Vol. III, no. 2/2012

Gastronomic Traditions and Eating Habits in the Far East

By Ştefan Constantin

One of the little known and mysterious regions of the world in the eyes of Western people is the Far East. Most have a very hazy and unclear view of this region’s culture, nations, languages, religions and cuisine. Focusing on the local gastronomy of the countries of the Far East, this article aims to clear some wide-spread myths and misconceptions regarding Asian food and Asian people and offer a clear and impartial description of the regional cuisine and culture to potential tourist and curious Westerners alike. The current paper will offer its readers concise descriptions of dishes, beverages, restaurants and elements of history and local culture of China and other countries of the Far East. Furthermore, it will point out some of the more unusual features of the local eating habits and attempt a brief comparison between Eastern and Western cuisine.

Gastronomic Traditions and Eating Habits in the Far East

By Ştefan Constantin

One of the little known and mysterious regions of the world in the eyes of Western people is the Far East. Most have a very hazy and unclear view of this region’s culture, nations, languages, religions and cuisine. Focusing on the local gastronomy of the countries of the Far East, this article aims to clear some wide-spread myths and misconceptions regarding Asian food and Asian people and offer a clear and impartial description of the regional cuisine and culture to potential tourist and curious Westerners alike. The current paper will offer its readers concise descriptions of dishes, beverages, restaurants and elements of history and local culture of China and other countries of the Far East. Furthermore, it will point out some of the more unusual features of the local eating habits and attempt a brief comparison between Eastern and Western cuisine.

Social Tourism – an Alternative Form of Tourism in Romania

By Georgică Gheorghe, Daniel Bulin, Puiu Nistoreanu

Social tourism is a particular form of tourism practiced by social groups with limited income and oriented to their cognitive, cultural and recreational needs. Concretely, the term "Social tourism" is based on tourism services offer a low price. These holidays may be accompanied or educational services and/or therapeutic benefit services. They may also be specially built camps for use by persons with disabilities. On the other hand, social tourism can refer to highlighting of tourist sites and natural heritage, cultural, artistic, historical or geographically isolated areas less known, thus pursuing economic boost through the development of poor areas tourism impact on local communities. This paper proposes to identify which are and on what does social tourism programs in Romania. The paper is structured as follows: introduction to the social tourism in Romania, social tourism programs, tourism indicators and conclusions.

Hospitality - a component of Romanian Rural Tourism Products

By Maria Roxana Dorobanţu, Puiu Nistoreanu

Tourism is an important sector of the economy, with a remarkable growth, with much higher opportunities than other sectors of the economy, which has shown that it can overcome some of the States yet. In the coming years expects tourism to develop in such a way that its effects are unlikely to occur with more intensity on a large number of urban and rural settlements. From the perspective of modern man, rural tourism can represent great chance in the sprawling unification process, offering the possibility to approach people, to know, to discover the life and culture of others filming his fellowmen, to better understand those with whom they live, to struggle together, thus creating natural or cultural heritage, hoping to maintain his and transmission as it looks today. The sustainable development of the rural areas constitutes a high priority for Romania.

Influence of social media in choice of touristic destination

By Răzvan Dina, Gabriel Sabou

In a society dominated by information, online communication between people, companies and groups comes as an easy, normal, ordinary solution. The spectacular development of social media applications, characterizing nowadays online communication systems, determine more and more people and businesses to use them for acquiring and giving information, for promoting or criticizing products and services. Despite the fact that the use of social media applications seem very efficient, cheap and easy to use for promoting a company’s products or services, there is a high risk of failure associated with. The organization has to take into account the messages transmitted might be received differently by the targeted users. Hence, a well documented communication strategy is needed also for social media applications which, based on community particularities, on different possible behaviors of community members, on past information and feedback, can successfully construct a positive image for the company. The purpose is to efficiently and effectively make known a company’s products and services, but also, to react fast and in the most appropriate manner when negative rumors from truly or deceitfully unhappy customers are expressed through social media channels. The current paper aims to present the main issues related to the use of social media applications in presenting and promoting a company’s products and services with special focus on hospitality and touristic services. To this purpose, a research was performed on 123 Romanian young people regarding their trusted sources of information when choosing a touristic destination. The results show that online environment is considered as a trustworthy source of information and social media channels are intensely used for acquiring information before planning a trip.

Trends in International Tourism

By Andreea Marin-Pantelescu

Travel and tourism has many positive benefits, including that it is for many countries, the main source of job creation and revenue (Pender and Sharpley, 2005). Tourism provides around 6 to 7% of the world’s jobs and millions more indirectly via the multiplier effect in other sectors from construction to agriculture or telecommunications. Also tourism accounts for 30% of the world’s exports of services (US$ 1 trillion a year) and 45% of the total export of services in developing countries (World Tourism Organization, 2010). In 2012, the tourism industry reached an historical point with one billion international arrivals in one year for the first time according to World Tourism Barometer (2013). Taking in considerations these facts, the paper presents the evolution of the international tourism in the world analyzing the trends and the economic implication.

Tourism Sustainable Development and Regional Policy in North-West Region of Romania

By Gabriela Stănciulescu, Anca Dodescu, Lavinia Chirilă

The paper presents research findings about the evaluation of the EU regional (cohesion) policy through Regional Operational Programme 2007-2013 for the North-West Region of Romania in the field of tourism sustainable development and promotion of tourism. The paper specific goals are to identify projects contracted and completed until 1.10.2012, to evaluate the regional impact of these projects through indicators achieved and to understand main barriers and problems faced beneficiaries from the North-West Region of Romania in the implementation phase of projects dedicated to tourism sustainable development and promotion of tourism. The paper concludes with recommendations in the elaboration and implementation of regional policy in Romania regarding tourism sustainable development based of the Regional Operational Programme 2007-2013 experience.

Important outcomes of the 22nd international conference of the – RESER–European Association for Research on Services, entitled "Services and economic development: local and global challenges

By Maria Ioncică

Papers Presented at International Conferences, with Program Committee, in Romania

RSAI World Congress 2012, 9-12 May 2012, Timişoara, Romania

The Impact of the Economic Crisis in the IT & C Industry - Evidence from Bucharest

By Claudia Popescu, Alexandru Gavriș

A case study for Bucharest city, Romania. It was presented at the 32nd International Geographical Congress in Cologne

Books Published by Publishing Houses

Managementul riscului la nivelul turoperatorilor europeni

By Ciuchete Georgiana

Operationalizarea transporturilor turistice aeriene

By Elisabeta Molnar

Spanish hotel-real estate foreign investment evolution: 2000-2010

By Oana Mădălina Driha