Published in Scientific Papers. Series "Management, Economic Engineering in Agriculture and rural development", Vol. 24 ISSUE 2
Written by Ana-Mariana DINCU, Manuela-Dora ORBOI, Florinel IMBREA, Ilica Merima IMBREA, Andreea Adriana PETCOV, Diana MARIN

In this article the authors present the tourist activity in the Western Development Region, analyzing the evolution of the following indicators: tourist accommodation facilities, accommodation capacity in operation, the number of incoming tourists and the total number of overnight stays in tourist accommodation facilities. The information needed for this study were provided by the local authorities, the National Institute of Statistics and other bibliographic sources. The analysis, centralization and processing of the obtained data allowed the elaboration of the most important conclusions regarding the evolution of the main tourist indicators found in the studied area. Tourists arriving in the Western Development Region are attracted by the natural tourist potential, which is represented by rich natural resources and the existence of unique natural elements, recognised and protected through the numerous protected natural areas, including the Retezat National Park, the most important in Europe, but also by the existing anthropic potential. On the territory of the region, there are 4 tourist resorts, 6 of which are of national interest and 8 of which are of local interest. The authors of the work made a diagnosis regarding the evolution of the tourist accommodation structures, the capacity of the tourist accommodation structures, existing and in operation, but also other very important aspects for the tourist activity in the analyzed area. The tourist accommodation structures in the Western Region had an upward trend in the analyzed period, the same evolution can be observed in terms of the existing accommodation capacity. Instead, the accommodation capacity in operation had an oscillating evolution from one year to the next, with the most accommodation places being found in 20 5, and the fewest in 2020. The total number of tourists arriving in the region recorded an upward trend until 20 9, and in the pandemic, arrivals drastically decreased, but then, from 202 they began to register slight increases. Tthe number of overnight stays followed a similar tendency, the lowest number being recorded in 2020, both for Romanian and foreign tourists. Therefore, the development of tourism in the Western Development Region is accessible also thanks to the accommodation possibilities for tourists who want to spend their leisure time in this region.

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