Scientific Papers Series Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 19, Issue 1, 2019 PRINT ISSN 2284-7995, E-ISSN 2285-3952 DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE DEMAND AND OFFER ON THE SEASIDE TOURISM OF ROMANIA Agatha POPESCU1, Daniela PLESOIANU2 1University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest, 59 Marasti Boulevard, District 1, 011464, Bucharest Romania, Phone: +40213182564, Fax: +40213182888, Email: [email protected] 2"Ovidius" University, 1, University Avenue, Campus, Building B, Constanta, Romania, Email: [email protected] Corresponding author: [email protected] Abstract The paper aimed to analyze the demand/offer ratio in the seaside tourism of Romania in the period 2007-2017 based on the official data provided by the National Institute of Statistics. The main indicators taken into account have been: number of units with function for tourist accommodation, number of places (beds), number of beds-days, number of tourist arrivals and overnight stays. The index method, structure index, correlation coefficient and regression analysis allowed to analyze the dynamics of these indicators and the relationships existing among them. The results pointed out an increase by 31.8 % of the arrivals, by 6.4 % of the overnight stays, but also a decrease by 16.7 % of the accommodation units and by 31.7 % of the number of beds. This unbalanced demand/offer ratio was confirmed by the weak correlation and regression analysis as well. The seaside tourism represents 9.8 % in the total accommodation tourism structures, 23.4% in the total number of places and 10.5 % in the total beds-days in Romania's tourism. About 77.7 % of tourism accommodation units and number of beds is represented by hotels, bungalows and tourist villas in Romania's tourism. For balancing the demand/offer ratio in the seaside area, the tourism strategy should be focused on investments in new accommodation units, creating jobs, increasing labour productivity, service quality, the comfort degree, diversifying the leisure and entertainment activities, managing the beaches, means of conveyance, parking places and access roads, and green spaces. In this way, the development of the tourism infrastructure and service quality could become important factors for increasing tourist arrivals and receipts on the Romanian seaside. Key words: seaside tourism, demand, offer, discrepancies, Romania INTRODUCTION large variety of cure and treatment natural factors (thermal and mineralized waters, Tourism is an important activity for any sludge etc) and to its anthropic resources country which could generate a competitive represented by historical monuments, advantage by valorizing its natural and medieval castles and fortresses, religious anthropic resources in proper landmarks and architecture, archeological sites, museums, art products. Tourism has a deep economic, galleries, memorial houses, villages with their cultural, social and environment impact as folklore traditions and customs and people of proved by the changes which have appeared high hospitality etc. during the last decades due to the "boom" of Tourism could be practiced in various forms the international tourism [16]. such as: seaside tourism, mountain tourism, Romania is recognized as a country with a cultural tourism, spa and health tourism, high tourism potential grace to its natural religious and pilgrimage tourism, fishing and resources such as the large variety of hunting tourism, rural tourism, business marvelous landscapes generated by the divers tourism, shopping tourism, tourism for taking relief (mountains, hills, plateaus, plains, part to various cultural, scientific and sport valleys arranged like an amphitheater), a events etc [10]. favorable continental temperate climate with Among the most attractive geographical items Mediterranean influences, a huge flora and there are the Carpathians Mountains, the fauna diversity, a hydrographic network, a Danube river ending into the Danube Delta 409 Scientific Papers Series Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 19, Issue 1, 2019 PRINT ISSN 2284-7995, E-ISSN 2285-3952 and the charming seaside full of sunny beaches and restaurants in the top months on beaches and warm waters of the Black Sea in the seaside. For this reason, the question the summer season [9]. which arises is: "Is the tourism offer in the The beginning of tourism on the Romanian resorts of the Romanian seaside in terms of seaside dates back in the 19th century, under accommodation capacity able to cover the the reign of his Royal Highness King Carl I, high tourist demand in terms of arrivals and who sustained the development of seaside overnight stays in summer season?" resorts as “urban improvisations, quasi- In this context, the objectives of this study oriental flavor" with "natural mud, were: sunbathing, and hot bath treatments" and as (i) to analyze the dynamics of the tourism affirmed himself had an "infrastructure which offer in terms of accommodation units, places needs to be improved, and hotels and villas (beds), beds-days on the Romanian seaside; which must meet a better hygiene and (ii)to analyze the dynamics of the tourism comfort" [2]. demand in terms of tourist arrivals and The climate is favorable for tourism on the overnight stays on the Romanian seaside; Romanian Black Sea Coast in the warm (iii)to identify the connections existing season, especially in the months are July, between these indicators in order to evaluate August and June, and in a less measure in if between tourism offer and demand it is a May and September, when the sun brighten balanced relationship; over 2,500 hours a year, an average identical (iv)to draw the right conclusions for tourism to the one on the beaches of Croatia or other strategy for the development of tourism on the Mediterranean countries [8]. Romanian seaside in the future. The seaside is situated in the top of tourism forms as in summer season a huge flow of MATERIALS AND METHODS tourist invade this part of Romania for enjoying laying in the sun, swimming, Area of the study relaxation, leisure and entertainment to Romania's Black Sea shore is 245 km length, recover their forces during the holiday. lasting between the border with Ukraine in the However, since 2007, a new trend has North part and the frontier with Bulgaria in appeared to spend vacations or week-ends on the South one. Of its total length, 163 km are the seaside when the weather is fine even in occupied by the Danube Delta and the coastal May and September. Therefore, Romanians lakes, and the remaining of 82 km, lasting and even foreign tourists are aligned to the between Midia Cape-Navodari and Vama general trend in the world tourism to shorten Veche are represented by a beautiful chain of the duration of stay but to make more travels a 16 resorts [19]. year [10, 11, 12]. First of all it is about Navodari, the resort Being situated in the Constanta County, the situated in the North part of the Romanian increased number of tourist arrivals had a seaside, in a quiet place good for relaxation, positive impact on the development of the with the longest beach (12-15 km) and also a area. The growth and diversification of the large one (100-200 m), with fine sand and a tourism activities have created jobs and wonderful sea water with a small depth (1-2 supported employment, incomes per family m) for a long distance entering the sea. and the living standard of the local population Mamaia, the pearl of the Romanian seaside raised, the turnover of the business men in the has 8 km length of beach of over 250 m field of tourism and not only increased, width, a fine sand, the most numerous hotels, stimulating investments and the villas etc, a large variety of entertainment modernization of buildings and infrastructure places (clubs, disco, Aqua Magic Park, [15]. telegondola, "Ovidiu" Island, water fountains, The increased number of tourist arrivals in the double decked buses for tourists, Mamaia summer season and in week-ends has led to a Holiday Village etc). sort of discomfort due to the crowded hotels, 410 Scientific Papers Series Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 19, Issue 1, 2019 PRINT ISSN 2284-7995, E-ISSN 2285-3952 Eforie Nord is the spa and health resort, and Traiani" Museal Complex in Admaclisi [5, 6, also the children's resort. 7, 12, 18]. Eforie Sud is characterized by the highest The beaches of the Romanian seaside have in boardwalk, and Splendid Beach, one of the general 100-200 m width and a fine sand, the most beautiful beaches on the Romanian sea water is pleasant about 240 degrees in seaside summer season, the salinity is low about 7-12 0 Costinesti is the youth resort full of /00, the tide is about 12 cm, the slope in the opportunities for entertainment (concerts, sea water is smooth and the sea currents are clubs, disco) and terraces, and its important weak. The mild temperate continental climate tourist objectives are the Shipwreck and the and the sea breeze rich in aerosols offer Obelisk. wonderful conditions for laying in the sun, Olimp, Neptun, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Cap swimming and practicing nautical sports [3]. Aurora, and Jupiter are important resorts at Besides all these, the Romanian seaside offers present undera continuous but slow a large range of facilities. First of all a large modernization by investments in the variety of accommodation units like: hotels competition to attract more tourists. but also tourist villas, hostels, camping and Mangalia has a narrow but pleasant beach and bungalows, tourists guest houses and even possibilities for treatment being considered accommodation to private houses of the local another spa and health resort. Its tourist owners. attractions are: the Byzantine edifice, Also, on the seaside there are a lot of Mangalia Stud farm which offer horse riding opportunities for leisure and entertainment, lessons, Esmahan Sultan Mosque, Callatis for spa and treatments based on mineralized Museum of History and Archeology, the waters and sludge, for eating in restaurants Marine Museum, the Mangalia Tourist and terraces many of them being situated right Harbor.