M?rginimea Sibiului Tells Its Story: Sustainability, Cultural Heritage and Rural Tourism—A Supply-Side Perspective

Monica Maria Coroș, Donatella Privitera, Loredana Maria Păunescu, Adrian Nedelcu, Cristina Lupu and Alexandru Ganușceac
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Monica Maria Coroș: Department of Hospitality Services, Faculty of Business, Babes-Bolyai University, 400174 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Loredana Maria Păunescu: Department of Cybernetics, Economic Informatics, Finance and Accounting, Faculty of Economic Sciences, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești, 100680 Ploiești, Romania
Adrian Nedelcu: Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Economic Sciences, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești, 100680 Ploiești, Romania
Cristina Lupu: Department of Geography, Faculty of Geography and Geology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania
Alexandru Ganușceac: Department of Human and Economic Geography, Faculty of Geography, University of Bucharest, 010041 Bucharest, Romania

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 9, 1-24

Abstract: Territorial development and rural tourism are linked. Rural tourism involves tourists in rural areas who are attracted by the distinctive character of the landscape, recreation such as local and food resources, and the potential for spiritual, environmental, and cultural growth. The aim of the present paper is to investigate the economic, sustainable, and social role of tourism in the development of the rural area of M?rginimea Sibiului in Romania. It highlights the role of local entrepreneurs in developing new practices and sustainable approaches. Drawing on the literature review on the topic of sustainable rural tourism, this paper uses the case study as a methodological approach. We have developed consistent desk research relying on the processing of official governmental data and of national statistics, supported by analytical strategies involving induction and deduction. The main findings lead towards the conclusion that M?rginimea Sibiului has managed to gain both national and international notoriety while developing coherently, capitalizing on its natural and cultural heritage, and providing services in successful agritourist boarding houses and rural guesthouses, which have continuously developed both numerically and in terms of comfort levels. Because more than two thirds of the initially established lodgings in the early 2000s continue to function today, these facilities have proven to be sustainable and attractive businesses.

Keywords: Romania; case study; territorial valorization; sustainable development; rural hospitality services; Transylvania (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:9:p:5309-:d:551447

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