Tourism Development in a Rural Periphery. Case Study: the Sub-Carpathians of Oltenia

Rural areas are considered to be in a peripheral position relative to the urban centres. Dichotomies such as centre-periphery or urbanrural exist because rural areas have always been thought of as less developed, innovative, attractive, densely populated, accessible, etc. than the urban areas. In this study periphery is analysed in terms of distance from the centre, dependence, distinctiveness and discourse according to the view of the European Commission. The traditional approach of periphery associated with the distance from a central place in relation with markets, communication, access to information and services provided and, consequently, the idea of dependence of the rural space is altered due to tourism. Thus, tourism changes the relationships between centres and peripheries. Remoteness, naturalness, culture authenticity, vernacular architecture and gastronomy have become the distinctiveness sought by tourists. In tourism discourse periphery appears as an opportunity to be discovered and used accordingly. The growing demand for distinctiveness can represent a development opportunity for our study area, the Sub-Carpathians of Oltenia, a peripheral region both geographically and economically. Based on an empirical research, this paper aims at determining the place of tourism in the sustainable development strategy of the Su-Carpathians of Oltenia. The evaluation of the tourism potential of the area as well as the calculation of its human development index allowed us to reach the conclusion that tourism can generate development in our study area but it should be used as an activity to support the already existing traditional activities.