Scholarly record

DEMOGRAPHIC IMPACT OF TOURISM ACTIVITIES ON ROMANIAN RURAL DESTINATIONS

B.C. Ibanescu, O. Mihaela Stoleriu

Abstract

During the last decades one can notice a positive effect of tourism activities in rural or remote areas, tourism managing to induce economic development in peripheral spaces where primary activities like agriculture, low industry or craftsmanship were not economic profitable anymore. Positive role of tourism activities in rural areas can be translated into different ways, like the increase of well-being, stabilization of population in exodus localities, bigger resistance towards financial crisis, and even a growth of self-esteem. The purpose of this study is to explore the demographic changes on Romanian rural localities (strongly affected by outgoing migration during the last 25 years) in relation to the tourism development. To this end, our research considered both tourism arrivals and accommodation places factors in order to better isolate the tourism impact on demographic structure. Overall, the research showed that tourism activities could positively impact on rural destination by stabilizing population, although certain criteria of size and tourism development should be met. This study makes a theoretical contribution to rural tourism literature and has practical implications for regional and local authorities.

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