Administrative Aspects Regarding the Valorisation of Geothermal Waters for Balneological Purposes in Bihor County, Romania

Anca-Paula Ciurba (Pastor), Ionel Haidu and Dorina Ianc ()
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Anca-Paula Ciurba (Pastor): Laboratory LOTERR-EA 7304, Department of Geography, University of Lorraine, 57045 Metz, France
Ionel Haidu: Laboratory LOTERR-EA 7304, Department of Geography, University of Lorraine, 57045 Metz, France
Dorina Ianc: Human Performance Research Center, Department of Physical Education, Sport and Physiotherapy, University of Oradea, 410087 Oradea, Romania

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 13, 1-19

Abstract: This study aims to analyse the development of the balneological phenomenon in Bihor County generated by its administration, consequent of which, a classification of rural settlements and new tourist resorts has been made. The objective is to identify the current trend in the exploitation of the balneological potential of the localities in Bihor County. A comparative analysis has also been carried out between the influence of the political regimes on the exploitation of geothermal water sources at the level of rural settlements and new tourist resorts during the last five decades. The comparative analysis has revealed that the development of the balneological phenomenon has been carried out sequentially. This sequence has been influenced by the political environment and the administrative factor from the period before and after the Revolution. In the period before the Revolution, all balneological sources were managed by the public administrative factor; they were maintained and kept functional, until the Revolution of 1989, against the background of a stable political environment. In the post-Revolution period, when the decision and involvement was sometimes undertaken on a small scale (private administration), and where the interest in development was focused exclusively on the valorisation of the balneological resources, it can be said that capitalist policy favourably influenced the evolution of the balneological phenomenon at the level of rural settlements and new tourist resorts. We have concluded that the capitalist period has been favourable because, when the thermal baths were found to be unanimously managed by the public administration, they were functional in greater numbers at the rural level as compared to the post-revolutionary period. We have not analysed any “policy” documents in order to make this statement.

Keywords: geothermal water; balneology; wellness and SPA; development; administration; rural settlements; Revolution of 1989; Bihor County; Romania (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:13:p:10320-:d:1183099

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