Tara Hategului – Retezat: the excellence ecotourism destination of Romania. A model of sustainable development through ecotourism

As a result of the project we delivered key tools to enhance the quality of public decision making for ecotourism development measures alongside nature protection. This tool ensures the monitoring of tourism flows and their impact on nature and on local communities.
The tourism strategy of the Tara Hategului – Retezat ecodestination has been updated based on the results of a quick assessment of the area, which included aspects such as identifying area usage patterns and visitors’ spatial distribution analysis.
The elaborated tourism monitoring system for ecodestinations consists of a monitoring methodology and questionnaire, and an Android application with the related database. The monitoring system was tested in the pilot phase, when we interviewed 272 visitors, covering peak-season and off-season periods (full cycle). The results and the analysis of the collected data were compiled into a monitoring report.
Based on the experience gained through this project, we have developed a monitoring manual addressed to other destination managers in Romania, a manual that includes useful information for planning and conducting a tourism monitoring process. The monitoring results and conclusions were presented for the stakeholders in the framework of a local workshop organized in the town hall of Hațeg. A much bigger-scale event was the National Workshop in Bucharest, where we highlighted the importance of statistical/ monitoring data in destination management.
In the Țara Hațegului – Retezat destination 8 guesthouses were evaluated through the Eco-Romania certification system, and 5 of them earned the Eco-Romania certificate. In addition, we have organized a green management workshop for the stakeholders.
The Tara Hategului – Retezat ecodestination is promoted through a brochure and a newly developed bilingual website.
As an additional result, the monitoring application has been replicated in six other destinations and serves the purpose of improving the quality of decision-making for sustainable development through ecotourism.

Executive AgencyAssociation of Ecotourism in Romania (AER)PartnersSocial and Health Tourism Development Association | Retezat Tourism AssociationContract NumberCSM 28ComponentEnvironmentCountyBrașovImplementation areaRegionalThematic areaSustainable rural developmentImplementation period01.04.2016-30.09.2017Budget of the project (CHF)76,121Swiss Contribution (CHF)66,971Project websiteturismretezat.roExecutive Agency websitewww.asociatiaaer.ro