Rural Tourism Recovery Patterns in the Eastern Carpathians: A Cluster-Based Approach

Carina Dobre, Elena Toma (), Andreea-Cristiana Linca and Adina Magdalena Iorga
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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

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-17

Abstract: This study explores how rural tourism destinations in the Eastern Carpathians of Romania have recovered in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from 2016–2019 and 2021–2023, five core indicators—tourist arrivals, overnight stays, accommodation capacity, occupancy rates, and active units—were analyzed at the local level. Based on these indicators, a cluster analysis was conducted for us to identify groups of communes with similar tourism performance profiles. After clustering, composite indicators were calculated to track how each group evolved over time. The findings show that recovery has not been uniform: while some destinations bounced back or even improved, others continue to face structural challenges. These results suggest that local infrastructure, destination type, and governance capacity all play a role in shaping recovery paths. The paper offers a spatial overview of rural tourism dynamics and highlights the value of using data-driven tools for understanding uneven development in post-crisis contexts.

Keywords: rural tourism; COVID-19; cluster analysis; composite indicator; Eastern Carpathians; recovery (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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