Regional cooperation and its role in declining the impact of world crisis over tourism activity in Romania.

Sztruten, Gina ; Oprescu, Alina ; Gheorghe, Camelia 等

1. INTRODUCTION

World crisis, with its tentacular effects, puts questions to any economist, sociologist, and so on, and it is becoming a topic currently on everyone's lips. Thus, in the present paper, we intend to examine some aspects related to the global crisis and its effects on tourism, with possibilities of relaunching this business with the help of regional developments. Studying the multitude of aspects of regional development, the latter can be given due attention and recognition in overcoming this unprecedented global economic situation (scale of phenomenon with its worldwide implications, is in our opinion, beyond the pattern of the crisis in'29).

2. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND ITS IMPORTANCE FOR ROMANIA, IN BOOSTING TOURIST MOVEMENT

The vast majority of tourist flows is concentrated primarily in the national territory, where the existence of tourist markets is a condition for the internationalization of those markets. Then, after the national borders the tourist flows expand near national and regional.

Innovations occur in the regions level. Indeed, the regions are the engine of European innovation, creativity, dynamism and entrepreneurship Europe.

Any "national" economic recovery plan has the odds only when it takes into account the regions, not only in the phase of preparation, but also in the implementation.

What has been done so far on by Romania in regional cooperation has had results and Romania's tourism has been kept away from the strong negative impact seen in other regions of the world. Once again the important European tourist traffic at the regional level has demonstrated its strength, well known worldwide. This period will be easier for larger companies but SMEs will suffer. Raising the taxes is a big mistake in these moments, when the holiday and business bookings are significantly down.

Direct impact on European hospitality sector: business travels, business events (congress, seminars ...), private trips/outings, search for cheaper prices, cost of credit.

Every time when Europe sets itself ambitious goals, these must be achieved in partnership with the regions. This is why regions and municipalities must communicate better with the European legislature that the objectives are realistic and feasible at local and regional level.

Multitude of regional cooperation initiatives to which Romania is part of constitutes ways of indirect achieving economic stability. Romania will assume a significant role regionally, based on experience in managing regional issues but also on good relations of friendship and cooperation with its neighbors.

3. CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION PROGRAMS

The basic objective of cross-border cooperation in the European Union is to integrate regions separated by national borders, but faced with common problems that must be addressed with common solutions. Cross-border cooperation has a central priority of increasing competitiveness in the border regions, further contribute to the economic and social areas adjacent to the border, since there are significant gaps between them. The strategic objective of these programs lies in: closing contacts between communities, economic factors, people in the border area belonging to the two neighboring countries, to facilitate joint development of border area, valuing comparative advantages of the area for the benefit of both countries.

Thus we can highlight the contribution of these programs in boosting tourism in these areas:

* The European Territorial Co-operation program Romania-Hungary 2007-2013.

Key challenges and opportunities in this program:

The border area is rich in (potential) tourism attractions, but the tourism income is limited on both sides on the border. Meanwhile, it is clear from the statistical data, that, Romania is an important destination of Hungarian visitors and vice versa, though many of the visitors do not arrive with traditional tourism purposes (excluding shopping tourism). Still, given the geographic proximity, and the relative complementarities of attractions, there's scope for the extension of mutual tourism, requiring the availability of information and a more active promotional activity.

Another important area of opportunity with regard to tourism development is the promotion of Hungarian and Romanian attractions as joint destinations.

* Cross-border Cooperation Program IEVP Hungary Slovakia --Romania--Ukraine 2007-2013

* The cooperation between the Regional Development Agency and South West and the Business Center Vidin.

* The program of cooperation "Regione Lazio" for exchange of experience in tourism.

Another important factor in reducing the negative effects of crisis on tourism, from the perspective that consists in cross-border cooperation in attracting common communitarian funds for development of these geographical regions.

4. COOPERATION PROGRAMS WITH COUNTRIES BORDERING THE BLACK SEA

Opportunity for cooperation with countries bordering the Black Sea is one of the main pillars of the regional economic relaunch. Promoting nautical sports tourism, cultural tourism with cruise ships on the Black Sea, shopping tourism and many other forms of tourism can be grounds for optimism in the future to counter the negative effects of global economic crisis. Even participating in the Tourism Fair of Romania in a substantial percentage of countries from South East Europe and especially the countries bordering the Danube and Black Sea (Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Czech Republic, Romania, Spain, Turkey, Hungary), showed trust by each of these countries for regional tourism development.

Black Sea Euroregion has more projects, like:

* Black Sea Traditions and Cultures.

* Black Sea Regional Expertise Network.

* Black Sea Menu.

* Improvement of tourist services in the cross-border area by setting up a passenger cruise line.

5. COOPERATION PROGRAMS IN ENVIRONMENT FIELD CAN BE A "BREATH OF AIR" IN REGIONAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

One of these programs is relaunched in cooperation with Turkey. The main sectors of cooperation in the environment field would be the following:

* Development of joint programs for the implementation of regional and international conventions on environmental protection, to which Romania and the Republic of Turkey are parties.

* Nature conservation.

* Management of sewage and industrial waste.

* Reducing air pollution caused by production of electricity and by industry.

* Prevention of pollution of the Black Sea.

* Environmental impact assessment.

* Solid waste management.

* Management of hazardous chemicals.

* Protection of natural lakes.

* Management of soils.

6. RURAL TOURISM AND AGRO-TOURISM KEY FACTORS FOR INTERNAL REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Special programs launched by the National Agency of Rural, Ecological and Cultural Tourism can help in passing easily over this hard period of economic recession. The "Holidays in the country" is a viable program that will attract a number of tourists, an increase compared to 2008 with an estimated 35%.

Because the tourism and rural tourism is all about in very high proportions of SMEs, we report cumulative actions to promote the tourism industry from which the tourism industry has to win. Family or LTD's leading businesses in this area, fail to support their financial promotion on average and long-term and therefore there is reason for the offer of rural tourism to be made available to interested parties by subsidiaries of the National Association of Rural, Ecological and Cultural Tourism, and other local associations, such as: Association for the Promotion and Development of Tourism Maramures, Bucovina Tourism Association, Tourism Association of Harghita, etc. But these groups are not only promoting but also defend the interests of its members in environmental protection actions, legislative actions, and training and development of human resource actions, etc.

7. HUMAN RESOURCE--KEY FACTOR IN REGIONAL REVITALIZATION

The key challenge and common goal across the industry should be to bridge the critical period and keep as many people as possible.

Companies attempting to lay off employees during this period will have negative consequences for both the company itself and the whole economy.

Free movement of persons and the right of employment in the EU makes possible and at the same time accelerates the phenomenon of regional economic recovery (with direct reference here to the border towns and beyond).

Urgent measures for survival in crisis period can be:

* Reduce travel tickets prices as a result of reducing oil prices.

* Decreased rates of tourist accommodation.

* Changing the VAT between 5-25% in Europe, depending on the country.

* Popularization regional tourism, the popularization of tourism in Romania along with Bulgaria (after the success of Spain and Portugal in the last 20 years). It is not very expensive and produces good results.

* Improve tourism infrastructure.

* Improve quality of services.

* Create conditions for economic recovery.

* Reduce the "burden" of bureaucracy faced by businesses in the tourism.

* Reallocation of labor.

* Encourage social tourism, contributing to the competitiveness of SMEs and indirectly to job creation.

* Outsourcing services for savings of 10-15%.

* Increase tourism services quality.

8. CONCLUSION

In the end should be stressed that regional development is becoming a tactic that the resort institutions should give importance in these rough times. In the present paper, we referred to a certain issue of the current time and of importance for the Romanian economy and society, namely the union of forces with the geographic region where we are, and with countries with common interests with ours, to develop tourism in the highest levels. Tourism is and will be a chance for the development of our nation and a way of better handling the world economic crisis.

9. REFERENCES

Buruiana G. & Emilian, R. (2007). Macroeconomic Politics in Tourism, A.S.E. Publishing, Bucharest

Cohen E. (2004). Contemporary Tourism--Diversity and change, Elsevier Butterworth Heinemann

Popa V. & Dinu M.S. (2008). Romania and regional stabilization process-ISBN 973-663-142-7

Stanciulescu, G. & Bran, Florina (2004). Regional Strategies and Politics of Sustainable Development in Danube Area. Challenges for Tourism., ASE Publishing, Bucharest

Van den Brande (2009). Interview for EurActiv Cehia, Published 6 March

*** www.bser.eu, Budget, Accesed on: 2009-07-13

*** www.huro-cbc.eu, Accesed on: 2009-07-1

Fig. 1. Total values per project (euros)

Total values per project (euros)

Black Sea Traditions and Cultures 249.072
Black Sea Regional Expertise Network 699.122
Black Sea Menu 485.693
Black Sea Cruise 688.615

Note: Table made from bar graph.