Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 24 ISSUE 4
Written by Mihaela STANCIU, Liviu MARCUTA, Alina MARCUTA, Cristiana TINDECHE, Mariana PREDA (ALEXE)

Agritourism offers rural areas a chance to grow by diversifying the local economy, generating employment, and reviving communities. It also helps to value rural culture, traditions, and natural landscapes while drawing visitors seeking out genuine, environmentally conscious experiences. Agritourism encourages balanced economic development, lowers rural-urban migration, and helps communities become more self-sufficient by boosting local produce and assisting with agricultural endeavors. Agritourism promotes ethical behaviors including waste management, the use of renewable energy sources, and the conservation of natural resources, all of which support environmental preservation and ecological awareness in the framework of sustainable development. Thus, in addition to raising the standard of living in rural areas, agritourism is essential to building a robust and sustainable economy. The research aimed to identify the regions with the greatest growth potential, assess tourist flows and propose recommendations for a more balanced distribution of tourism activities. The methodology included a comparative analysis of statistical data from the period 2020-2023 regarding the capacity and use of guesthouses by region and macro-region, using annual growth indicators to measure the evolution of tourism demand and supply. The data were collected from official sources and interpreted to highlight both growth trends and regions with low potential, with the intention of offering helpful data for the creation of agritourism sustainable development plans. The findings were used to provide a set of conclusions and suggestions for Romania's agritourism industry's growth and diversification.

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