DOI: 10.29302/Pangeea 18.04

ASPECTS REGARDING THE IMPACT OF TOURISM ON THE ENVIRONMENT IN PRAID BALNEARY RESORT

Prof. EMILIA SZILÁGYI, Secondary School Toaca, jud. Mureş, Prof.dr. JÓZSEF SZILÁGYI, Secondary School “Augustin Maior”, , Romania

ABSTRACT: Aspects regarding the impact of tourism on the environment in Praid balneary resort. Tourism, more than any other field of activity, is dependent on the natural and the anthropic environment, which is the object and the field of activity of tourism, being the framework support of its resources. The tourism potential being an integral part of the environment, its existence and development depend directly on its quality. The destructive actions of some tourist activities are mainly manifested by the inappropriate exploitation of the recreational environment, amplified by man's brutal intervention on natural resources and last but not at least on the landscape. These destructive practices are mainly encountered in areas with high tourist potential, or in the proximity of urban settlements. The intensification of tourist activities in increasingly varied forms, and the qualitative and quantitative mismatch between the tourism resources and their exploitation, lead to medium and long-term dysfunctions with repercussions both on the environment and on the tourist industry. Key words: tourist activity; pollution; sustainable development; environmental protection;

1. Introduction 2. The touristic potential of the studied area Tourism, as any human activity, being a consumer of space and tourism resources, Praid spa resort lies in the north of the participates implicitly in the degradation and Sovata-Praid depression, at the pollution of the environment and tourism morphological boundary between the potential, either through the direct pressure Transylvanian Basin and the eruptive of the tourists on the landscape, flora and mountain chain of the Eastern Carpathians, fauna or other tourist attractions that it can in an area of submontane depressions damage partly or totally, or by wrongly between the internal sub-Carpathian hills on capitalizing on some areas. the eastern side of the Transylvanian If tourism is well-planned, it can help Depression (Subcarpathians of , generate revenue for the local population and Mac, 1972 ) and the volcanic plateau of the may accelerate the development of the Gurghiu Mountains. region. Natural and cultural heritage attracts Current physiognomy and particular visitors and can become the engine of local aspects of the relief are dictated by evolution development, but more attention should be of the relief, but above all its, by geological paid to the physical and cultural impacts of structure and dominant rock types. tourism, including indirect losses occurring The configuration of the geological where overcrowding occurs. structure of the Praid area is an effect of the Aspects regarding the impact of tourism on the environment in Praid balneary resort 31 compartmentalization of the crystalline -6.7°C and July of 18-21°C. Annual average foundation of the Transylvanian Basin in the precipitation ranges is between 600-800 mm, area of contact with the Carpathian Orogene with precipitation days ranging from (the laramic and the savic phases), the 120-140 days/year. The largest rainfall is diapirism of the salt and of the Neogen recorded in June, with an average of 109 volcanism, which together with the other mm, and the smallest quantity is recorded in elements of the natural framework, gives an February, when the average is around 35 high but insufficiently capitalized tourist mm. The number of snow days is between potential. 30-40 days, and the snow cover lasts 70-90 The geological potential of the area is days a year. due to the presence of salt. The geological structure gives a high The Badenian-Wilecinian age salt hydrogeological potential to the studied area deposits at Praid is part of the continuous through the presence of high-concentration salifier layer on the eastern border of the chlorinated, sodium (250-300 g/l) mineral Transylvanian Depression, and presents waters, sometimes carbonated or thermal. itself as a cylindrical dome flanked by Underground waters, are detached from neogene and quaternary deposits of other resources through the constant use of sedimentary or volcanic origin, with the two centuries ago, due to the hydrochemical slight elliptical section - the 1.2 km NE variety, which have complex therapeutical NV-SE, the NE NE SV 1.4 km and the 2.7 effects and a large number of sources. km depth. The chlorinated-sodium mineral waters, Exploited since the Roman period, with a degree of mineralization of 300 g/l, nowadays, the abandoned operating appear in auxiliary springs, which chambers of the saline are used for accompany the areas of the breccia salt, in therapeutic purposes for the treatment of Corund valley. respiratory diseases. Chlorinated carbon-rich mineral The diapir dome, located in Salt Hill, on watters, with a mineralization of the left bank of the river Târnava Mică, is 1,831-3,539 g/l and with the amount of CO2 one of the penetration area of the dissolved between 1,010-1,452 g/l, are the Sovata-Praid-Corund anticline structure. result of the very low circulation of the Here, you can admire the "Gorges of Corund water, to which is added a mofetic origin River" and the "Salt Mountain" reserve, CO2. where on the surface the meteorological Thermomineral waters with a processes have developed a specific chlorosodic, bromo-iodic, boric, feruginic carsto-saline relief, materialized in small character have a total mineralization of 250 slopes, gutters and small valleys. g/l and a temperature of 42°C being used in Morphologically, the depression area is the external cure of some diseases. characterized by the presence of storeied Biogeographical resources present a great relief: the high volcanic plateau with diversity in the aspect of the association of altitudes above 1000 m, the low altitude the components, which gives to the area, volcanic plateau, between 700-900 m, the together with the other elements of the depression hill, 600-700 m and the complex environment, a great diversity of landscapes. fluviatil, 400-500 m. The touristic potential of vegetation is From a climatic point of view, the Praid conferred by: the composition of plant resort is characterized by a climate specific associations, the presence of endemic and to the sub-mountain depressions, with relict plants, the presence of plants with average annual temperatures between 8-9°C, teratological changes, the size and age of the average January temperature being of plants, the edge effect and the effect of the 32 Emilia Szilágyi, József Szilágyi island. Among the plants protected by law treatment base with 40 beds. Since 1980, the are Taxus bacata, Angelica archangelica, treatment and visitation base has been Fritillaria meleagris, Narcissus stellaris, arranged at 50 horizon, at a depth of 120 m Cypripedium calceolus. from the surface, where it still works. The The touristic value of the resort is treatment rooms are arranged resting places complemented by numerous attractions - the and playgrounds, wine gallery, bar, souvenir Áprily Lajos Memorial House, the ruins of shops, an ecumenical chapel, billiard tables, Rapsóné Fortress, the Tropical Butterflies all of which to diversify the activities of House, the Wellness Center, the Saltwater visitors and patients. Increasing the quality swimming pool (the largest in Europe) - and and diversity of tourism and treatment a series of events organized annually. facilities and services over the last decade The Praid Saline by specific has generated an increase in tourist flow, microclimate is the main touristic Praid besides spa tourism, becoming a destination of the resort. Saline destination for weekend tourism for residents microclimate, expressed by specific of nearby towns, Reghin, Tg. Mures, physicochemical characteristics such as air Odorheiu Secuiesc. Thus, if in 2007 the purity, humidity and constant air number of patients was 208.780 and the temperature, airflow velocity, CO2 number of visitors was 190.300 persons, in concentration in saline air, negative saline 2017 the number of patients increased to air ionization, ozone creates favorable 281,000 and the number of visitors to conditions for saline therapy (Table 1.) 360,000. The development of tourist

Table 1. Characteristics of the Praid Saline microclimate (Source S.N.S. Praid)

The tourism exploitation of the Praid activities in the resort is related both to the Saline began in 1960 in the old Gheorghe presence of tourist resources and to the Doja mine, where the director of the mine, existence of a material technical basis. Telegdy Károly and district doctor Dr. Veres The accommodation of tourists and Árpád tried to use saline therapy for the patients arriving at treatment is done in treatment of respiratory diseases. For the hotels, hostels, campsites and private houses. permanent exploitation of abandoned According to the data provided by the operating rooms, in 1974 was established a Ministry of Tourism in 2017, the Aspects regarding the impact of tourism on the environment in Praid balneary resort 33 accommodation capacity of the Praid resort 3. Environmental impact of tourist was 90 classified units, with a total of 1354 activity seats. In terms of comfort, of the total number The touristic potential of an area is of accommodation places in the classified conferred by the quality of the components of structures, 8 places are classified as 4 stars the natural and anthropic environment, and (0.59%), 784 are classified as 3 stars the degradation of some elements of the (57.91%) , 502 are classified as 2 tourisic fund has repercussions on touristic stars/flowers (37.08%), and 53 seats are activity, leading to the gradual decrease or classified as 1 star (3.92%). Regarding the disappearance of attraction and tourist flows. type of tourist accommodation structure, the The pressure exerted by the tourist activities category of tourist pensions dominates with on the environment leads to the overcoming 61 units. of thresholds by overloading its structure and The resort is served by 8 classified public implicitly to the occurrence of the risk catering establishments, including 6 phenomenon. restaurants classified as 2 or 3 stars and two The causes of the occurrence of the risk pizzerias, classified as 2 stars. phenomena can be grouped into three The qualitative and quantitative analysis distinct categories: natural causes, which are of the tourist fund and of the material base, part of the evolutionary matrix of the based on the ideal model of the tourist resort landscape components - changes of the comprising the categories and subcategories environment under the impact of natural and the tourist elements, allowed the hazards, anthropogenic causes, stored in the estimation of the tourist value of the resort abusive manifestation of human intervention using the formula proposed by Iordan et al. on the natural elements, the tourism fund or (1971, quoted by Cocean, 1999): the introduction of disturbing elements of the functionality of the tourism subsystems that lead to the overcoming of some thresholds T1...Tn - elements with touristic values; and implicitly to the degradation of the

Fig. 1. Estimation of tourist value of Praid Resort 34 Emilia Szilágyi, József Szilágyi tourist environment and endogenous causes, combustion of fuels in the thermal plants of more difficult to identify, being the result of the service units and the storage of the waste the erosion of the tourist system, of the in places or in inappropriate conditions that stagnation of its evolution, of the permanent can cause the olfactory pollution of air. imbalances between demand and offer Combustion gases from service stations (Cocean, 1999). and exhaust gases of vehicles have a The intensity, size and nature of the complex composition (carbon gas, CO, CO2 degradation of the environment depend on unburned hydrocarbons, solid particles, SOx the pressure exerted by the number of and NOx which, in the presence of water visitors and the degree of culture, the forms vapor, is converted into sulfuric acid in nitric of tourism practiced, the concentration of acid), which emanate in the atmosphere, properties on the spatial and dimensional disperse more or less depending on weather aspect, as well as the planning and conditions. management applied in the enrichment The concentration of pollutants in the process, development and capitalization of atmosphere presents diurnal, weekly and the area (Ciangă, Sorocovschi, 2017). seasonal variations. Daily and weekly Negative effects arise when tourism variations may be correlated with the planning, management and development are intensity of road traffic, while seasonal inadequate, and the lack of well-defined variations depend to a large extent on strategies and control over activities may occupancy and weather conditions. generate the chaotic development of tourism Of the meteorological conditions, it is of activities, the degradation of natural sites, particular importance the installation of tourism and commercial overexploitation atmospheric calm periods, due to the and the depreciation of the natural, social development of anticyclonic areas, which and cultural heritage (Szilágyi et.al, 2014). cause air stagnation, temperature inversions, which record the highest frequencies in the 3.1. The air pollution cold season of the year and in the morning, respectively the increase of humidity air, Praid Resort is located in a poorly which, in addition to increasing the level of industrialized area, air pollution reaches pollutant concentration, favors chemical high values during the tourist season, when reactions between different pollutants. the tourist traffic is at maximum. In the Sulfur and nitrogen oxide acids can tourist season, the main sources of air accelerate damage to monuments, buildings, pollution are exhaust gases emitted by the targets, and various materials. Marble, large number of cars (Table 2), the limestone, with a wide use in the studied Table 2. Composition of exhaust gases of motor vehicles (Zamfir, 1974) Aspects regarding the impact of tourism on the environment in Praid balneary resort 35 area, are attacked by acids formed by the and more acute. interaction of smoke resulting from Irrespective of the nature of source, incomplete burning of fuel and atmospheric water pollution has negative consequences humidity. for tourism, contributing to the degradation In the cold times of the year, when the of some of the tourism resources with the concentrations of pollutants and suspended widest use. This occurs through direct particles are higher, the degree of corrosion discharges of wastewater from mining, is more pronounced. agricultural and domestic activities. Recent studies have shown that exposure Tourism, together with other economic to vegetation at concentrations of 0.5-0.25 sectors, is a big consumer of water through ppm for SOx and NOx derivatives, which accommodation and public catering have been active for 3 months, have caused facilities, and a wastewater generator. necrotic lesions of the leaves and reduced In situations where hotel units do not fruit production, the effects being more have their own wastewater treatment plants, pronounced in the case of spontaneous they are discharged into the sewage and vegetation developed in wet environments wastewater treatment system of the locality, and on soils with a high salt concentration thus generating the risk of overcapacity of (Burn, 2016). the local wastewater treatment plants, and so The location of the Praid resort in a partially purified water to reach the Corund depression area constitutes an impediment to and Târnava Mică rivers. In these situations, the process of self-purification of the air. the greatest danger to aquatic flora and fauna Under conditions of anticyclone activity, is represented by water polluted with atmospheric calm or thermal inversion, the detergents, because the alkylbenzene dispersion of pollutants into the atmosphere sulfonate resists all microbial agents and the is blocked. biological treatment plants fail to purify. A particular aspect is the air pollution of Rainwater infiltrated into the soil transports treatment rooms, which through specific toxic substances resulting from the microclimate is the main tourist destination decomposition of waste contaminating of the resort. The continuous increase in the ground and groundwater. Thus, flow of tourists can affect the quality of the contaminated mineral waters lose their parameters that define the microclimate of therapeutic effect, becoming a danger to the the treatment rooms. human body. Exceeding the optimal intake capacity Unorganized tourism, the lack of can influence the amount of pathogens, camping sites, are water pollution factors by causing a reduction in air purity, increase the waste thrown by tourists into rivers and lakes CO2 content, temperature and relative air or left on river banks. humidity, all with repercussions on the therapeutic quality of saline air. Saline air 3.3. Destruction of flora and fauna pollution is also due to the overlapping of the truck-carrying truck line to the storage room Flora species have the role of protecting with access to the buses that transport the environmental quality parameters. Forests tourists into the saline. have the supremacy by reducing air pollution, mitigating the greenhouse effect, 3.2. Water polution having a recreational role. Natural vegetation, through the variety of species, Due to demographic growth, brings a greater variety of natural urbanization and the development of the landscapes, increasing the attractiveness of economy, water pollution has become more the area. 36 Emilia Szilágyi, József Szilágyi Tourist activity affects the integrity and 3.5. Sound pollution composition of the flora. Thus, in the process of construction of the access roads and the It is another form of environmental bases with tourist destination, the vegetation pollution, that is felt during tourist season of the areas under the planning will be periods and is caused by strong noises, that completely eliminated, which leads to the exceed the permissible limit for humans. The reduction of the spaces covered with natural hygienic rules, for external noise provide for vegetation, especially with forests. a maximum admissible limit of 65 dB, and Tourism activities can lead to the for indoor spaces 35-40 dB. The main source degradation of existing vegetation through of noise pollution is road traffic - cars, consumer attitudes, by collecting picnic motorcycles, trucks - and the loud music, firewood, direct parking on the grass, the that has as its source the restaurants and breaking of valuable species as souvenirs, the terraces. chaotic camping of the tents etc. Another form of impact consists of destruction of rare 3.6. Aesthetic pollution plants by tourists. Fauna is an element of the landscape, A tourist destination becomes attractive with a high sensitivity to the tourist impact. not only by the quality of the services Extending tourist facilities, intense tourist offered, but also through the aesthetic traffic, determines the reduction of natural ambience, which translates into habitats for many wild animals. Poaching, personalizing any tourist attractions through fishing and uncontrolled hunting may lead to architecture and landscaping. a dramatic decline in wildlife. The noisy Landscape degradation factors are found behavior of tourists, the free camping of tents in all pollutant factors that have destructive have a negative impact on the living actions on its component elements environment of many animal species, many (vegetation, fauna, hydrographic network), of which are very sensitive to any change to plus chaotic deforestation, uncontrolled their habitat. waste disposal, unconventional or inadequate construction. 3.4. Soil pollution In the arrangement and functionality of some tourist arrangements, it is necessary to Soil pollution with different pollutants consider the authentic original element in either from rainwater contaminated with terms of architecture. The overall picture pollutants, either directly from discharges of must be focused on elements of its own household waste, pesticides, chemical identity in constructive and architectural fertilizers, etc., has economic and terms. Their lack can lead to aesthetic socio-sanitary consequences as well as degradation. consequences for tourism through the degradation of phreatic waters and waters 3.7. Degradation of cultural-historical used in the spa and leisure tourism. objectives Soils are particularly affected by unorganized tourism by depositing scraps The degradation of the cultural-historical resulting from picnics, the expansion of objectives is due mainly to polluting recreational structures, sports grounds, ski substances that attack, degrades the most slopes, cable transport installations that durable materials, resulting the produce soil compaction, can trigger or disappearance of some historical, artistic or accelerate soil erosion processes. cultural resonance monuments. Buildings in highly polluted areas deteriorate, wipe or Aspects regarding the impact of tourism on the environment in Praid balneary resort 37 change their appearance with a dark color. elements; air pollution, noise pollution Tourists, through inadequate attitudes, can caused by motor vehicles or recreational directly contribute to the deterioration of vehicles (snowmobiles); waste and garbage cultural goods. pollution produced by tourists who leave behind them garbage; wastewater runoff 3.8. Agglomeration effects which pollute groundwater, rivers and lakes; aesthetic pollution, refers to the structure and The overcrowding of tourist areas is due architecture of some constructions which do to the seasonality of tourist activity, so the not fit into the landscape and the specificity largest flow of tourists is recorded between of the area. May and September, with the highest intensity in July, August and weekends. 4.2. Economic impact The high number of tourists generates an agglomeration that has repercussions both on The economic effects of tourism on the quality of tourism and on the resident receiving areas can be positive and negative. population by overloading communication The positive effects are reflected by: networks, insufficient accommodation, creating jobs in tourism especially for young imbalances in the relationship between people; revenue growth; stimulating service applicants and service providers, investment in tourism; increased demand for insufficient public services, insufficiency the products may facilitate the development of number of parking lots, increasing pollution, local production. The negative effects can be extending the day and working week. assessed by: international cuisine may cause unwanted changes in traditional local 4. Types of impacts and effects of cuisine; increasing the number of workers in tourism on the environment tourism to the detriment of other activities; setting up excess ski areas may harm the The effects of tourism development on landscape and the ecological balance (Bucin the environment and the local community, Pass); may be negative and positive, and can affect the quality of the environment for the short 4.3. Socio-cultural impact or long term. Impact occurs when tourism brings 4.1. Ecological impact changes in the system of values and behavior, threatening the local identity of The negative impact of tourism on the residents. These changes can occur both in environment, is manifested when the number the community structure and in family and of tourists is higher than the environmental lifestyle relationships. support capacity, that leads to the destruction Among the changes which can be of resources. generated by tourism activity, can be Among these negative effects can be mentioned: changes in population structure mentioned: diminishing local resources due - the creation of new jobs may reduce the to the seasonality of tourism; the depletion of emigration of the local population and attract natural resources by increasing consumption new workers from other areas, thus affecting in areas where resources are limited; the both the number of population and the destruction of some ecosystems and the population structure; changes in type of degradation of the natural landscape, occupations - increasing the number of through deforestation to extend the building people employed in services to the detriment perimeter, and other specific infrastructure of other branches of activity; changes in 38 Emilia Szilágyi, József Szilágyi social, moral and religious values - locals increasing the incomes of those working in feel disturbed by the behavior of tourists who tourism, increasing demand for agricultural do not respect the moral values of the place, products, the construction industry, transport but some locals can adopt social values from and craft production, but can not be tourists by altering the traditional values of neglected the negative effects of its the local population; changes in traditional uncontrolled development, especially on the life (music, art, folklore) - sometimes, the environment. host population can imitate the lifestyle of It is important for negative effects to be the tourists, thus underestimating traditional identified so that decision-makers find ways life. Craftsmen sometimes alter the design of to reduce and remove them, because the the offered products, articles to satisfy the tourism focuses on what is valuable, tastes of tourists. beautiful and unique. In order to reduce the negative effects on 5. Conclusions the environment,tourism development should be based on rigorous impact studies based on Although tourism has a number of economic, ecological and socio-cultural positive effects, such as increasing earnings sustainability indicators and appropriate that allow for the modernization of other techniques for maintaining the balance of the sectors, it contributes to creating new jobs, environment.

References

1. Albu, Ruxandra Gabriela (2005), Managementul dezvoltării turistice durabile la nivel regional, Editura Infomarket, Braşov. 2. Bran, Florina.; Simion, T.; Nistorescu, P, (2000), Ecoturism, Editura Economică, Bucureşti. 3. Ciangă, N.; Sorocovschi, V. (2017), The impact of tourism activities. A poit of wiew, în Rev. Riscuri şi Catastrofe, an XVI, vol.20, nr.1/2017, pp.25-40, Editura Casa Cărţii de Ştiinţă, Cluj-Napoca. 4. Burn, C., (2016), Air and watter pollution, p.201, Amsterdam. 5. Irimuş, I. A., (1998), Relieful pe domuri şi cute diapire în Depresiunea Transilvaniei, Editura Presa Universitară Clujeană, ISBN 973-9354-55-6, Cluj-Napoca, p.299. 6. Irimuş, I.A., (2007) Vulnerabilitate şi riscuri asociate proceselor geomorfologice în planningul teritorial, în Riscuri şi catastrofe, an. V, nr.3, 21-32. Editura Casa Cărţii de Ştiinţă, Cluj Napoca. 7. Irimuş, I. A.; Pop, O., (2008), Vulnerabilitatea teritoriului şi riscurile geomorfice în Judeţul Mureş, în Riscuri şi catastrofe, an VII, Editura Casa Cărţii de Ştiinţă, Cluj Napoca. 8. Irimuş, I.A.; SZILÁGYI, J., (2013), Considerations on the termal conditions in the Reghin Hills. Rev. Riscuri şi Catastrofe, an XII, vol.12, nr.1/2013, p.66-77, ISSN 1584-5273, Ed.Casa Cărţii de Ştiinţă, Cluj-Napoca. 9. Mac, I., (1972), Subcarpaţii Transilvaniei – Studiu geomorfologic, Editura Academiei R.S.R., Bucureşti. 10. Pastor, I. (2006), Managementul turismului rural, agroturismului şi ecoturismului, Editura Risoprint, Cluj Napoca. 11. PRICĂJAN, A. (1985), Substanţele minerale terapeutice din România, Editura Ştiinţifică, Bucureşti. Aspects regarding the impact of tourism on the environment in Praid balneary resort 39 12. Snak, O.; Baron, P.; Neacşu, N. (2003), Economia turismului, Editura Expert, Bucureşti. 13. Szilágyi, Emilia; Szilágyi, J., (2014), Strategii de amenajare turistică în Defileul Mureşului între Topliţa şi Deda, în GEIS, Vol. XVIII, pp.133-138, Editura CCD, Deva. 14. Szilágyi, J., (2010), Impactul turismului asupra mediului în staţiunea balneoclimaterică Sovata, în Geografia în contextul dezvoltării contemporane - strategii de dezvoltare teritorială, pp.277-289, Editura Presa Universiatră Clujeană, Cluj Napoca. 15. Şoneriu, I., Mac, I. (1973), Judeţul Mureş, Editura Academiei R.S.R, Bucureşti. 16. Zamfir, Gh. (1975), Poluarea mediului ambiant, Editura Junimea, Iaşi. 17. ***(2017) Anuarul Statistic al României (ASR).