Generation Z Romanian Students’ Relation with Rural Tourism—An Exploratory Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered consumer behavior and reshaped the tourism industry, particularly impacting travel destination choices. Pre-pandemic, travelers prioritized experiences and adventure, often overlooking health and safety concerns. However, during and after the pandemic, health, hygiene, and the COVID-19 situation emerged as crucial factors in choosing a rural destination, alongside economic considerations. The current study analyzed the tourists’ preferences in the North-West development region of Romania when choosing a rural destination. An online survey was conducted, and 563 questionnaires were validated in the end. The principal component analysis used to analyze the collected data led to a two-factor solution: “sanitary and administrative” and “economic and social”. Comparative analysis based on age showed significant differences in education, income, and family composition between Generation Y and Generation Z. Preferences for domestic destinations and participation in festivals were higher among Generation Z, while interest in international travel was comparable between the generations. These findings provide insights into the evolving travel behaviors and preferences of different age groups in the wake of the pandemic.

Section: Travel Behavior Of Gen Y and Z Tourists In The Context Of Th...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Romanian Generational Preferences and Travel Decision-Making When Choosing a Rural Destination

Poruțiu,

Brata,

Dumitras

et al. 2024

“…Examples include the Marin Sorescu Theatre, Colibri Theatre, Elena Farago Memorial House, Constantin Vălimărescu House, University House, Vorvoreanu House (currently the Metropolitan Palace), Amza Pellea Memorial House, Carol I National College, and the University of Craiova. In a recent study, it is stated that technology represents a form of culture [119], which means that cultural tourism is a combination of unforgettable experiences, cultural diversity, acquiring new knowledge and transformation, and access to events, festivals, and tourism fairs. The majority of respondents believe that cultural tourism (81), museum tourism (70), and religious tourism (59) would bring significant benefits to the development and innovation of the urban tourist destination, the city of Craiova.…”

Section: Analysis Of the Interview On The Tourism In Craiova Citymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to the other recreational activities generated by cultural tourism, events, and shopping, local culinary experiences (gastronomic tourism) offer multiple possibilities of connection with the civilization, traditions, and culture [119] of the urban tourist destination (for example cities in Oltenia-Târgu Jiu, Râmnicu Vâlcea, and Drobeta Turnu Severin) or the ecotourism destinations. In close correlation with culinary gastronomy, travels dedicated to wine regions blend together to create the tourism product known as wine tourism [124].…”

Section: Analysis Of the Interview On The Tourism In Craiova Citymentioning

confidence: 99%

Fostering Urban Destination Prosperity through Post COVID-19 Sustainable Tourism in Craiova, Romania

Mazilu,

Niță,

Drăguleasa

et al. 2023

In accordance with the 2030 Agenda, the prosperity of tourist destinations holds a crucial role in the sustainable development of urban areas. Tourism represents an imperative solution in transitioning from survival to success after the COVID-19 pandemic. The stakeholders in the field should introduce new tourism forms that enable a more comprehensive strategy for managing and developing responsible tourism, bringing into focus new skills, resources, and levels for change to develop resilience, urban community satisfaction, and the unique intrinsic attraction of each tourist destination in Romania. This study develops a model of prosperity for urban tourist destinations, which can be applied to medium-large cities in Romania. We propose for the city of Craiova the use and identification of four spheres of sustainability, which in turn have a set of 17 indicators. The research method used to determine the indicators has two stages: (1) the analysis of the specialized literature to identify the appropriate indicators for an urban destination and (2) statistical analyzes and interviews with internal stakeholders (residents), which present their tourist perspective of the city. This article tackles an innovative concept, called prosperity and innovation in Craiova tourism, which can be implemented in all tourism niches and brings new development perspectives that correspond to the norms of sustainable development and their direction towards sustainability. The article addresses the concept of prosperity in tourism and contains information about: the definition of prosperity, the concept of prosperity (an engine of innovation in tourism and its implications), but also perspectives for a prosperous tourism policy in Craiova tourism.

“…Cultural tourism represents a fundamental element of the tourism product [18] and has been developed by tourism agencies in the post-pandemic SARS-CoV-2 period. Rural tourism provides tourists with the opportunity to engage in agricultural activities and explore traditions, creating an unforgettable experience [19]. Ecotourism takes advantage of green marketing practices [20] to align with the emerging trends of engaging in sustainable activities without damaging the developing ecosystem of flora and fauna in Bucegi Natural Park.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geotourism, a New Perspective of Post-COVID-19-Pandemic Relaunch through Travel Agencies—Case Study: Bucegi Natural Park, Romania

Desculțu Grigore,

Niță,

Drăguleasa

et al. 2024

The proposed approach—geotourism, a new medium- and long-term post-pandemic recovery perspective—provides a theoretical foundation for future research regarding the interactions between tourism agencies and tourists, visitors and landforms, as well as cooperation and support between local residents and tourists, for Bucegi Natural Park. In the current context, the nature monuments and nature reserves within the park are located in rural and urban areas. These can be capitalized and included directly in the tourism agencies’ supply, and they can be used for zonal and regional development without degrading the surrounding environment. The “Babele and the Sphinx” landmarks with interesting shapes offer benefits for the development of geotourism in the Romanian landscape. In addition to those listed previously, this study proposes and analyses the image of the geotourism destination and a slogan for the international promotion of the park. Thus, the research presents two sources of data collection: (1) primary data, i.e., those obtained following a questionnaire and analysed with the help of the SPSS Statistics software, version 15.0, and (2) secondary statistical data from the database of the National Institute of Statistics (NIS) that are available and constantly updated. Another method used with a significant impact on tourism analysis was represented using the Geographic Information System (GIS). With its help, we mapped the tourist routes and the two elements, nature reserves and nature monuments within the park, that constitute the basis of the geotourism relaunch after COVID-19. The final objective of the paper is to strengthen the role of travel agencies in promoting geotourism by offering visits to tourist attractions in the park.