Ciolac R. et. al./ Scientific Papers: Animal Science and Biotechnologies, 2012, 45 (1) Development Areas of Rural Tourism in Romania Ramona Ciolac, Ioan Csosz, Simona Martin, Diana Marin, Ana Maria Dincu, Alina Ilie, Nicoleta Bogdan Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine from Timişoara, Faculty of Agricultural Management, 300645-Timisoara, Calea Aradului, 119, Romania Abstract The popularity of rural tourism forms has increased in recent years. From the initiatives with individual character it has been reached a real alternative leisure. The reason? Authenticity of rural areas is a quality becoming more demanding in terms of current life. Synonymous with a holiday spent with little money in nature, rural tourism forms, like and are becoming increasingly popular. Folk heritage of folk architecture, folk customs and traditions, crafts, port and popular folklore, gastronomy specific is the most popular tourist attractions in rural tourism. Therefore, tourist villages and agro-tourist offer circumscribed, in particular, to Romanian folk brand areas, which fortunately, also benefits of natural attractions of great beauty. Keywords: development areas, popularity, rural tourism forms 1. Introduction 3. Results and discussion Rural area, from the mountains and up the Danube Following, the folk areas and relief units, we see Delta and Black Sea, except for the plain areas, that rural tourism offer it is concentrated in the offers favorable conditions for rural tourism following areas (Figure 1): development of also for agro tourism. However, tourism demand from rural area are concentrated → Oas (Oas Depression and Oas Mountains) in mountainous areas, where the beautiful and Bixad villages, Calinesti, etc.; unspoiled natural landscapes offer many → Maramures (Maramures Depression and possibilities for leisure and cultural and spiritual adjacent mountains: Rodna, Maramures, Tibles, life are mark components of the settlements Gutai): Botiza, Vadu Izei, Ieud, Sapanta, "looks". Rozavlea, Ocna Sugatag, Salistea de Sus, Bogdan Voda, Dragomiresti etc. → Bukovina (Bukovina, Dorna-Câmpulung Moldovenesc - Humor Depressions): Ciocanesti, 2. Materials and methods Darmanesti, Dorna, Arini, Iacobeni, Panaci, Sadova, Frasin, Vama, Vatra Moldovitei, Humor The authors of the paper were used as methods of Monastery, Putna, etc.; work: data collection, processing, analysis, → Neamt (mountain range, Sub-Carpathian Hills, observation and their interpretation. * Bistrita Valley) Ceahlau, Durau, Vanatori-Neamt, Agapia, Baltatesti, Borca, Fagaras, Poiana Teiului, Pangarati, etc.; → Bargau-Bistrita (Bargau Mountains, Bistrita- Nasaud Hills): Bistrita Bargaului, Colibita, Lunca Ilvei, Prundu Bargaului, Susenii Bargaului, Anies, *Coresponding author: Ramona Ciolac, Tel: Telciu, etc; 0722790143, Email: [email protected] 435 Ciolac R. et. al./ Scientific Papers: Animal Science and Biotechnologies, 2012, 45 (1) Development areas of rural tourism → Harghita (Gurghiu-Harghita Mountains, in Romania Giurgeu-Hasmasu Mare Mountains, Depression Oas Gheorgheni-Ciuc, Praid-Corund Hilly Area, Oas Depression Sovata-Odorhei): Praid, Corund, Harghita Bai, Oas Mountains Danesti, Carta, Santimbru Bai, Izvorul Muresului; → Barsa Country (Brasov-Covasna Depression Maramures and adjacent mountains: Bodoc, Baraolt and Maramures Depression Persian, Ciuc, Întorsurii, Piatra Mare, Postavaru): Adjacent mountains Arcus, Baile Balvanyos, Ilieni, Sanziene, Zabala, Bukovina Sugas Bai, Turia, Malnas Bai, Zagon, Persian , Bukovina s Obcina Cristian, Poiana Marului, Ghimbav; Dorna-Câmpulung Moldovenesc - → Bran-Fundata (Bran Corridor, Bucegi and HD i Piatra Craiului Mountains): Bran, Bran-Predelut, Neamt Bran-Simon, Moeciu de Jos, Moeciu de Sus, Mountain range Sohodol, Sirnea, Fundata, etc.; Sub-Carpathian Hills → Fagaras Country (Fagaras Depression, Fagaras Bistrita Valley Mountains): Bucium, Sambata de Jos, Avrig, Cartisoara, Sercaia; Bargau-Bistrita → Marginimea Sibiu (Sibiu Depression and Bargau Mountains Cindrel Mountains): Sibiel, Rasinari, Gura Raului, Bistrita-Nasaud Hills Orlat, Poplaca, Jina, Saliste, Cisnadioara, Cristian Harghita etc.; Gurghiu-Harghita Mountains → Aries Valley (Bihor-Trascau-Metaliferi Mountains): Albac, Ariseni, Garda de Sus, Lupsa, Giurgeu-Hasmasu Mare Mountains Intregalde, Remetea, Scarisoara, etc.; Depression Gheorgheni-Ciuc → Cluj Hills-Vladeasa Mountains-Muntele Mare: Praid-Corund Hilly Area Baisoara, Belis, Bologa, Ciucea, Margau, Gilau, Barsa Country Sâncraiu, Valea Draganului, Calatele, Vanatori, Brasov-Covasna Depression etc.; → Vrancea (Vrancea Depression, Vrancea Adjacent mountains Mountains): Campeni, Gresu, Vidra, Soveja, Bran-Fundata Lepsa, Tulnici, Mera, Vulcaneasa, Negrilesti, Bran Corridor Vizantea, Naruja, Tifesti; Bucegi and Piatra Craiului Mountains → Teleajen-Prahova (Ciucas-Baiului Mountains, Fagaras Country Prahova Hills): Slon, Drajna, Cerasu, Maneciu, Fagaras Depression Cheia, Valea Doftanei Traisteni, Telega, Cornu, Breaza; Fagaras Mountains → Rucar-Muscelele Argesului (Rucar- Marginimea Sibiu Dragoslavele Corridor, Piatra Craiului-Iezer- Sibiu Depression Leaota Mountains, Arges Hills): Bradet, Leresti, Cindrel Mountains Rucar, Dragoslavele, Bughea de Sus, Bughea de Aries Valley Jos, Corbeni; → Olt Valley-Valcea Hills (Olt Gorge, Lotru Vrancea area Valley, Cozia Mountains, Jiblea-Lovistei Teleajen-Prahova Depressions, Valcea Hills): Costesti, Vaideeni, Olt Valley-Valcea Hills Voineasa, Vladesti, Saliste; Tismana-Polovragi → Tismana-Polovragi (Gorj Hills, Parang-Valcan Mehedinti Mountains): Polovragi, Staneti, Sacelu, Tismana, Pestisani, Runcu; Vlasia → Mehedinti (Mehedinti Plateau): Balta, Ciresu, Delta and Black Sea Coast Nadanova, Closani, Ponoarele; Figure 1. Development areas of rural tourism in Romania 436 Ciolac R. et. al./ Scientific Papers: Animal Science and Biotechnologies, 2012, 45 (1) → Vlasia (Vlasia Plain): Snagov, Gruiu, 3. Meeting new people-here can be included Gradistea, Silistea Snagovului, Ciolpani; both socializing and for business travel, escape → Delta: Crisan, Uzlina, Murighiol, Mile 23, CA from routine (interpersonal). Rosetti, Periprava, Mahmudia Caraorman etc.; Among the regular events in the village may be → Black Sea Coast: Agigea, Limanu. mentioned: [3] Of course that, in the prospect, will enter in agro - participation to the life village ritual tourism circuit also other areas, settlement areas (work in farms or agricultural works in the field); and rural folk, as tourism offer from rural area will - participation to the spiritual life of the develop. village (religious ceremonies, performances, Among special items/uniqueness that builds the evenings, weddings, baptisms, etc.). image of Romanian rural tourism brand, are - participation to the celebrations of all mentioned (Figure 2): kinds of rural communities. 1. Wonderful landscape; For a better understanding of the present level of 2. Unique attractions; rural tourism development and potential of rural 3. Specific rural life, ancient, well preserved; areas, we decided to present a comparative 4. Blending traditional and modern. analysis of the main Romanian rural destinations, performed by the Alba County Council, serving to Special items/uniqueness that provide a well defined perspective over the builds the image of Romanian specificity and Romanian rural tourism rural tourism brand development potential (Figure 3) [5]. Main Romanian rural Wonderful landscape destinations Rucar-Bran area Maramures Unique attractions Bukovina Specific rural life, ancient, well Marginimea Sibiului area preserved Western Mountains Blending traditional and modern Mehedinti Caras-Severin Figure 2. Special items/uniqueness that builds the image of Romanian rural tourism brand Gorj The main needs/desires underlying tourists motivation for choosing Romanian rural tourism Figure 3. Main Romanian rural destinations could be: [2] 1. Rest, relaxation, sports, maintaining/ Rural tourism offer is dispersed in 31 counties, restoring health (physical); covering generally mountainous and hilly areas. In 2. Knowledge of art and history, contact ANTREC catalogs are promoted rural guesthouses with new forms of folklore, some unique in over 3000 locations recorded. Most are found in attractions; counties with tradition in rural tourism (Brasov - 437 Ciolac R. et. al./ Scientific Papers: Animal Science and Biotechnologies, 2012, 45 (1) over 140, Cluj - 73, Sibiu – 68, Alba - 63, Maramures – 37, Gorj - 36, Suceava - 35 etc.). In table 1 Alba County Council has realized a destinations have many tourist attraction but comparative analyze on rural tourist destinations from underdeveloped infrastructure. Romania, [5] from which we can conclude that all Table 1. Comparative analysis between the major competing rural tourist destinations Competing Comparative analysis tourist destinations Western - Tourist objectives of Western Mountains can be a competitor or a partner depending on how the Mountains current/future development degree of existing stations (such as Stana de Vale or Baisoara). - The existence of some of the most important tourist objectives. Rucar-Bran - Tourist area with better developed tourist infrastructure. area - Attract a large market. - Very good presence in the commercial circuit. - The national symbol as agro-tourism area. Maramures - Special conservation of Ethnographic space. - The national symbol, internationally renowned. - Tourist infrastructure perceived as relatively well developed, but problems of road infrastructure. Bukovina