2. 1. Romania - General information

3. Romania is situated in the southeastern part of Central Europe and shares borders with: Hungary to the northwest, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, the Black Sea to the southeast, Ukraine to the east and to the north, the Republic of Moldova to the east.

4. Physical features Mountains: 31% of Romania's territory Hills and orchards: 36% Plains: 33% Areas covered by rivers and lakes: 3.7% Total number of lakes: 3,500 Lakes greater than 250 acres: 300 Highest mountain peak: Moldoveanu Mt. — 8,349 ft. (2544 m)

5. 2. Tourism in Romania

6.  Tourism in Romania focuses on the country's natural landscapes and its rich history.  The number of tourists is growing every year and tourism is becoming an increasingly important source for Romania's GDP with 7-9 million people now visiting yearly.

7. 1. Primary tourist enterprises - companies that exclusively or predominantly serve the tourist trade and tourism and are especially dependent on it. - companies providing transportation services for tourists, accommodation service enterprises, travel agencies and tour operators, insurance and other facilities for tourists and tourist initiatives. 2. Secondary tourism enterprises and support industries - group of firms (industries) that do not depend exclusively on tourism, but serve the needs of the general public. - service units that stimulates interest in traditional enterprise support (service road, rail, air, sea), suppliers of equipment and facilities of different kinds of hotels, buildings for commerce, management consulting firms. 2.1 Types of tourist enterprises:

8. 2.2 Statistics – Romanian National Institute of Statistics (2011) 1. Number of tourists -14,7 %

9. 2.2 Statistics – Romanian National Institute of Statistics (2011) 1.Number of touristic establishments + 382 + 7,9%

10. Even if the number of tourists decreased with15%, the number of tourism units is 382 higher (7.9%). ?

11. 2.3 Tourism – Training and Education In Romania is possible to do training courses in tourism, but there are also university programs of bachelor and master. University  Field of education - Business management Bachelor study program - Commerce economy, tourism, services and quality management; Commerce economy, tourism and services ;  Field of education - Geography Bachelor study program Tourism Geography ;  Field of education - Engineering and management Bachelor study program - Engineering and management in tourism industry;

12. 2.3 Tourism – Training and Education University Field of education: Business management Master program - Touristic and Hotel Management; Business management in tourism

13. 2.3 Tourism – Training and Education What’s the similarity between environment and education?

14. The environment and your education stay with you for life. No question about that. Sean Connery

15. 3. Sustainable Tourism Sustainable tourism is tourism attempting to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate future employment for local people.

16. 3. Sustainable Tourism According to WTO (World Turism Organisation), "sustainable tourism development satisfy the needs present tourists and host regions while protecting and increasing the chances and opportunities for the future.

17. 3. Sustainable Tourism According to the World Turism Organisation, the concept of sustainable tourism is considering three important aspects: Quality - sustainable tourism requires a valuable experience for visitors, while improving quality of life of the host community, cultural identity, poverty reduction and environmental protection; Continuity - ensuring the best possible sustainable tourism, natural resource continuity is based and host community culture preservation, with satisfactory experience for visitors;

18. 3. Sustainable Tourism Balance - sustainable tourism industry provides a balance between the needs of tourism, the environment and local community supporters, with economic and social benefits, fair distribution to all stakeholders.

19. 3. Sustainable Tourism

20. 3.1 The Aim of Sustainable Tourism The aim of sustainable tourism is to ensure that development brings a positive experience for local people, tourism companies and the tourists themselves. Sustainable tourism is not the same as ecotourism.

21. 4. Ecotourism Ecotourism is a form of tourism in which the main motivation for the tourist is the observation and appreciation of nature and local tradition in natural areas.

22. 4. Ecotourism According to the definition and principles of ecotourism established by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) in 1990, ecotourism is "Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people“ (TIES, 1990, Martha Honey).

23. 4.1 Ecotourism – Main Features Main features:  contributes to nature conservation and protection;  supports the well being of local people, stressing local ownership, as well as business opportunities for local people (especially in rural areas);  has an educational component that creates awareness about nature conservation, both for tourists and local communities;  requires the lowest possible negative impact on the environment and on the socio-cultural component.

24. 4.2 AER - THE ASSOCIATION OF ECOTOURISM IN ROMANIA The Association of Ecotourism in Romania : a partnership for nature conservation and tourism in Romania. The innovative idea promoted by AER is to bring together the public and the private sector in a partnership for nature conservation and sustainable tourism development. 4.2.1 Mission To promote the concept and development of ecotourism for the support of nature conservation, local communities in natural areas, and for raising the standard of ecotourism-related services - as well as promotion of the nature as an essential element of the Romanian tourist destination image.

25. 4.2 AER - THE ASSOCIATION OF ECOTOURISM IN ROMANIA 4.2.2 AER - Objectives  The creation and promotion of a well-defined image of Romania as an Ecotourism Destination, at an international level.  The development of ecotourism services and infrastructure at the level of the proposes Eco-Destinations in Romania.  Nature conservation and sustainable development in Romania.

26. 5. Certification System 5.1 Certification and accreditation in the context of ecotourism Certification in the context of tourism, ‘refers to a procedure that assesses, monitors, gives written assurance, and awards a marketable logo to a business, attraction, destination, tour, service, service provider, process, or management system that meets specific standards’; Accreditation is ‘the process of qualifying, endorsing and “licensing” entities that perform certification of businesses, products, processes, or services. In other words, an accreditation programme certifies the certifiers’ (Honey and Rome, 2001).

27. 5.1 The European Ecotourism Labeling Standards (EETLS) The EETLS shares all of the GSTC (The Global Sustainable Tourism Council ) criteria as all are highly applicable to ecotourism. Currently the EETLS is made up of 40 specific criteria divided into the four pillars of sustainable tourism according to the GSTC: A. Demonstrate effective sustainability management. B. Maximize social and economic benefits to the local community and minimize negative impacts. C. Maximize benefits to cultural heritage and minimize negative impacts. D. Maximize benefits to the environment and minimize negative impacts.

28. 5.2 Certification System In Romania The Ecotourism Certification System developed by Association of Ecotourism in Romania (AER) has adapted the international experience to the Romanian context. It is based on the : - Nature and Ecotourism Accreditation Programme promoted by the Australian Ecotourism Association (NEAP is the first accreditation system in ecotourism); - Nature's Best developed by the Swedish Ecotourism Association (the first accreditation system in ecotourism in the northern hemisphere).

29. 5.2.1 Ecotourism Certification System- Applicants The Ecotourism Certification System address to three different categories of applicants:  ecotourism programmes / tours provided by tour-operators or guides (i.e. eco-tours of maximum 15 participants);  small-scale accommodation structures in rural and natural areas (eco-lodges and guesthouses of maximum 25 rooms);  eco-destinations (one or several communities within natural areas).

30. 5.2.2 Ecotourism Certification System - Benefits Benefits:  helps clients to better identify those products that can offer awesome nature and rural culture experiences,  raises the level of trust in the Romanian ecotourism product on the international tourist market,  becomes a marketing tool for tour-operators and destinations,  enhances the quality of the ecotourism services,

31. 5.2.2 Ecotourism Certification System - Benefits Benefits:  contributes actively to nature conservation and leads to sustainable local development,  supports local administrations of protected areas for development of low impact tourism,  offers a platform for common activities between the business sector and nature conservation entities.

32. 5.2.3 EXAMPLES OF ECO-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS  Casa Alexandra Guesthouse- guesthouse and ecotourism activity programmes - Lunca Ilvei

33. 5.2.3 EXAMPLES OF ECO-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS  Horse-riding and nature in the Carpathian Mountains- Horse-Riding Tours operated by Equus Sylvania

34. 5.2.3 EXAMPLES OF ECO-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS  FELICIA GUESTHOUSE-traditional guesthouse in Sucevita, near the painted churches of Bucovina

35. 5.2.3 EXAMPLES OF ECO-CERTIFIED PRODUCTS  "COLOURS OF THE AUTUMN" - PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP-Phototour operated by Phototour.

36. 5.3 Professional Associations in Romanian Tourism Few examples: - Romania Hotel Industry Federation (FIHR) is a national employers' organization representing the professional and business interests of the hospitality industry in Romania the parliamentary media / legislative, governmental, media, ONG’s, trade unions etc., as well as through European and world’s affiliations.

37. 5.3 Professional Associations in Romanian Tourism Few examples: - Employers Federation of Tourism (FPT) represents the interests of tourism, economic and legal aspects of travel companies that they run - regardless of ownership (public, private or mixed) from central and local organs of state administration and justice in relations with unions and other institutions in the country and abroad. - National Association of Rural, Ecological and Cultural Turism (ANTREC) aims at supporting the development of organized practice or rural tourism, environmental and cultural as well as tourist product for continuous improvement.

38. 5.2.4 Benefits of ecological tourism To be labeled green, operators must use alternative energy, eco-bulbs in the tourist locations, use of ecological detergents and promoting ecological Romanian traditional products. Ecological Tourism with 9 percent VAT To benefit from the normative act, authorized individuals, family associations and companies must meet at least three of the following criteria: to use alternative energy at a rate of at least 15% in business travel, use energy saving bulbs in a proportion of 50%, using organic detergents to selectively collect their waste, traditional Romanian products to promote green exclusive use means of transport in the programs organized for tourists.

39. 6. Quality in tourism organization  Each organization in Romanian tourism should conduct an analysis of quality for the activity they perform.  The quality analysis is the starting point in improving the organization's strategic direction.  Purpose of analysis aims, at least the following aspects:  the level of quality services;  establishing the basic decisions to improve services and tourism products offered;  knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the organization;  collection of ideas and planning concrete measures to increase the quality of all activities.

40. 6.1 Quality in Tourism Organization – Labeling Eco- magazin has proposed the "Ghinda" ecological quality of the provision of tourist services: 1 ACORN – Are those structures that provide tourist services located in areas determined by measurement of environment as being without pollution and, most importantly, does not interact negatively with the environment, allocate at least 1% of revenues for the activities of planting trees and shrubs. ……

41. 6.1 Quality in Tourism Organization – Labeling 5 ACORNS -Extra-urban tourist structures are those structures that display the symbol of environmental excellence in tourism which more than half of its energy is produced on green energy, "using organic detergents, have implemented programs to reduce water consumption up to 10 l flow / min, educate tourists on organized programs on environmental protection rules, collect their waste sorting (organic, glass, paper, plastic), using energy saving light bulbs in 100% and use the exclusive means of transport in programs organized for tourists and allocate at least 5% of revenues for the activities of planting trees and shrubs.

42. 7. Promoting the tourism In our country, the promotion takes place on three levels, namely:  nationally by the Ministry of Tourism (MT) under which lies also the National Authority of Tourism (ANT);  implementation of promotion strategy at the regional associations is to promote regional(so-called information and tourist promotion offices);  at the micro level, each economic agent from the hospitality industry and individually setting their own policy to promote tourism.

43. 7.1 Promoting the tourism - Sites www.skiresorts.ro - A professional portal dedicated exclusively to mountain lovers, especially in winter, containing the most complete database of more than 40 places where you can ski in Romania and other countries. www.infoturism.ro - Portal that contains the member travel agency offers, more than 200, allowing the site to obtain online reservations for destinations in Romania or abroad.

44. 7.1 Promoting the tourism - Sites www.romaniantourism.ro - Is a virtual travel grant, centered on a database that includes offers of all types of tour operators (travel agents, accommodation, transport, rent a car, etc.) Dedicated exclusively Romanian tourism.

45. 8. Jobs in the tourism industry Examples of jobs in the tourism industry found in Code of Occupations in Romania: 1225 Leaders in tourism, hospitality activities, nutrition activities and leisure activities, 122501 Tourism manager activity, 122503 Tourism manager activity, 122926 Leader agency, tourism office,

46. 8. Jobs in the tourism industry Examples of jobs in the tourism industry found in Code of Occupations in Romania: 1315 Leaders of small businesses in tourism, hospitality activities, nutrition activities and leisure activities, 131509 Director of travel agency, tour operator, retailer / subsidiary / branch, 131901 Leader of small enterprise owner (trustee) education, health, sports, information etc, 244204 Analyst in tourism, 2581 Researchers and research assistants in economics.

47. Thank you very much! sorin.zaharia@gmail.com