry as a financing of the loss occurrence process. The insurance analysis is split in the covering availability and the determining of the sum insured. In conclusion we appreciate that is better to prevent the heritage sites instead of restore, because in the future all the important things that will remain are these types of values. Key-Words: - Romania, UNESCO, Risk, Control, Financing, Insurance 1 Introduction Heritage. There are 185 countries who have signed An actual problem of each generation is to conserve the World Heritage Convention until now. Romania its history, its artifacts, the culture and national joined UNESCO on July 27, 1956 and accepted the identity. Numerous measures are taken in order to Convention on May, 16, 1990. [17] achieve these desiderates, and in order to protect historical sites and not only was created UNESCO. In short, UNESCO promotes international co- 2 Problem Formulation operation among its 193 (as of October 2007) Nowadays there are in Romania 6 UNESCO World Member States and six Associate Members in the Heritage cultural properties and a natural one. fields of education, science, culture and The Cultural properties are: communication.[16].UNESCO is working to create Churches of Moldavia (1993) The exterior walls of the conditions for genuine dialogue based upon monasteries were painted in 15th and 16th century in respect for shared values and the dignity of each a Byzantine style. This complex include: Voronet civilization and culture. This role is critical, (Saint George's Church of the former Voronet particularly in the face of terrorism, which Monastery), Moldovita (The Church of the constitutes an attack against humanity. The world Annunciation of Moldovita Monastery), Arbore urgently requires global visions of sustainable ( "The Decollation of Saint John the Baptist" development based upon observance of human Church), Patrauti (Sacred Cross' Church), Suceava rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty, (Saint George's Church), Probota (Saint Nicolas' all of which lie at the heart of UNESCO’s mission Church of Probota Monastery) and Humor (The and activities. Assumption of the Virgin and of Saint George" The UNESCO World Heritage programs intend to Church of the old Humor Monastery). preserve outstanding cultural and natural sites all Horezu monastery (1993) was founded in 1690 by over the world. On 16 November 1972, the General Prince Constantine Brancovan. Conference of UNESCO adopted an international Transilvania village with fortified churches convention called the Convention concerning the (1999) The buildings dateaza from 13th to 16th Protection of the World Cultural and Natural century. The sites include: Câlnic's fortified Church, ISBN: 978-960-6766-89-3 49 ISSN 1790-2769 WSEAS International Conference on CULTURAL HERITAGE AND TOURISM (CUHT'08), Heraklion, Crete Island, Greece, July 22-24, 2008 Viscri's fortified Church, Prejmer's fortified Church, Strenghts Dârjiu's fortified Church, The site of Biertan with • Very good conservation site the fortified church and a part of the town, Valea • Danube Delta is Europe’s unique natural Viilor's fortified Church, Saschiz's fortified Church reservation and it has a big touristy potential Historic center of Sighisoara (1999) founded in Exceptional natural beauty area, contains a lot of 12th century by Transylvanian Saxons, extended in threaten species of animals and plants. 15th century is a very well preserved medieval town. • Outstanding universal value of the sites (Unique Dacian fortresses of the Orastie mountains (1999) painted exterior walls churches in Europe- Moldavia Built between 1st centuries B.C and A.D. by Dacian, churches, churches build without using any iron were the nucleus of the Dacian Kingdom and were nails - The Maramures wooden churches, a very used for protection against Roman conquest. The well preserved medieval town - Historic center of whole ensemble include: Sarmizegetusa Regia - the Sighisoara, etc) capital of the Dacian kingdom, The Dacian citadel of • Picturesque landscape all over the UNESCO Costesti-Blidaru,The Dacian citadel of Costesti- Heritage sites. Cetatuie, The Dacian citadel of Luncani-Piatra • New investments in international- standard Rosie, The Dacian citadel of Capâlna,The Dacian accommodation citadel of Banita The Maramures wooden churches: (1999) Built Weaknesses: between the 17th and 18th centuries the whole • Wrong visitor management (205000 visitors for complex include: The church of Surdesti is consider 2004- Moldavia churches, indices of net using the the highest wooden building from Europe Barsana capacity in function for Danube Delta –very low (The Presentation of the Virgin to the Temple" 28,4% for 2005) Church), Desesti ("Pious Parascheva" Church), • Low quality of infrastructure all over the country Budesti (Saint Nicholas' Church), Plopis ("The Holy (roads need to be modernized Archangels" Church), Surdesti ("The Holy • An adequate number of signs referring to World Archangels" Church), Poienile Izei ( "Pious Heritage site Parascheva" Church), Rogoz ( "The Holy • Low comfort level of tourist facilities Archangels" Church ), Ieud-Deal ( "The Nativity of (accommodation need to be modernized) the Mother of God" Church). • Insufficient promotion for tourist sites: lack of The Natural one(1999) Danube Delta : (1991) tourist centers, promoting materials, traveler’s Biosphere Reservation of Danube Delta with over guide, maps, insufficient international and national 100 fish species over 300 birds species, and 1200 publicity of the importance of this sites, there are no species of trees and plants is the largest and best sufficient stores with traditional assets for tourists preserved delta from Europe. Delta has a surface of • There is no infrastructure for additional activities 2540 km2 which is increasing every year with 40 m. for tourists: walking (no marked foot path in the As it is already known the risk management mountains), there are no utilities for practicing program enhance two important steps: risk control summer or winter sports and risk financing. Unfortunately in case of • Lack of events which promote the customs and UNESCO sites the financing process is not a desired traditions of Romanian people plan, because once a site is destroyed or strongly • Insufficient measures for nature conservation affected by a peril, the reconstruction become almost impossible. Most important are the measures Opportunities taken in the control field, because is better to take • European Union develops commune strategies for prevention measures. protection and durable development of Danube basin and cultural UNESCO World Heritage • Various exhibitions both at the site and 3 Problem Solution international ones concerning Romanian World The Romanian specialists in this field are Heritage encouraging the SWOT analyze as a practical • International conferences to present the potential method.[22]. of the zone Before we analyze the existing situation of the risk • Access to new investment sources (structural related to Romanian patrimony, we must do a funds) research to realize a SWOT matrix that will show us • International assistance provides by The World in the threats field the real exposure. Heritage Committee which allocates funds for Preparatory assistance, Training assistance, ISBN: 978-960-6766-89-3 50 ISSN 1790-2769 WSEAS International Conference on CULTURAL HERITAGE AND TOURISM (CUHT'08), Heraklion, Crete Island, Greece, July 22-24, 2008 Technical cooperation, Emergency assistance, According to World Travel & Tourism Council, for Promotional and educational assistance 2007, from a total of 176 countries, Romania Travel • Globalisation & Tourism economy was ranked number [17]: • Capital investments to modernize aerian • 58 in absolute size worldwide infrastructure • 149 in relative contribution to national economies Threats • 6 in long-term (10-year) growth • Migration of workers with high level of The contribution of the Travel & Tourism economy qualification to countries with motivated rewards to employment is expected to rise from 600,000 jobs • Wrong strategy of Romania branding for in 2008, 6.9% of total employment or 1 in every international toursits 14.5 jobs to 705,000 jobs, 8.4% of total employment • Danube pollution or 1 in every 11.9 jobs by 2018.[18] • Natural disasters (floods) In the last few years Romania tried without success • Earth’s climate changing to promote a Romanian country brand.