Author: Maria Stoian (ANTREC) Presentation for Topic 4: Product Development Strategies for Better Visitor Experience 2nd European Ecotourism Conference 23-25 October 2013, Romania

1. INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME ECOTOURISM
PROGRAMS
University of Agronomic Science and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest
ANTREC Romania
INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA
GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME
ECOTOURISM PROGRAMS
CREŞTEREA VIZIBILITĂŢII PENSIUNILOR DIN
NEAMŢ PRIN PROMOVAREA UNOR
PROGRAME DE ECOTURISM
Ph.D. MARIA STOIAN
Honorary President of ANTREC Romania
Conf.univ.dr. MARIA STOIAN
1

2. INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME ECOTOURISM
PROGRAMS
ROMANIAN RURAL
AND ECOLOGICAL TOURISM
In 1994, when there was no guesthouse homologated yet in our
country, ANTREC was the organization that persuaded a group of
villagers to try something new, to open them households to visitors.
Association’s name included the word "ecologic" precisely to emphasize the fact that
it started from this concept.
Over the years the movement took shape, but due to several factors (infrastructure,
accessibility) hadn’t been uniformly developed throughout the country.
The localities that have natural and anthropic attractions and, in addition, are located near
major urban centers were somehow detached by the isolated ones.
In these places the concept of ecotourism has almost disappeared, mostly due to large
agglomerations that were formed.
Conf.univ.dr. MARIA STOIAN
2

3. INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME ECOTOURISM
PROGRAMS
What makes the role of
ANTREC Romania in rural
turism to be so important
consists precisely in the
vehement support of the
personal heritage preservation.
The children need to learn what
is the real value of the folk
culture and to learn to
appreciate it and preserve it.
•
ANTREC is a non-profit organization which identifies,
develops and promotes Romanian rural tourism.
•
ANTREC has got members from over 35 counties – including
experts in ecology, craftsmen, homologated guesthouses
and farm houses, gathering over 50.000 seats in over 1000
villages.
•
Since 1994 ANTREC is a member of EUROGITES – European
Federation of Rural Tourism.
Conf.univ.dr. MARIA STOIAN
3

4. INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME ECOTOURISM
PROGRAMS
GUESTHOUSES’ TIPOLOGY IN ROMANIA
Type of guesthouses:
–
–
85% are the houses of the locals
15 % are houses built particularly for
rural tourism
Who are the owners?
–
–
90% are locals
10% people from the big cities
Capacity:
–
–
–
–
Small (1-3 rooms) – 35%
Medium (3- 5 rooms) – 45%
Big (6 – 10 rooms) – 17%
For groups (10- 20 rooms) – 3%
80% of the gueshouses are located in mountaineous regions:
–
–
–
85% in villages
10% in small cities (ex villages) like: Horezu, Gura Humorului, Rasnov
5% in the villages situated near the big cities
Conf.univ.dr. MARIA STOIAN
4

5. INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME ECOTOURISM
PROGRAMS
THE ECOLOGICAL GUESTHOUSES
More than 20 years ago we divided guesthouses into two
categories, namely the touristic and agrotouristic ones.
The agrotouristic guesthouses had, in addition, the complexity given by their own farm and
which was a factor of interest both from the point of view of the food served during the
holiday, as well as it was for tourists and their children, who could take part in several
activities alongside the owners.
www.antrec.ro
Conf.univ.dr. MARIA STOIAN
5

6. INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME ECOTOURISM
PROGRAMS
NEAMT – A TOURISTIC REGION
Conf.univ.dr. MARIA STOIAN
6

7. INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME ECOTOURISM
PROGRAMS
NEAMT ECOTOURISTIC OPPORTUNITIES
One of the major advantages of Neamt County, compared with the
consacrated touristic destinations, is the one of natural environment
preservation, which remained unaltered by human activities, which
resulted in numerous natural reservations:
• Ceahlau National Park;
• Vanatori Neamt National Park;
• Bicaz-Hasmas Canyon;
• Gosman Forest;
• The Silver Forests;
• The Lily Field etc.
All these areas are rich in natural resources, in flora and fauna species declared endemic or
monuments of nature, rich fisheries fund, expressed in numerous rivers and lakes.
www.antrec.ro
Conf.univ.dr. MARIA STOIAN
7

8. INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME ECOTOURISM
PROGRAMS
ECOTOURISTIC PROGRAMS
•
Theme camps for children: foreign languages
training programs, painting & sculpture courses;
•
Fishing holidays;
•
Skiing holidays;
•
Wild life holidays;
•
Equestrian holidays;
•
Biking and walking holidays;
•
Extreme sports holidays.
Conf.univ.dr. MARIA STOIAN
8

9. INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME ECOTOURISM
PROGRAMS
ECOTOURISTIC FESTIVALS
To organize all kind of events in order to attract tourists with different occasions is a
quite new method in Romania, implemented only several years ago.
Nowadays, many people are going annually in Neamt to take part in festivals like:
•
Inns’ Festival;
•
“Ion Creangă” Story Festival;
•
The coffer with dowry – popular art festival.
Conf.univ.dr. MARIA STOIAN
9

10. INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME ECOTOURISM
PROGRAMS
ECO- OFFERS OF GUESTHOUSES
The marketing made by eco guesthouses should be, first of
all, a responsible one.
By this we mean that visitors must be properly informed about all aspects concerning their
holidays, about the services and products that can benefit on during their stay.
A good start in making this is
through the proposals of complete
offers - whether it is in a brochure or
on a website.
Let us take into account that an ecoholiday is more expensive than one
in a non-eco guesthouse, as the
costs supported by the host are also
higher, mainly due to offers
customization depending on tourist
demands.
Conf.univ.dr. MARIA STOIAN
10

11. INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME ECOTOURISM
PROGRAMS
Recreational opportunities are according to the natural environment of the region, so can be
extremely varied.
Tourists can:
→ visit national parks;
→ admiring the flora and the fauna in
the company of rangers;
→ make different sports with
professional instructors (rafting,
mountainbiking, paragliding, horse
riding, climbing).
Similarly, the meals are customized
according to the affections announced
by the tourists and that must be taken
into consideration.
Conf.univ.dr. MARIA STOIAN
www.antrec.ro
11

12. INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME ECOTOURISM
PROGRAMS
THE PROMOTION OF ECO
CONCEPT IN GUESTHOUSES
I synthesized a few ways to make a
self-marketing
exactly
in
the
guesthouse.
Programs
and events
Location and
surroundings
Traditional
products
LOCAL
ECO
MARKETING
Folk
costumes
and
traditions
Local
souvenirs
www.antrec.ro
Conf.univ.dr. MARIA STOIAN
12

13. INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME ECOTOURISM
PROGRAMS
TOURISTIC CIRCUIT IN NEAMT COUNTY
The guesthouses of Neamt are more and more involved in offering to their visitors all kinds of
touristic programs and circuits.
An exemple is presented below:
Ist day: Piatra Neamt – Lacul Rosu
Piatra Neamt – Bistrita Monastery
Bistrita Monastery – Pangarati Monastery
Pangarati Monastery – Bicaz Canyon
Bicaz Canyon – Lacul Rosu (Red Lake)
Dinner and accomodation
IInd day: Lacul Rosu – Durau
Lacul Rosu – Bicaz
Bicaz – Ceahlau (Durau) by bus or boat
Durau – hikes in the area
Dinner – organized in the touristic sheepfold
www.antrec.ro
Conf.univ.dr. MARIA STOIAN
13

14. INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME ECOTOURISM
PROGRAMS
TOURISTIC CIRCUIT IN NEAMT COUNTY
The guesthouses of Neamt are more and more involved in offering to their visitors all kinds of
touristic programs and circuits.
An exemple is presented below:
IIIrd day: Durau – Hanul Ancutei (Ancutei
Inn)
Durau – Vanatori Neamt (Aurochs Visit)
Vanatori Neamt – Neamt Citadel
Neamt Citadel – Humulesti (Ion Creanga Memorial
House)
Humulesti – Tarpesti (Nicolae Popa Museum)
Tarpesti – Hanul Ancutei (dinner, folk ensemble)
IVth day: Hanul Ancutei – Piatra Neamt
Hanul Ancutei – Agapia Monastery
Agapia Monastery – Varatec Monastery
Varatec Monastery – Piatra Neamt
Conf.univ.dr. MARIA STOIAN
14

15. INCREASING THE VISIBILITY OF NEAMT AREA GUESTHOUSES BY PROMOTING SOME ECOTOURISM
PROGRAMS
THANK YOU!
www.antrec.ro
www.vacantelatara.ro
HOLIDAYS WITH CHARME IN ROMANIAN VILLAGES!
Conf.univ.dr. MARIA STOIAN
15