The Special Number contains the articles presented by authors at the International Conference of Scientific Communications: "Tourism between Regional Development and Global Economic Crises" held at Sucevita, in Suceava County, during May 22nd -23rd , 2009.

Fascicle - Tourism and durable development BALANCED TOURISM DEVELOPMENT - A CONDITION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT. A CASE STUDY IN BRASOV REGION   Lecturer PhD. Ruxandra-Gabriela ALBU Transilvania University of Brasov, Romania   Abstract  Sustainable tourism development in the Brasov region will lead to prosperity for many local communities which are living in this region and will contribute to the protection and the preservation of the initial attraction for the present high demand areas (such are Bran, Moeciu, Simon, etc.). Even it cannot be absolutely certain as regards the sector's development perspectives, the exact evaluation of the tourist potential of a territory is an excellent decision base for the interested parties, allowing them to minimise the risks of engaging in bad investments and ensure a sustainable tourism development of the territory.    PROGRAM FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN PIATRA NEAMT   Lecturer PhD. Marian Florin  BUSUIOC Romanian American University, Romania Assist. PhD student Gina Gilet SZTRUTEN Romanian American University, Romania Assist. PhD. student Catrinel DRIDEA Romanian American University, Romania   Abstract Piatra Neamţ, one of the oldest settlements in Romania (the former Dacian fortress Petrodava - sec. II) has rich tourist resources (natural and atrophic), being an important tourist center at regional and national levels. Strategy for tourism development in the city of Piatra Neamţ has the following main objectives: -   optimal valorization of tourist resources, in particular the mountain and cultural ones; -   top valorization of the historic center, the restoration and conservation of heritage monuments; -   development of sports and entertainment in both city and ecotouristic suburban area; -   creation of original tourist products and launch an intensive campaign to promote the area image. Last Updated ( Saturday, 26 December 2009 ) Read more...

Fascicle - Policies and strategies for developing tourism FRANCHISE IN ROMANIAN TOURISM   Lecturer Ph.D. Cristina BUNEA-BONTAS  "Constantin Brancoveanu" University of Pitesti, Romania University Assistant Ph.D. Graduate Mihaela Cosmina PETRE The Faculty of Management Marketing of Economic Business of Braila   Abstract Both on national and international scale, tourism business is improving continuously, by adjusting to the tourists' demands, resulting in modification and adaptation of organization and association forms in this area. One of these is the franchise affiliation, an original way of doing business that combines the entrepreneurs interest in keeping their own undertaking with that belongs to a group with well-known brand which aims to expand on national and international market. This paper will discuss two important areas of the Romanian tourism industry in which franchise agreement is applied: travel agencies franchise and hotel franchise. On a national scale, franchise was adopted as an expanding strategy by the travel agencies, on one hand, notorious tour-operators that have accumulated know-how and have proven their successful applicability, and, on the other hand, small and medium entrepreneurs who saw in the franchise affiliation an opportunity to develop faster and more reliable business. Also, the Romanian hotel owners with financial resources have seen in hotel franchise an easier way to obtain higher profits. In today's competitive and global hotel market, being part of a group of hotels that share a recognized brand and provide quality services might mean the difference between financial success and failure.   INTERNATIONAL TOURISM FACING THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS   PhD Student Alina Gabriela JILETCOVICI  National Institute for Economic Research, Romanian Academy, Bucharest, Romania   Abstract The international tourism is one of the main growth engines within the world's economy, with major impact on the process of generating jobs, permanently modernizing the infrastructure and directly involved in the sustainable development of the natural environment. Closely connected to almost all sectors of the economy, the tourism could not avoid being affected by the general effects of the global economic crisis that started last year. And this is because a part of the key problems that generated the crisis and their subsequent effects are closely related to tourism: rises of the prices of oil and other commodities, stock market volatility and the crunch of loan, together with exchange rate fluctuations, leading to increasing interest rates and representing a real burden for the borrowers. Each of them separately, as well as all together put their print on the tourists' activity, leading to specific trends adapted to the new economic and social context. Starting from here, I identified already seen and to be seen effects of the crisis, both on companies acting in the tourism as well as on the tourists as individuals. Furthermore, I made proposals regarding the tourism's possibilities of surpassing the crisis, being aware that only the concerted actions of both macro and microeconomic segments can lead to overcoming the present difficult circumstances.   Last Updated ( Saturday, 26 December 2009 ) Read more...   Fascicle - Studies, analysis and statistical research in tourism THE TOURISTY ACTIVITY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IN 2007 AND THE PLACE OF ROMANIA AMONG THE MEMBER STATES   Associate Professor Ph.D. Eugenia HARJA Asisstant PhD. Student Oana-Ancuta STANGACIU University from Bacău, Romania   Abstract   This paper is a brief statistical analysis of the touristy activity for the period 2000-2007 in the member states of the European Union 27. After a short presentation of the definitions used for the observed or calculated touristy indicators, comparable among the member states, I have presented and analyzed the existent occupancy in tourist accommodation establishments and also the touristy intensity. I have emphasized each time the place of Romania among the member states, preferring always the graphic images, being much more relevant in the analysis than a presentation of the data in tables. At the end of the analysis I have briefly presented the evolution of Romania for some touristy indicators used in the chapters before, and also the main conclusions.   ANALYSIS OF THE ACCOMMODATION CAPACITY OF ROMANIA IN THE PERIOD 1990-2007   University Assistant PhD. Cristina OPREA Petroleum&Gas University, Ploieşti, Romania Associate Professor PhD. Marian ZAHARIA Petroleum&Gas University, Ploieşti, Romania Lecturer PhD. Manuela-Rodica GOGONEA Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania   Abstract The analysis of the accommodation capacity in operation of the tourist facilities in Romania focuses on the evolution of the index in the period 1900-2007, its structural modifications, as well as its prospective trend. Outlining a complex image of evolution of the accommodating capacity in operation also includes the analysis of the interdependencies determined between both this index and the number of overnight stays, or between it and the number of tourists' arrivals in accommodation facilities in Romania. The methodology applied in the analysis of the accommodation capacity in operation of the tourist facilities in Romania is based on the statistic data taken over from the National Institute of Statistics (Statistic Directories, The statistic databases TEMPO-Online). Last Updated ( Saturday, 26 December 2009 ) Read more...

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