diffusion of the touristic phenomenon in...

Geogaphica Timisiensis, vol. 17, nr.1 - 2, 2008 (pp. 239 - 249 ) ●

DIFFUSION OF THE TOURISTIC PHENOMENON IN

THE NORTH-WESTERN REGION. PRESENT AND

PERSPECTIVES

Rozalia BENEDEK

„ Babeş-Bolyai” University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Abstract. The recent aderance of our country to the structures of the European Union, and not only,

certifies the territorial analysis, with the goal of conceiving and implementing new development

strategies. These are focused on the identification of optimal solutions, but in the same time

coherent; of eliminating these disparities meant to ensure regional competitivity consequently with

a durable development. Taking into consideration the objectives that are followed the main bond

and engine of development of the North-Western Region is the tourism being a form of active

resting and being able to develop all the other branches of the economy. Another argument of

development through tourism is made up of the great number of mining zones which are

underfavoured these being present in the researched areal, situated predominantly in the

mountainous regions, with a predisposition for leisure activities. At the present, the areal studied

cuantifies partially its touristical potential, of national value resonance, these being: Felix Baths, the

cave systems in the Apuseni Mountains, the cities of Cluj Napoca and Oradea, these being fulfilled

by the ethnographic region of Maramureş. The disfunctions are generated by the lock of

connections between the different types of and forms of tourism, especially that the centres of

touristic polarization the main ones power exhaust the whole potential of the North-Western

Region, a series of local units being in existence (like Boghiş, Sângeorz Băi a.s.o), or areas with a

potential, waiting for development initiative and the necessary finances. As a result of the study and

special modeling a necessity of creating circuits and regional brands is highlighted.

Rezumat. Difuzia fenomenului turistic în Regiunea de Nord-Vest. Prezent şi perspective.

Recenta aderare a ţării noastre la structurile Uniunii Europene, şi nu numai, certifică analizele

teritoriale, în vederea conceperii şi implementăerii unor strategii de dezvoltare, axate pe

identificarea disfuncţiilor şi a soluţiilor optime, dar în acelaşi timp coerente, de eliminare a acestor

dezechilibre, menite să asigure competitivitatea regională concomitent cu dezvoltarea durabilă.

Având în vedere obiectivele urmărite, principalul aglutinator şi motor de dezvoltare al Regiunii

Nord-Vest este turismul, fiind o formă de "odihnă activă" şi în măsură ca să dezvolte toate celălalte

sectoare ale economiei. Un alt argument al dezvoltării prin turism îl constituie numărul mare al

zonelor miniere defavorizate(10), prezente în arealul cercetat, localizate dominant în zona montană,

predispuse la desfăşurarea activităţilor de recreere. În prezent, arealul supus cercetării, valorifică

parţial potenţialul său turistic, de rezonanţă naţională (şi nu numai), fiind: Băile Felix, sistemul

carstic din Munţii Apuseni, oraşele Cluj-Napoca şi Oradea, fiind întregite de zona etnografică a

Maramureşului. Disfuncţiile sunt generate de lipsa conexiunilor dintre diferitele tipuri şi forme ale

turismului, mai ales că centrele de polarizare turistică, principale, nu epuizează întregul potenţial al

Regiunii Nord-Vest, existând o serie de unităţi locale(Boghiş,Sângeorz-Băi, Rodna etc), ori arii cu

potenţial, în aşteptarea iniţiativei de dezvoltare(podgoriile, zonele urbane şi periurbane etc) şi a

finanţelor necesare. În urma studiului şi a modelării spaţiale se evidenţiează necesitatea creeării de:

circuite, branduri regionale etc.

Key words: tourism, disparities, durable development, regional brand

Cuvinte cheie: :turism, disparităţi, dezvoltare durabilă, brand regional

● Diffusion of the Touristic Phenomenon in the North Western Region 240

1. INTRODUCTION

The phenomenological approach of tourism constitutes a strategic necessity,

because Romania’s shift to the market economy (1990) and, afterwards, the adheration to

the European structures (2007), without a full integration unfortunately, generated new

opportunities for the socio-economic development through: opening borders, increasing

competitiveness –that imposes quality and attractive prices-, possibilities to access pre-

and post-adhering funds etc. This phenomenon, with a good organization and

management, could rebalance economy and even retrieve losses determined by a slow

reaction to the existing opportunities and also to their associated risks.

Another argument lies in the definition of tourism itself: a synthesis economic

activity in a continuous evolution that implies a movement of people with psycho-somatic

recreational purposes, through relaxation and active regeneration, and, at the same time,

for culturalization, whose duration and distance (from the places they normally live)

depends on the disposable income, preferences and disposable time. In time, in Romania

this activity could turn into a social necessity.

From a structural point of view, the phenomenon of tourism includes a spatial

component, a human component and, additionally to the latter, a sensorial component,

pointed out through local or areal concentrations, along the seaside – anisotropic

concentration, Prahova Valley, Felix Spa, the monasteries in Moldova, locations that also

constitute leading tourist destinations in Romania.

The North-Western Region, even if it represents only a decoupage of the country’s

reality, it faces the same socio-economic deficiencies as the whole it belongs to; the

disparities „directly perceived” at the level of the tourist phenomenon are simultaneously

felt and reflected in the case of the entire economic sectors.

As a consequence, the main objectives of the present approach are as follows:

Identify and spatial locate the potential tourist objectives, as well as of those

already functioning;

Underline the discrepancies between counties in the North-Western Region

as regarding the tourist phenomenon;

Set up some managerial measures through which these discrepancies could

be decreased.

2. NORTH-WESTWERN REGION – DISTRIBUTION AND

RESOURCES OF TOURISM TYPES

The geographic space and its components hide various tourist activities that could

be valorized through the creativity and the financial force of the „socio-economic”

component, because „it introduces to the economic circuit new perspectives as: landscape

(whose „consumption” could be done only in situ), population’s hospitality, solicitude and

information (geographic, cultural-historical, gastronomical, artistic etc.)” (A. Gheorghilaş-

p. 2, 2oo4).

Structurally, the tourist potential of the North-Western Region includes a cumulus

of representative elements belonging both to the natural and human-made systems, each of

the 6 counties participating with specific and implicitly attractive features, the reason

Rozalia BENEDEK ● 241

being the particular geological and historical evolution framework of each territorial unit,

sometimes different, other times identical, the consequence being the preservation of some

individual geographic characteristics.

2.1. The recreational potential of the natural environment Morphologically speaking, the analyzed area benefits from the presence of the all

major relief forms, through a harmonious between mountains (28%), contact units – hills

and plateaus (30%), plains and large river corridors, preferred by human settlements

(42%) (PATR, 2004).

As regarding the orographic aspects, the different conditions of paleo-geographic

evolution are mirrored in the partial spatial presence of two segments of the Romanian

Carpathians:

The Eastern Carpathians, with the Maramures sector and the Transylvanian

sector, the highest altitudes are reached in the Rodna Mountains (2303 m) and in the

Maramures Mountains, formed mainly by crystalline rocks. This is the central strip of the

principal division, the glacial relief being also present here, with its valuable landscape

features, together with the low altitude volcanic range (Oaş, Gutâi, Ţibleş) in the West,

bordering on two sides the Maramures Depression and then continued with the Calimani

Mountains, where the preservation of the principal and secondary volcanic cones provides

with important touristic and scientific value. Lakes were formed in the glacial circuses,

with clear and cold waters, the Iezer glacial lakes impressing through its shape that

reminds the shape of the country. In the Rodna Mountains, the karstic relief is also

represented with caves (Zanei, Tausoarelor) and karst fensters (Izbucul Izei). As regarding

the volcanic relief, the general aspect of cones and craters were reshaped through erosion,

generating attenuate or „soft” ridges, dykes, the most spectacular one being Creasta

Cocosului that „guards” to the North the former mining town of Cavnic, necks, lava

plateaus etc., all of these landforms being somehow screened by forestry vegetation. From

the administrative point of view, these relief units belong dominantly to the Bistriţa-

Năsăud and Maramureş counties.

The Western Carpathians are represented in this region by the central-

northern sector of the Apuseni Mountains, including their prolongations to the West and

the interposed depressions, symbolically called „gulf depressions” - Beiuş, Vad-Borod

etc.-, and belonging mainly to Cluj, Bihor or Salaj counties. The highest altitude is

reached in the Vladeasa Mountains (1836 m), with crystalline structure and with an

important role in blocking western oceanic air masses, favoring in this way the appearance

of Stâna de Vale climateric and winter sports resort, location that also represents the

Romanian pole of precipitations. Besides, the heterogeneous lithologic constitution, with

alternations of hard and mild rocks, has generated a very picturesque karst relief, with

endo- and exo-karst landforms: caves - Peştera Urşilor, benefitting from modern

arrangements, Peştera Vântului and, even if it doesn’t fit territorially into the analyzed

area the Scărişoara cave and glacier. The attractive potential of these caves, through

representative fauna and speleothems, is increased by the relatively facile access, the

proximity to some important towns (Cluj, Oradea) or to therapeutic or recreational resorts.

In the Territorial Arrangement Regional Plan (2004) the studied territory is referred to

shelter 5000 of caves.


The two principal mountainous divisions are interrupted by some „hidden”

mountains, with collinar aspect, known as the Intra-Carpathian (Măgura Şimleului,

Măgura Ţicăului- that could be used as belvedere sites).

The mountains could also stir interest through other parameters as slope inclination

or altitude, that could be both a restrictive or a permissive factor for activities as alpinism,

mountain walkings, winter sports, and in association with other natural components –

climate, vegetation, fauna etc. – determines a landscape vertical distribution on different

layers.

The tourist potential of hills and plateaus (the Western Hills, the Someşan Plateau,

the Transylvanian Plain) surpasses that of the low areas – Western Plain – through a more

diverse landscape, but inferior to that of the mountainous regions.

The tourist valorization of hydrography in the studied region is sustained by the

presence of thermalism features in the Western Hills and Plain, of a high level of

mineralization (the mophetic area of the volcanic mountains Oaş, Gutâi, Ţibleş –

carbonate and bicarbonate waters) and of cloro-sodium waters (related to the salt deposits

in Maramureş and in the Transylvanian Depression). Besides, hydrography could benefit

from its important esthetical value and from its recreational potential: rafting – on rivers

as Crişul Repede, Bistriţa, Someşul Mare, fishing, small boat adventures, sunning and

bathing on the other rivers or lakes (Cefa, Ţaga, Geaca etc).

The Northern Transylvania, the name under which this region is promoted by the

North-Western Regional Development Agency (www.nord-vest.ro), distinguishes itself

among other regions in country and abroad through number, quantity of reserve and

chemical diversity of the existing mineral springs, this aspect constituting one of the

principal competing advantages of this region. Within the context of an increase in the

demographic ageing, in the daily stress – with repercussions upon health -, of a reduction

in the working week, the profitability of this resources’ valorization is sustained by a few

aspects as: the rapport price-quality as regarding offered services and touristic units’

equipping that affects seriously the touristic sector’s budget and which is sometimes

affected by overcrowding (Felix Resort) or by deficiencies in applying sustainable

development principles.

The biotic component contributes to the tourist offer through interesting flora and

fauna associations that addresses in principal to the scientific tourism, but not exclusively.

Within these „uncontaminated” areas some protection regulations have to be obeyed,

many of them being declared natural protected areas, in principal because of the rarity of

the existing species. The studied region shelters 169 of such areas with the following

distribution: Bihor County (64), with a total surface of 3o 867 ha, 8o% belonging to the

Munţii Apuseni Natural Park, that is also extended within the limits of the Cluj County;

Satu Mare County (7), with a protected surface of 6 465 ha; Maramureş County (35),

198 191 ha, including the Comestible Chestnut Trees Forest, Creasta Cocoşului Dyke,

Munţii Rodnei National Park; Sălaj County (15), 517 ha, the most famous being the

Grădina Zmeilor Geological Reservation, Barcău River’s Springs, the Sapropelic Swamp

in the locality of Iaz etc; Bistriţa-Năsăud County (27), 38 282 ha, the most representative

being the Munţii Rodnei National Park; Cluj County (35), 198 191ha, with Fâneţele

Clujului – botanic and geologic reservation, Turda Gorges (source ARPM, 2oo6).


Table.1.Existing and proposed tourist sites within the North-Western Region

Regiunea Nord-Vest, obiective turistice preferate si cele cu potential

Source: „Romania Tourist and Road Map”, 2oo7, processed and supplemented

2.2. Suitability and valorization of the human-made potential This aspect is characterized through a large typology of cultural and recreational

resources most of them found in the region’s museums, being related to the continuous

inhabitance of this area since the Neolithic era (archeologically proved). Besides, it is also

worth mentioning the relics of the following historical periods during which specific

arrangements were developed (related to outmoded practices, customs or beliefs).

County

Tourist sites

and types

Bihor

(BH)

Cluj

(CJ)

Maramureş

(MM)

Proposal for other counties

Bistriţa Năsăud

(BN)

Satu Mare

(SM)

Sălaj

(SJ)

County seat Oradea-airport Cluj-Napoca-

airport

Baia-Mare Bistriţa Satu Mare Zalău

Mountains Bihor Mt.,

Pădurea Craiului

Mt. and Codru-

Moma Mt.

Gilău Mt., the

Vlădeasa Mt.,

Muntele Mare Mt.

Rodna Mt., Ţibleş

Mt., Gutâi Mt and

Maramureş Mt

Călimani and

Rodna

Mountains

The Oaş

Mt

Plopiş and

Meseş Mt.

Lakes Fântânele storage

lake

Baia Sprie, Firiza,

Lacul Albastru

Colibiţa Călineşti-

Oaş

Vârşolţ Dam

Natural

monuments

Bears’Cave

from Chişcău,

Meziad and

Vadu Crişului

Caves, the

Karstic Plateau

Turda Gorges,

Tureni Gorges,

Someşul Cald

Gorges

The Valleys of the

Vaser and Vişeu,

„Dealul Florilor”

Natural Park

Şomcuţa Mare

Munţii Rodnei

National Park

Chestnuts

Forest-

Micula,

Runc

Forest

Tusa –

Barcau

waterfalls

Historical

vestiges and

archaeologi

cal sites

The ruins of

Oradea and

Biharia Fortress

Cluj- the

fortification and

Romanian

Orthodox Church

from Mănăştur;

Dej and Gilău

Roman castrum;

Turda- Potaissa

settlement ruins

Baia- Mare- ruins of

the fortress

Bistriţa town’s

centre

Carei –

Karoly

Fortress,

Ardud

Şimleu-

Bathory

Fortress,

Nuşfalău-

Banffi Castle

and the

tumular

necropolis

Churches

and

Monastires

The Romano-

Catholic

Cathedral-

Oradea

Cluj- the St.

Michael Church,

The Franciscan

Church and

Monastery etc

Wooden churches,

Moisei, Rohia and

Bârsana monastires

Maieru, Şanţ,

Colibiţa

Satu Mare

Cathedral

Acis

Nuşfalău

with the

unique

underground

church

„Inima

Sfântă al lui

Iisus” etc

Monuments The Tailors’

Bastion, Matei

Corvin House, the

Banffy Castele-

Bonţida

Wooden churches in

Ieud- the oldest in

this area

- - -

Museums The Museum of

the „Crişurilor

Land”

Cluj- The History

Museum of

Transilvania, The

Pharmacy

Museum, s. o.

Baia - Mare Minerological Museum,

Sighetul Marmaţiei- Communist Prison

s.o

Ady Endre

Museum

Etnographica

l museum


As a result of the specific territorial organization and arrangement and in relation

to the tourist demand various tourist products developed in time, among which we

mention:

Fortified settlements, castles and lordly houses;

Churches and monasteries;

Public or private edifices whose architecture corresponds to their construction

period;

Resorts, recreational areas;

Zoological and botanical gardens etc.

The spatial representation of the potential tourist attractions (see the map – Annexe

no. 1) and of those being already exploited outlines a concentration in the main low

depression areas where the most interesting and valuable aspect is the preservation of the

traditional way of life. The urban centres, with the specific architecture that give hints

about the past, but also well integrated into the present, represent other concentration

poles.

The table presents in a synthetic way the most important tourist sites, differentiated

on counties, in the same way they appear in the annex of Romania Tourist and Road Map

(Niculescu Printing House, 2007), with some additional information meant to stir potential

tourists’ interest

3. INTER-COUNTY TOURIST DISPARITIES IN THE

NORTHERN TRANSYLVANIA

These disparities are reflected at the level of the elementary infrastructure (roads,

accommodation units, tour operators and tourist/technique information centres) and of the

tourist integrated components.

These elements could at their turn constitute the genetic factors of these

differentiations.

The tourist specific material infrastructure represents an essential factor that

significantly contribute to the transformation of places or sites with recreational or leisure

potential into marketable tourist products and, at the same time, they provide resorts or

settlements with personality. With all these, the tourist material infrastructure constitutes

only a secondary offer of this activity.

These arrangements could be classified after their destination into:

accommodation, therapeutic, sports and recreational, commercial (for selling handicrafts

or souvenirs), tourist guiding or informational tourist units.

The accommodation units (543 in 2006), with an increasing number in comparison

to 2005, are territorially concentrated in Cluj and Maramureş Counties, rural pensions and

hotels being the best represented categories.

The typology and dominance of the accommodation units in these two counties,

underlines their tourist specialization: rural tourism in Maramures (Iza Valley, Vaser

Valley etc.), respectively cultural and business tourism in Cluj, the town of Cluj-Napoca

being a prestigious university centre and the a real promoter of the economic regional and

national development.


The most defficitary counties at this chapter (as illustrated in the following

diagram) are Sălaj, Bistriţa-Năsăud and Satu Mare. This aspect is not determined by a

defficitary tourist potential, but rather by lack of initiative in this direction, with a possible

explanation in a tardive constitution of this activity sector in this counties (included into

the 70’ five-years development plan), being somehow „obscured” by the already famous

tourist brands in the other region’s counties (this is also the probable reason why these

counties were not included into the small guide of the tourist map quoted in the table). The

three above-mentioned counties (Cluj, Bihor and Maramures) gather 80% of the

accommodation units in the region

Fig. 1.The repartition by counties of the accommodation units within the

NW Region (2006) Repartiţia pe judete a unitatilor de cazare din Regiunea Nord-Vest (2006)

Another cause, this time general, is the delayed privatization, preceded by the

collapse of the small resorts and being determined by procedural or investment delays as

well as by labor emigration that reduces investing initiative and tourist demand.

The average length of stay, according to INS data, was of 3.3 days, this value being

surpassed in the case of therapeutic resorts, especially the modernized ones (Băile Felix-

13 hotels, 4 pensions, 1 Mai – 1 hotel, 8 pensions), where it reaches 8.1 days, because of

the increased number of potential tourists this type of tourism addresses to.

The access to these resorts and tourist sites is rather difficult, because of the

circulation infrastructure deficiencies, both qualitative and quantitative (defficitary

connections especially with the mountainous areas - Apuseni Mt. (Băişoara, Vlădeasa etc),

Maramureş Mt.). According to INS, only 27.2% of the existing 11.858 km of roads were

modernized (especially the European roads – E60, E81).

Another problem is the lack of town roundabouts in order to mitigate pollution and

overcrowding, while, in rural areas, the lack of roads or pistes for animal traction vehicles,

agricultural vehicles or bicycles. This problem, in spite of some attempts, has not been

legally established by now.

In the future, the construction of the „Transylvania” Highway and the

modernization of the other existing roads would constitute a real opportunity for tourism

Bihor, 15%Bistriţa

Năsăud, 5%

Cluj, 27% Maramureş,

12%

Sălaj, 3%


development in the region (travel duration shortening), the present precarious

infrastructure determining the isolation of some tourist attractions (Băile Boghiş, Ocna

Şugatag, Sângeorz Băi etc).

The region’s railway network represents only 4% from the national one and faces

important problems because of the decreased passengers’ number, the main cause being

the disadvantage of the travel duration.

The aerial traffic is provided by 4 airports (Cluj-Napoca, Oradea, Baia-Mare and

Satu Mare), with an obvious prevalence for that in Cluj (80% of the total passengers).

Another important component of the tourist phenomenon is the specialized and

qualified labor, whose preparation could be achieved within the existing specialized

universities (Babes-Bolyai University, University of Oradea, private universities) or

within some professional schools, specialization „tourism and public alimentation”, the

highest number of graduates from such schools being reached in Bihor (14%) and Cluj

(10%) counties.

In 2005, only 1.12% from the total occupied population was involved in tourist

activities, the dominating counties being Bihor (46.000 persons – 1.6% from the occupied

population), Cluj (52.000 persons – 1.68 from the occupied population), while in Sălaj

and Bistriţa-Năsăud only 0.8% from the working population perform tourist activities.

Beside these tourism qualification forms, other specialization courses organized by

the National Centre of Tourist Education are also available, having variable durations and

covering instruction for all tourism functions and especially aiming at adults.

As regarding the rapport between Romanian and foreign tourists, the average value

is 3.54 Romanian tourists at 1 foreign tourist. The maximum value of this indicator is

reached in the Bihor County – 5.15 \ 1.

An increase of the foreign tourists number has been noticed lately, but evidently

inferior to that of the Romanians travelling abroad, the reasons being the more attractive

tourist offers (also financially). This aspect determines a negative tourist balance whose

recovering necessitates adequate strategies.

Under the management of the County Councils, the Tourist Information Centres

couldn’t accomplish their tasks – information, guiding or cooperation. There are also good

examples in this respect, one of them being the tourist information campaign initiated by

the Cluj-Napoca townhall, through which tourist information points were set in key tourist

sights and where tourists are provided with information and assistance both in Romanian

and in widespread foreign languages.

The rural tourism is managed by ANTREC, an association that promote rural

pensions by counseling them in organizing attractive tourist activities. The number of the

registered pensions continuously changes, because of the lack of motivation (reflected in a

permanent or temporary cessation of this activity) of some pensions’ owners.

4. MANAGERIAL MEASURES TO MITIGATE REGIONAL

DISPARITIES WITHIN TOURISM

Before trying to identify the best solutions to eliminate these dysfunctions in the

tourist sector, a SWOT analysis of the regional tourism was elaborated. This analysis is

mainly based on the aspects already mentioned in the previous paragraphs:

Strong points:


Strategic location in relation to tourists emitting countries and to the main

communication ways;

Increase of the tourists’ number in 2006;

Presence of balneoclimateric resorts and of a large tourist offer typology;

Harmonization of the national tourist legislation with that of the EU.

Weak points:

Reduced „low cost” accommodation units;

Degradation of the cultural heritage;

Environmental degradation in former mining areas;

Re-orientation of the internal and external tourist demand;

Lack of co-operation between tour-operators;

High costs versus moderate quality services;

Low average salaries (2oo-25o€) that do not stimulate large-scale tourism;

Defficitary promoting and information system.

Opportunities:

Access to F.E.D.R funds

Inter-regional and trans-frontiers cooperation;

Modernization of resorts and recreational areas;

Increase of the buying power in Romania;

Important resources for the agro-tourism development;

Diversification and quality increase of the tourist services that would help in

regaining tourists previously attracted by neighboring countries as Bulgaria, Turkey,

Czech Republic or Hungary;

Return of the Romanians working abroad.

Threats:

Delays in implementing strategies;

Absence of a tourist marketing system;

Disorganization of traditional communities (A. Tripon, 2oo6).

Taking into account the above mentioned aspects, some major development

strategies could be outlined by identifying areas with specialized and complex tourist

function which could constitute the main target points of the regional economic

development strategy and the most efficient way to eliminate inter-county disparities

though interconnection. These areas are also very attractive for investors.

In order to increase the local tourist circulation and to attract tourist flows from

other European countries, especially from neighboring countries, the following measures

have to be implemented:

Instruction and training of tourist staff at European standards, but also educating

tourists towards sustainable development practices. In this respect, beside the

modernization of the therapeutic resorts, a diversification of tourist products is necessary

(business or wellness tourism offers etc.), so that tourist seasonality could be eliminated;

another proposal is related to rural tourism units that could attract tourists by using

environmentally friendly equipments and techniques (renewable energy – solar,

geothermal etc.).

Providing tourist locations with high quality access ways;


Arrangement or re-arrangement of some intensely frequented tourist routes,

integration of some less exploited mountainous units (Pădurea Craiului, Ţibleş or

Vlădeasa) into the tourist circuit by implementing the required infrastructure;

Inter-county cooperation between resorts in order to promote joint tourist

attraction actions related especially to environmental protection, pollution factors control,

preservation of some valuable elements as natural resources, historical monuments,

ethnographic or folkloric values in each tourist area;

Development of the peri-urban tourism as a stringent necessity towards providing

recreational possibilities for low-income urban population;

Creation of a rural tourism system within which students from families with

reduced financial possibilities could benefit from a „holiday in the country”;

Promotion of an esthetic integration of rural and urban settlements into landscape

through initiating contests as ”The most beautiful street \ locality”, „My dwelling is a

flower” etc;

Development of specialized tourist types as: viticultural - Şimleu, Carei etc.,

religious - Nuşfalău, Bârsana, Nicula, Ciucea, Muntele Rece, Salva, Bichigiu, Strâmba,

Bălan, fishing, extreme sports (paraglide, delta wing, canoeing, motocross) - Biharia,

Ţibleş, Rodnei Mts., winter sports (ski, bobsleigh, luge) - Rodnei, Ţibleş, Gilău-Muntele

Mare Mts. etc.

- Introduction of some thematic tourist circuits with wide addressability as: „Salaj

and Maramures Wooden Churches Circuit”, „Roman Castrae Circuit”, „Medieval Castles

and Fortresses Circuit”, „Memorial Houses Circuit”, „Salt Mines Circuit”, „Tourist Speo-

circuit”.

- Arrangement of some traditional peasant dwellings (architecture, costumes,

food, music) in order to valorize and benefit within the tourist programs from local

mythology, customs or traditions.

- Setting up of a Regional Centre for Tourist Information and Management in

each important tourist area (Cluj, Oradea, Aleşd, Beiuş, Zalău, Şimleul Silvaniei, Satu

Mare, Tăşnad, Negreşti Oaş, Baia Mare, Sighetu Marmaţiei, Vişeul de Sus, Tg. Lăpuş,

Bistriţa, Năsăud, Dej, Huedin, Turda).

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Cocean, P.-coordonator, (2004), Planul de Amenajare a Teritoriului Regiunii de Nord-

Vest(PATR), Presa Universitară Clujeană, Cluj-Napoca (271pag.)

Cocean, P.- coordonator ,(2007), Amenajarea teritoriilor periurbane. Studiu de caz: zona

periurbană Bistriţa, Presa Universitară Clujeană, Cluj-Napoca (271pag.)

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