LUCRĂRI ŞTIINŢIFICE, SERIA I, VOL. XII (3) DEVELOPMENT OF YOUTH TOURISM IN COVASNA COUNTY – YOUTH HOSTEL PADURENI DEZVOLTAREA TURISMULUI DE TINERET IN JUDEŢUL COVASNA – YOUTH HOSTEL PĂDURENI MONIKA FOSZTÓ 1, A.I. KISS2 1 Babeş-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Sf. Gheorghe Extension, Romania; [email protected] 2 Covasna County Youth Direction, Romania Abstract: The diversity and value of the recreation touristic potential as well as the continuous development of the specific structures has brought the county Covasna as an important touristic destination in Romania. In the follows we will present: what is a Youth Hostel, presentation of the Hostelling International, Youth Hostel Romania and finally development of youth tourism in Youth Hostel Padureni in Covasna County. Key words: definition Youth Hostel, Hostelling International, Association of Youth Hostel Romania, Tourists arrivals, number of overnights. INTRODUCTION What is a Youth Hostel? A Youth Hostel is good quality budget accommodation that offers a comfortable night's sleep in friendly surroundings at an affordable price. Youth Hostels provide the perfect way to get to know a country at low cost and meet with many other people who share your attitude towards traveling. MATERIAL AND METHOD Hostelling International is the brand name of more than 90 Youth Hostel Associations in 90 countries, operating 4,000 hostels. No other hostel operator can match us for sheer quality or variety of accommodation! FACULTATEA DE MANAGEMENT AGRICOL Unlike bland motels, impersonal hotels or dodgy backpackers, HI Youth Hostels are fun, lively meeting places, full of like-minded people. EUFED's role is to gain financial and political support from European Union (EU) institutions (primarily the European Commission and the European Parliament) for the wider benefit of participating Youth Hostel Associations, their members and visitors. EUFED enhances co-operation between Associations, particularly on EU funded projects and program’s that benefit young people - including the European Voluntary Service. Currently 17 national Youth Hostel Associations in 15 countries are full members of EUFED: · Austria - ÖJHV · Austria - ÖJHW · Belgium (Flanders) - VJH · Belgium (Wallonia) - LAJ · Denmark – DANHOSTEL · England & Wales – YHA · France – FUAJ · Germany – DJH · Hungary – HYHA · Ireland (Republic) - An Óige · Italy – AIG · Luxembourg – CAJL · Netherlands – Stayokay · Portugal – MOVIJOVEM · Scotland – SYHA · Slovenia – PZS · Spain – REAJ. In addition, Croatia (HFHS), Romania (AYHR) and Switzerland (SJH) are associate members of EUFED. Youth Hostel Romania (YHR) - Our main activity is to develop the hostelling idea in Romania, increase the number of individual members, young people who will use hostels in our country or abroad, increase the number of hostels and improve the hostel managers' skills: how they have to operate, who are their clients and how they can offer better services. LUCRĂRI ŞTIINŢIFICE, SERIA I, VOL. XII (3) 1. Mass media - national TV made an interview in Vila Helga in Bucharest, - local TV made interviews with the Secretary General on two bigger projects, - local commercial radios periodically make interviews with the Secretary General, - National tourism newspaper publishes reports about our activities on a regular basis, - Local newspapers in Cluj-Napoca made several interviews about different current projects, - We invite journalists to YHR as honorable members. 2. For our individual members we offer discounts in our network - we have a database with our members' name, address, and expiry date of their youth hostel cards (international or national), - we send them our YHR newsletter every three months, - we send them additional information (e.g. a news update). 3. For our hostel members we offer promotional opportunities by means of: - image campaign, - our leaflet and newsletter, - travel fairs in association with the Tourism Ministry, wherever they go in the country or abroad, - HI promotional materials, - international presentations, conferences and other channels, - fairs (our first individual presence at the ONG-fair organized in Bucharest during 13-15 September 2000), - travel fair (shared activity with others or just participation in discussions). 4. Volunteers - we have started to build up a team of volunteers, who help us to spread the hostelling idea on a local basis – we have such volunteers in the 15 main cities of the country. 5. International cooperation – In past years of our activities we had very good contacts with DJH, and some of Eastern European countries. This year we successfully started a cooperation with FUAJ, YHA and OEJHV, FACULTATEA DE MANAGEMENT AGRICOL – In this aspect the presence at the 2000, – Conference was a great opportunity. 6. Advocacy – - we work to improve the legal possibilities offered in our country for those who operate youth hostels, - introduce the card system in the country. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS In the follows we will present development of youth tourism in Covasna County – Youth Hostel Padureni. Moacsa – it is a commune centre in the central-southern part of the Covasna county, at the meeting line between the eastern foot of the Bodoc Mountains and the Targu Secuiesc Depression. The settlement is crossed by the Beseneu brook springing from the Bodoc Mountains. The administrative territory of the commune consists of Moacsa and Padureni (situated along the upper reaches of the brook just mentioned, 3 km far from the commune centre). Moacsa Township is situated in the central part of Covasna County, along the national road no. 11 Brasov - Tg. Secuiesc - Bacau, at a distance of 15 km from Sf. Gheorghe, the county seat and 20 km from Brasov. At only 2 km from the village there is a railway station, on Sf. Gheorghe - Bretcu line. It has a total surface of 3517 ha. Moacsa-Padureni Lake is one of the most sought-after touristic spots in Covasna county. It appears that very recently it has been included in a development programme with the purpose of including it the European touristic circuit. Local authorities were recommended by the Environment Minister to access European funds for touristic development of the area. Touristic attractions of Moacsa-Padureni: v Renaissance ceiling, painted in 1766, kept at the Decorative Art Museum in Budapest; it is reproduced in today's church in Moacsa; v The tower with bells, baroque style, which has a bell dating from 1531; v Gothic style church from Padureni, architectural monument; v A bell dating from the XV-th century, kept in the Eresteghin church; LUCRĂRI ŞTIINŢIFICE, SERIA I, VOL. XII (3) v The sulphureous spring from Padureni and "God's Fountain" spring from Moacsa; v Marked touristic roads that start in Moacsa and Padureni and lead to the edges of Bodoc mountains; v The monument dedicated to the Hungarians from all over the world – “Giants cellar”. Facilities of Youth Hostel Padureni No. of beds - 72 beds in 6 houses with one bathroom for two bedrooms. 6 four bedded rooms, 12 three bedded rooms, 3 two bedded rooms and 3 rooms with double bed, and possibility for 2 spare beds in each house. Photo 1.: Bedrooms Photo 2.: Youth Hostel Padureni Sport facilities (Multifunctional sport field), conference room, cable TV, guided tours, free parking place, playground, kitchen. FACULTATEA DE MANAGEMENT AGRICOL Photo 3.: Multifunctional sport field Photo 3.: Playground Guided tours v The didactic road, marked with the sign T, on a distance of 2700 m, with 9 observes stops (approx. 3 hours), v Walking tour to the Bodoc peak (1 day trip), v Walking tour to the top of “Giants cellar” ( approx. 4 hours), v Visiting the Gabor Aron monument (1 ½ hour ), v Sfantu Gheorghe - Zagon – Chiurus – Covasna - Tg.Secuiesc - Cernat - Sf.Gheorghe (130 km), v Sf.Gheorghe — Cernat - Tg.Secuiesc - Bálványos - Saint Ana Lake- Malnas - Sf.Gheorghe – 140 km, v Sf.Gheorghe - Batanii Mici - Baraolt - Varghis - Baraolt - Valcele - Sf.Gheorghe – 140 km, v Sf.Gheorghe — Brasov – Predeal - Sinaia (Peles castle)- Predeal - Brasov - Sf.Gheorghe – 100 km. As a general tendency, in the period 2004-2009 the arrivals of the tourists have registered a maximum in 2009, of 3,104 tourists and lowest in the year 2005 – of 1,075 tourists (Figure 1). LUCRĂRI ŞTIINŢIFICE, SERIA I, VOL. XII (3) Tourists arrivals 3500 3018 3104 3000 2736 2500 2000 1785 1561 Arrivals 1500 1075 1000 500 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Years Fig. 1. – Tourists arrivals in Youth Hostel Padureni between 2004-2009 (Source: Directia pentru Tineret Covasna, 2010) The number of staying overnight of the tourists in the accommodations space follows generally that of the arrivals. The biggest number o staying overnight was of 12,416 in the year 2009, and the smallest in 2005 of 4,300. Number of overnights 14000 12416 12072 12000 10944 10000 8000 7140 6244 6000 Overnights 4000 4300 2000 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Years Fig. 2. – Number of overnights in Youth Hostel Padureni between 2004-2009 (Source: Directia pentru Tineret Covasna, 2010) FACULTATEA DE MANAGEMENT AGRICOL Arrivals of foreign visitors by main origin counties in 2009 Tulcea 102 Mureș 140 Covasna 1365 Harghita 228 Counties Gala i 157 Constan a 326 Cluj 151 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 Arrivals Fig. 3. – Arrivals of foreign visitors in Youth Hostel Padureni by main origin counties 2009 (Source: Directia pentru Tineret Covasna, 2010) CONCLUSIONS The institute Covasna County Youth Direction main intention is to finish the modernization of construction, because it’s important to develop the quality of services and to have increasing number of tourist arrivals and staying overnights. Another important purpose would be to create an own website to be well know on internet for youth people. REFERENCES 1. NICOLAE R., SCARLAT E. (2004) - Îndrumar turistic de tabără, Editura Didactică şi Pedagogică, Bucureşti 2. *** Asociaţia Youth Hostel România 3. *** Direcţia Judeţeană pentru Tineret Covasna 4. *** http://www.hihostels-romania.ro .