Sustainable rural tourism in the Romanian Carpathians

While communism led to rapid structural change with an emphasis on urban and industrial development, the growth of unemployment in Romania, since 1989, has left many rural families dependent on the small farms they have received through land restitution. While viable holdings may emerge over the long term, there is an immediate need for diversification to generate ancillary sources of income. The paper examines this issue in the context of the Romanian Carpathians where rural employment is central to the 'mountainology' programme adopted by the Commission (now Agency) for Mountainous Regions created in 1990. The study concentrates primarily on rural tourism which received strong support from central government and from external sources over recent years. The critical factors for successful development are emphasized, including fiscal incentives, environmental policies and the growth of institutions at all levels.