From Perceived to Measurable: A Fuzzy Logic Index of Authenticity in Rural Tourism

Carina Dobre, Elena Toma (), Andreea-Cristiana Linca, Adina Magdalena Iorga, Iuliana Zaharia, Gina Fintineru, Paula Stoicea and Irina Chiurciu
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Carina Dobre: Faculty of Management and Rural Development, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Mărăști Boulevard, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Elena Toma: Faculty of Management and Rural Development, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Mărăști Boulevard, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Andreea-Cristiana Linca: Faculty of Management and Rural Development, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Mărăști Boulevard, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Adina Magdalena Iorga: Faculty of Management and Rural Development, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Mărăști Boulevard, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Iuliana Zaharia: Faculty of Management and Rural Development, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Mărăști Boulevard, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Gina Fintineru: Faculty of Management and Rural Development, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Mărăști Boulevard, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Paula Stoicea: Faculty of Management and Rural Development, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Mărăști Boulevard, 011464 Bucharest, Romania
Irina Chiurciu: Faculty of Management and Rural Development, University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, 59 Mărăști Boulevard, 011464 Bucharest, Romania

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-18

Abstract: Choosing a rural destination today often comes down to one thing: how authentic it feels. In countries like Romania, where tradition is still woven into daily life, travelers are looking for something real and sustainable—but what exactly does that mean? And how can we measure it? This study takes a different approach. We created an Authenticity Index using fuzzy logic, a method that makes space for in-between answers and soft boundaries. It helped us capture how people actually perceive things like local food, architecture, and natural scenery—without forcing their opinions into rigid categories. We tested the index with real guest feedback from rural accommodation. The results showed that guests consistently valued sensory experiences—like nature and food—more than activities that required deeper cultural involvement, such as workshops or folk demonstrations. Instead of just producing a number, the index turned out to be a guide. It gives hosts a better idea of what really matters to their guests—even when those preferences are not always easy to define. More than that, it brings together what theory says with what visitors actually feel, supporting more sustainable tourism practices. And in rural tourism, that connection can make all the difference.

Keywords: rural tourism; authenticity; fuzzy logic; authenticity index; cultural tourism; sustainable tourism; tourism evaluation methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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