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Strategies regarding development of Romanian mountain tourism and sport - actuality and perspectives
Gica Pehoiu

Abstract Alpine tourism in Romania benefits of very good

developmental conditions, thanks to the potential offered by the three Carpathian sectors, each with its own specific features and landscapes. The specific alpine climate, through its meteorological parameters, offers the possibility to practice tourism throughout the year. The presence of the layer of snow, of the atmospheric calm from the depressional areas and along the valleys, the ozoned air, the high number of the sunny days are beneficial for the tourist activities in the alpine area. Tourism development in this region must be considered a priority in order to re-launch the Romanian tourism both nationally and world-wide. At the same time, the strategy of development for tourism starts from the idea of the development of the alpine tourism on small areas, adapted to the local specific characteristics and taking into account the new conception of economic regionalization in todays context.

Keywords alpine tourism, Carpathians, natural potential, developmental strategies, winter sports.
I.

INTRODUCTION

OURISM, at national level, is in the current period, one of the areas that can ensure a profitable and sustainable economic development at regional and national level. Potential natural and anthropogenic available in Romania need to be optimally exploited, provided to promote and develop some investment programs able to attract large numbers of tourists. In Romania, mountain tourism has very good conditions for development due to the potential of the three sectors of the Carpathians (Eastern, Southern and Western). As the countrys main tourist region, Romanian Carpathians has a diverse landscape, a complex of tourist resources with various possibilities for the phenomenon of travel (can be advanced about 14 modular forms of tourism and recreation, including hiking, climbing and hunting and sport fishing, spa cure, mountain biking, etc.), but the most important component of mountain tourism is the winter sports, skiing and between them it is a high natural potential for development. Currently in Romania there are approx. 27 ski areas approved by about 80 runs allowed, which are found in 30
F. A. Author is with Valahia University of Trgovite, Dmbovia County, Romania (phone: 0040-245-206105; fax: 0040-206279; e-mail: gpehoiu@yahoo.com).

mountain resorts. Within these multiple there is operating modes by cable, such as lifts, gondolas, chairlifts and cable cars with a capacity of about 35,000 people per hour. Fitting many ski areas is not efficient enough to ensure sufficient natural snow for sports season for about 3-4 months annually. Artificial snow is increasingly used, where water resources are not sufficient. However, climate warming in recent winters has resulted in poor snowfalls and even artificial snow production, which was difficult in many mountain areas. Of the total number of stations, only 7 have some adequate facilities for de practice of the international tourism. Compared with other reference countries regarding the tourism (Austria, France, Germany, etc.), one can say that Romanias current ski area is several hundred times lower than in those countries, for example 120 times lower than the Germanys or almost 510 lower than the one of France. It is represented in 20 massifs (from a total of 72) and in 16 mountainous counties (from totally 27). Most of the ski territory is arranged in an area concentrated base belonging to the counties of Prahova, Braov, Dmbovia (63.9% of the total). In this area, Sinaia station is the largest space that offers for guests numerous seasonal sports opportunities. In this regard, this tourist town has special arrangements, for winter sports: 12 ski slopes of different difficulty (Table 1), track bob, sledding slopes, lifts with diverse plant (Table 2), a ski school and one for snowboarding, equipment rental centers and sports materials, which operates in the hotels named Sinaia, New Montana, Alpin, Palas, Holliday Inn, etc. Existing ski area is shared between the two slopes of the Mount Vrful cu Dor (2030 m) - west side, which is equipped with one chairlift and two ski lifts, the area being a part of Sinaia that receive the largest number of skiers; regularity and scopes of the slopes skiing widely uses either a primary or a secondary route; eastern slope, which dominates the same resort, stretches along the route followed by cable car. In the ski area, dedicated to this sport slopes have a total length of 11,500 m, representing 14.8% of the mountain offer, with a capacity of 7000 persons per hour and increasing degrees of difficulty. There exists some slopes with a good technical capacity, like Carp, Papagal, Turistica, Prtia 1500, their designed being for advanced skiers, but there, as shown in Table 1, runs for beginners and average skiers trained, as

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Poiana Florilor, Piramida, Vnturi and Dorului. For tourists who practice ski-run version it is recommended slope on the Bucegi plateau, with a length of 8,000 m. Sinaia, among others, is the host of the Romanian Ski Federation, Bob Sledge and Biathlon, traditional competitions organized by this forum taking place on a specially arranged slope in the west of town, on the road leading up to Alpin Hotel - Cota 1400. TABLE 1. SINAIA - CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SKI AREA
Slopes name Difficulty Length Level of degree (m) difference (m) difficult average average average easy easy easy easy easy 2500 2800 450 450 2350 250 450 600 1180 600 440 150 125 560 50 100 150 210 Limits

A. Advanced Carp Turistica Papagal Prtia 1500 B. nceptori Vnturi Poiana Florilor Piramida Dorului Faa Dorului

Vf. Furnica - Cota 1400 Cota 1400 - Sinaia Tarle - Lift Cota 1500 - Cota 2000 Vrful cu Dor - Cota 1400 Vf. cu Dor - Vf. cu Dor Vf. cu Dor - Chalet Vf. cu Dor Vf. cu Dor - Chalet Valea Dorului Vf. Furnica - Valea Dorului Sinaia - Alpin Hotel

C. Sledging easy Drumul Vechi Cota 1300 D. Bob track Furnica - Sinaia difficult E. Bob and difficult sledge Alpin Hotel Cota 1400

3500

450

1500 1500

350 134

Vf. cu Dor - Valea Dorului Alpin Hotel - Cota 1400

monitors and skills. In countries with a predominantly winter tourism developed, these schools and the monitor are much many (France and Switzerland - over 200, Austria - over 400). Depending on the characteristics of relief and other components of the framework of mountain, mountainous regions were ranked and divided into four groups of importance; in the group I is included those with the potentially very valuable, having favorable geographical locations and accessibilities, but also multiple opportunities for tourism valorization. Also, the large number of resorts which are located in mountain area is the result of tradition and experience in this field and a basis for regional tourism development planning. It is to be noted that the mountain tourist resort are not depending only on the practice of winter sports but for many of these occur the balneary function, because of the valuable mineral resources. A territorial analysis of these resorts in Romanias Carpathians reveals a great dispersion in the territory. Concentration may still see some areas or some massifs such as (Fig. 1): 1. Prahova Valley - ara Brsei, with some stations like Sinaia, Buteni, Azuga, Predeal, Prul Rece, Poiana Braov, area where tourism has benefited, especially the last time, the biggest financial investments; 2. Rucr - Bran territory, where it was developed especially rural tourism; 3. Fgra Mountains - Arge Valley, especially zones as Smbta, Blea, Cumpna;

TABLE 2. CABLE TRANSPORT INSTALLATIONS

No. crt. 1. Facility and route Cable-car Sinaia - Cota 1400 Cable-car Cota 1400 - Cota 2000 Chairlift Valea Dorului Furnica Ski lift Valea Dorului Scndurar Length (m) 2330 Level difference (m) 590 Time duration (min.) 7 Capacity (persons/hour) 300 4 1945 600 6 270 5 3 2 1 6 7

2.

3.

980

180

700

4.

455

150

350

Fig. 1. Romanian mountain tourism main focus areas 4. Lotru - Parng Mountains, with stations like Voineasa, Vidra, Obria Lotrului, Lunca, Parng area one with an upward development, since receiving a rich and diverse tourism potential; 5. Banatului - Semenic Mountains, where winter sports offers the longest season - over 210 days/year - and where to find reference stations in the direction of flows of tourists: Semenic, Vliug, Crivaia, Trei Ape, Secu etc.; 6. Bihorului - Vldeasa Mountains, with stations as Stna de

The technical equipment of Romanian mountain resorts as a whole contains over 60 cableways - cable cars, chairlifts and ski lifts - totaling 65 km in length (nearly 3,700 from cableways in Austria, over 3,030 in France, 1,534 in Switzerland, etc.), and about 80 tracks arranged (9,500 km in Austria and 2,500 in France). Another important element that highlights the quality of offers for winter sports in the mountain area of Romania is the existence of ski schools, being equipped with qualified

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Vale, Fntnele, Arieeni, Bioara; 7. Giurgeu and Ciuc Depressions, and mountain massifs in their vicinity, where mineral resources have led to the development of numerous balneary profiles like spa, among which are noted Bile Tunad, Borsec, Covasna, Balvanyos etc. II. INDICATORS REGARDING TOURISTIC ACTIVITY Tourist accommodation capacity and tourist activity in the mountain area recorded during the years 2000-2007, an upward trend (Fig. 2). For example, in the year 2007, the number of tourist accommodation units was 978. That same year, the accommodation capacity of ski resorts represents approximately 20.8% of existing capacity in Romania. The share of seats in the public hotel accommodation remained fairly steady in recent years, averaging around 11%.
1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

compared to those of 2000, ie 1/3 of the 756,000 registered in the second year mentioned (Fig. 4).
1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0

2000 2001 2002 1 2 3

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 4 5 6 7 8

Fig. 4. Evolution of tourist arrivals in accommodation establishments in the mountain area (2000-2007) - thousand persons Tourist market. Recorded information during the years 2000-2005, in terms of overnight stays, registered some small fluctuations. Its beginning was one peak corresponding to a number of thousand nights 2,138 compared with those in 2002 and 2003, when it was 1,809 thousand, 1,876 thousand respectively. Moreover, the year 2004 was characterized by an increase on this indicator, reaching, in thousands of nights, 2,060, element which has remained in constant growth, so that in 2007 there were 2,218 thousand nights (Fig. 5). In 2005, 4.5% of all overnight stays were registered in Romania in ski resorts, and of these 13.9% were of foreign tourists. Romanians accounted for 86.1% of persons arriving in the Carpathian mountain resorts and nearly 86.8% of all overnight stays. Talking about foreign tourists, by country, Israel ranked first, accounting for 19% of all overnight stays, followed by countries like Germany and Great Britain.
2500

2000 2001 2002 1 2 3

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 4 5 6 7 8

Fig. 2. Tourist accommodation reception in the mountain area (2000-2007) - number of unities Tourist accommodation capacity in the mountain area benefited in 2007 of 31,448 seats, of which the hotels - 11.706 (Fig. 3). There is a reduction in the number of accommodation places in the period analyzed, with 4,178 seats. In 2000, the same parameter statistics refer to 35,626 seats, as in 2007 to reach 31,448 people.
36000 35000

2000

1500

1000

500
34000

0
33000 32000 31000 30000 29000 1 2 3 2000 2001 2002 4 5 6 7 2003 2004 2005 2006 8 2007

1 2 3 2000 2001 2002

4 5 6 7 8 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Fig. 5. Dynamics of overnight tourists in the mountain area (2000-2007) - thousand persons III. TOURISM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN THE MOUNTAIN
ZONE

Fig. 3. Mountain tourist accommodation capacity (2000-2007) - no. places Tourist movement. Number of tourists arrivals in accommodation establishments of ski resorts has increased in recent years, for example, in 2007, with 242,000 tourists

In all forms of tourism in Romania, the mountain type are represented as a prior one, criteria such as availability of this form of relief, accessibility, diversity and degree of environmental protection in relation to human actions. One of the shortcomings faced by this type of tourism is the absence of a general policy direction of this sector, which is

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marked by isolated measures of implementation without integrated into a well developed strategic plan. Effects of such state of things were still being felt and experienced a valorization plan inadequate existing assets and the lack of an adequate system and upgraded accommodation services, catering and leisure. The main advantage of mountain tourism is that it can be practiced throughout the year and one major disadvantage is related to poor infrastructure (requiring different communication channels for urgent improvements). A phenomenon that manifests itself in increasingly prominent in recent years is that the manifestation of tourists, a growing interest to stay in small local guesthouses, comparing with the expense of the hotel facilities that they offer. Regarding this type of tourism development strategy that we refer is based on the idea of a development of small areas, adapting to local conditions, in accordance with the new concept of economic regionalization in Romania. In this context, space mountain should not viewed only in terms of winter sports tourism, mountaineering and trekking etc., but as an area where they can be developed other forms of tourism, such as for rural culture, ecological, speological, religious tourism etc. Tourism development, not only in the mountains, will take account of sustainable development on preserving and protecting natural and cultural heritage, and to reduce human pressure on the environment, tourism being pursued widely. The overall objectives of the strategy to develop tourism in the mountain area are represented mainly by the creation of tourist interests for the international destinations, this approach being a social-economic analysis for SWOT on the development strategy of the Romanian tourism. The specific objectives aimed mainly foreign tourists increasing by 10% annually and 5% of Romanian tourists, during the years 20072013 (Table 3). Space mountain tourism development strategy should be developed taking into account four main thematic directions: 1. Specificity and diversity of mountain tourism promotion is to be made after a market survey managed by specialized companies under the guidance of the National Tourism Agency (NTA) and local public institutions in the field. In this approach, a special importance have the activities regarding to promote mountain tourism destinations and activities that can be carried by them. In the recent years, campaigns have focused on two levels: first segment offers designed to focus on the components or services (winter sports, holiday homes, hotel, inns, hostel, cableway, family vacation, holiday villages for children, aprs-sky), and second, the presentation offers winter sport regions, areas or elements of affinity or complementarity. For Romanian mountain tourist destinations is important to identify market segments that have the greatest chance of success. 2. Development and improvement of tourist offer, which must be based on market competition to the local policy of diversification. Regarding this criterion strategic plays an

important role developing initiatives to build and refurbishment of accommodation on the basis of modern quality standards, taking into account also the traditional characteristics of aesthetics and the area specific. TABLE 3. SWOT ANALYSIS OF TOURIST ACTIVITY IN THE MOUNTAIN AREAS
Strengths - tourism is diverse and rich potential, which can cover the entire period of the year - potentially important ski area - therapeutic natural factors - low degree of the pollution - good conservation of the tourist resources - well-kept traditions - relatively easy aces to the majority of the stations and mountain areas - existence of a ancient tradition of tourist practice Weaknesses Opportunities Risks

- outdated conception of mountain tourism development areas - cable transport waste facilities and inadequate use - small number of recreational structures aprsski - only partially modernized ski area - correlation overall infrastructure development and ski area

- increasing demand for active tourism in the international markets - development of rural tourism and ecotourism/ tourism in protected areas - creating accommodation facilities, mainly in rural areas - EU funds for tourism development in rural areas - predictable increase in living standards in Romania

- strong competition in the European market - quality and diversification of externally tourist services in the field - relatively high costs of products restricting public access to them - high level of investment necessary to build resorts for skiing, public or private - slow implementation of modern management practices - lack of public/private partnerships

An additional consideration should be given to some accommodation with small, dimensions with a wide range of leisure activities which take place for their perimeter. Basic services (housing and food) are important for image and market position occupied by the mountain tourist destinations. They must have a complex structure to respond to the customers with different preferences, which has habits, but different levels of income. In this context, the NTA and local authorities should build on international experience of states that benefit and promote mountain tourism well represented. Development of winter sports tourism is closely linked with the ski area and cable transport, plus the valorization and promotion structures (ski schools). From this standpoint, the strategy must address the cumulative some plans, such as: - ski area planning, which is of crucial importance because of its ability and quality and competitiveness depending on the existence of stations; - construction and equipping of vehicles on the cable are the basic steps of construction and effective operation of competitive tenders for sports in season. Development of rural tourism is a predominant concern in the mountain area settlements, helping to maintain local interest in harnessing the resources and the preservation and attractiveness of this kind of territories. Important in this

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regard also is diversifying also non-agricultural activities, with priority actions to be completed in territories with a high tourism potential. Launch of the Romanian tourist in the villages on the European market should be associated with measures of our country to be wide open to the outside market, focusing on efforts made to secure a competitive tourism product offerings, original, with a deep note of personality. Tourist villages are those homes of rural communities through their specific and particular note (settlement, natural resources, architectural or historical monuments, ethnofolkloric tradition) laced with good quality, great hosting, that may be in the rural tourism product, while being prepared to satisfy a wide range of domestic and international tourism motivations. For the Carpathian area there were taken into account the following concentration of tourist villages: - In the Eastern Carpathians: Dorna - Brgu, ara Maramureului, Bistria Valley, Braov Depression, Bilbor Depression, Trotu Corridor, Baraolt Depression, Harghita Mountains. Attractions of this area are: keys, valley, caves, waterfalls, steep topography, mineral waters, natural reserves, architecture, historical monuments, ceramics and popular fabrics. - In the Southern Carpathians: Rucr-Bran Corridor, Fgra, Olt and Lotru Valleys, Parng, Depressions Petroani and Haeg, Retezat, Mehedini-Cerna, Cindrel-ureanu. Attractions are Roman camps, remains, castles, fortifications and religious buildings, Dacian fortresses, exceptional natural landscape, mineral waters and thermal resources, the folk variety. - Banat Mountains, which attracts by their traditional architecture, costumes, archaeological artifacts, or flora and fauna in their southern parts. - In the Western Carpathians, areas of Moi, Zarand, Beiu. This areas attractions are traditional houses with archaic nature, ethno-folk-specific items, costumes, textiles and embroideries, the natural or historical vestiges. In terms of the prevailing characterization of the potential tourist villages are distinguished the following types: - climate ones and attractiveness of the landscape (Fundata, Bran, irnea, etc.); - ethnographic and folklore (Bogdan Vod, Vaideeni, Lereti, Sibiel, etc.); - those with artistic creation and craft (Tismana, Marginea, Vama and others); - with hunting interest. Types of tourism in these villages may be of interest like: the stay, rest and treatment, knowledge - cultural, ethnographic - folklore museums, sports, traveling. 3. Increasing professionalisation of the people who works in tourism activity is another action to be pursued continuously to improve the quality of tourism services. Achieving this goal requires the elimination or reduction of unskilled or poorly qualified staff working in tourism. Training in areas dedicated to tourism activity is particularly important for optimal support of activities consistent with international standards. 4. Adaptation to the specific tax legislation and various

mountain environments is a prerequisite to support tourism development. One of them is about sustainable alternatives to some complex strategy focusing on sustainable investment and correlated with the local demand for tourist services, in conjunction with relevant international trends. Implementation of development strategy of this kind of tourism must be made by regional public authorities with guidance and support of NTA. However, given that much of EU development funds will be directed to regional and sectoral operational programs, it is to be involved and managed some programs by authorities responsible for developing and implementing them, according to EU regulations and principles of a good financial management. European models of mountain tourism development may be examples of good practice for different regions of Romania. Unfortunately, they are not sufficiently well known or disseminated to the poles of interest (authorities, operators, population), and they result in the initiation of models that it has often proved unsustainable. It can be said that the promotion and development of investment projects for the reference domain should be a priority, especially since external funds are available currently outstanding behind the Romanian authorities in the tourism sector. It is true that some problems occur by the global crisis, competition becoming stiffer in the social-economic sector between countries but also in a specific region of a country. IV. CONCLUSIONS Geographical location, landscape features but especially beneficial favorability by weather conditions are factors that affect tourism activity held throughout the year in ski resorts, which highlights the degree to practice specific activities. Carpathians in Romania has a diverse landscape, a complex of tourist resources and many opportunities for valorization in tourism. Investments in recent years have made business travel to find an upward increase even because Romania is currently a low interest like a tourist destination in a bad place on the tourist agencies offers. Experts in the field unanimous say that in the coming years our country can become one of the favorite tourist destinations in Europe. Tourist infrastructure began to be modernized and expanded the area visible from the hotel, catering and entertainment, but especially in the modernization and preservation of tourism resources in the best conditions existing according to the international standards. Currently it appears that is still a high concentration of accommodation and recreational facilities, lifts and ski slopes, as shown throughout this study, in the Prahova Valley Postvaru (50%). It must have a particular regard to the quality of accommodation and services in all tourist resorts adjacent mountains, especially those with 3 and 4 stars comfort, but also the development of specific recreational facilities and compliance with mountain massifs on environment.

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