Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 25 ISSUE 3
Written by Radu Andrei IOVA, Daniela CREȚU, Oana Roberta CREȚU

Rural tourism is a component of economic and social development but also of rural civilization. The issue of rural area is extremely complex and its economic and social development has not yet been sufficiently addressed, in fact lacking a unitary concept on how the rural area of our country can be included in an evolutionary process. The tourism potential of Călărași county is given by the multitude of natural and anthropogenic tourism resources it possesses. The county location along the Danube and Borcea branch represents one of its main assets, which is why we set out to survey the perception of decision-makers in the localities located along Borcea branch of the Danube in Călărași county, in order to highlight the unused potential of the area. The research recorded the opinions and attitudes of 118 respondents, decision-makers in the localities located on the banks of Borcea Branch, Călărași county, regarding the development of rural tourism in this area. The questionnaire, with a number of 12 questions, 11 questions with multiple answer options and one open question, also included 4 filter questions. Starting from the consideration that in the development of the objectives and strategy for the rural tourism sector in the localities bordering Borcea Branch, Călărași county, the opinion and involvement of decision-makers from these localities is important, we surveyed and interviewed people who can play an important role in this regard. We note that 64% of the respondents, especially those who work in the city halls but also some of the managers, want to get involved in the development of rural tourism in the localities bordering Borcea Branch of the Danube. Also, 86% of the respondents believe that rural tourism could be a factor in the economic and social development of rural localities, by creating new jobs, stimulating the consumption of agri-food products and increasing revenues to local budgets.

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