The Socio-Cultural Impact of Tourism in Viscri, Romania: A Literature Review

This literature review examines the socio-cultural impact of tourism in Viscri, Romania, a village renowned for its traditional Saxon architecture and cultural heritage. It explores the positive and negative impacts of tourism on the local community, including economic development, cultural preservation, and social change. The review analyzes various studies and perspectives on the relationship between tourism and local communities, highlighting the importance of sustainable tourism practices and community involvement in tourism development.

Dissertation - A Literature review
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Literature review
According to Călina, et. al. (2017), The UK is one of the influential countries in Europe which is
a sovereign state comprising of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Tourism within
the UK is one of the foremost industries which contributes to the development and growth of the
economy. According to the data of 2011, there are 15.3 million visitors who spent their leisure
time that spends over £9.4bn which represents the inbound visitors. Recently, the tourism in the
UK is having the potential growing faces challenges due to increasing inbound and outbound
tourism. The tourism industry is considered as one of the rapidly mounting industries in all over
the world that consist the GDP of 11.6%. Due to changing the lifestyle of the peoples due to the
sudden increase in the income level that opens up of the multinational and economy corporation
that will lead to the steep growth of the tourism industry in the UK. The attention of the tourism
shifts from the destinations to emerge the destination.
Due to the increase in the technology, the barriers in the travel industry have been broken and
there is a free flow of the trade. The industry of the tourism has been becoming the multiple
actives that only focuses on the integration of the entertainment, shopping and recreation,
education and cultural business that is having the development centre. The tourism industry is
deeply affected the technological, social and the economic factors. These factors contribute to
influencing the tourism at the destinations. The economy of the country is the bloodline that
devoted or contributed in the major amount in increasing the level of the tourism. The policies
that have been developed the government helps in providing the basic guidelines to the
framework that controls the activities of the industry. In the development of the tourism industry,
the basic infrastructure is important. The travel operators and travel agents perform a very crucial
role in the catalyst in the tourism industry. As all know the industry of the tourism is growing at
the fast pace, therefore, the industry has to suffer from the various challenges (Jurcău & Popa,
2012).
According to Vana & Malaescu (2016), In the present scenario, the tourism is the largest and the
dynamical sector that consists of the external economic activities. The improvement and
escalation rates double the volume of inflow of foreign currency, enhancement of the
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infrastructure and the introduction of the new development and the educational experience that
affects the various sectors of the economy but it contributes the economic development and the
society of the country in a positive way. Most of the highly developed country such as the United
Kingdom is having the accumulated the big deal in the social and economic welfare that derives
the profit from the tourism. As per the recent statists, the tourism is contributing to the 10% of
the employs and world’s income which is listed in the tent’s workforce. The tourism’s actual and
the economic impact is considered as astonishing in the foreign exchange which is the way of
balancing the foreign trade. There are various positive and negative sides of the tourism that
boom for the local communities (Ngo, et. al., 2017).
According to the Kim, et. al. (2013), Travel and tourism do not involve travelling abroad which
takes place within the domestic country, trips to the official meetings, visits to the attraction, city
breaks and sports events or the concerts. The tourism is categorised into three parts that are
domestic tourism, inbound tourism and outbound tourism. Domestic tourism involves the
residents of the country that travels within the country when the holidays that are spent in the
same countries is considered as domestic tourism. The inbound tourism is the tourism that
comprises the activities of the non-residents travelling which is given to the country from the
outside the environment that no longer than the 12 consecutive months for the business, leisures
and the other. The outbound tourism is another types of tourism that include the activities of the
residents of the same country and they travel for staying in the outside places of residence and
outside the usual environment more than the 12 consecutive months for the purpose of business
and leisures.
The main activity of the individual travels stay in the place of the external environment for the
purpose of leisure’s, business and other business. The tourism is having the different impact on
the cultural and social aspects ion the particular area that depends on the religious and cultural
strength. The interaction between the host and tourist community which is considered as one of
the factors that affects the community as the tourist in the traditions, standards and local customs.
The positive impact of the social-cultural positive impact involves the local community that
mixes the people with the diverse backgrounds that lead to the developer for improving the
practices and lifestyles of the tourist. It improves the local life of the community by improving
the local facilities and the infrastructure that leads to the better health care, employment
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opportunities, education and income. Most of the cultural and social will provide the local
communities for the exhibitions and entertainment and so on (Lee, 2013).
The rural tourism will lead to the declining that can be revived to the urban areas for the purpose
of employment as the jobs that will be available by the tourism industry. The UK is considered
as the best example of the tourist destination that derived various benefits of the positive
influence on the social-cultural aspects of the countries.
Social-cultural impacts of tourism
According to the Aitchison, et. al. (2014), the social and the cultural are having the positive
impact that creates in the terms of the social change within the lives of the local community
people, lifestyle changes and improved the infrastructures. The impact of the social-cultural
impact can be counted in the terms of the monetary benefits and having the economic
development within the society. It is also having the positive impact on the surroundings and
nature. Tourism affects the cultural and social aspects of the particular region that depends on the
strength of the regions. The positive impact of the social-cultural impact of the tourism is that it
boost up the huge money that invests to save the local heritage in order to provide the better local
facilities, protect the local heritage and to develop the infrastructure for creating the better
holiday facilities, learning and organizing the better social events for providing the better
lifestyle for the local people. The environment that creates the positive surroundings help in
interact with the tourist and mix with the diverse people from the diverse background that creates
the heritage and friendly cultures in the regions. The tourism industry provides better services
that provide employment opportunities within the regions to migrate to earn the livings.
There are negative impacts of the social-cultural of the tourism on the Viscri, Romania. Due to
the heavy traffic, the transportation and communications will not be able to deal with the
increasing and leading to the overcrowding and the poor sanitation that will lead to the diseases
bot to the visitors and as well as the local people. The interruption of the visitor disturbs the local
culture and creates the disturbance the people. The local people of the Viscri, Romania copies
the lifestyle of the tourist that outcomes and its demonstration effect will lead to the loss of
native traditions and customs. Due to increase in the tourism activities, there are certain visitors
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that enter to fetch the easy money from the tourist that will lead to the anti-social activities and
crime (Yang, et. al., 2013).
Authenticity in rural destinations
The Authenticity focuses on the validity of the structure, objects and artefacts that determines the
originality of the object or sites its social context and structures. The authenticity is considered as
the key motivator for the tourist that involve the interest of foreign cultures and destination that
carets the good reproduction and continuation of the cultures. It is considered as the key
expensive being memorable that is an inauthentic object that leads to the inauthentic experience.
The level of authenticity will describe the experience of the tourist.
(Source: Andersson & Lundberg, 2013)
The above point shows the levels of the authenticity and on every aspect involves the different
statement of authenticity and its diverse perception of the tourists. It displays the level and
description of the level of authenticity which is derived by reviewing the credible literature. The
tourist perceives the product as the authentic which depends on the motivation or the views.
The impact of social-cultural of tourism refers to the ways in which the area of the tourism
changes with regarding the individual behaviours, communities, values, structure, lifestyle and
overall excellence of life with the context of visitors and destinations.
There is positive and as well as negative impact of the social-cultural impact of tourism. The
social-cultural of the tourism industry provides new opportunities and improves the
infrastructure that contributes to improving the quality of life and standard of the individual. Due
to the tourism host interaction, the source of revenue is generated. The activities of the tourism
promote the social interaction within the host community and contribute in preserving the
historic buildings that add beauty to the country. The culture of the tourism is having a great
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impact on the revitalisation of crafts, arts and local culture and the transformation of host
behaviour. The culture of the tourism adds the authenticity which is not lost due to the increasing
attraction of the visitors to the destination.
(Source: Andersson & Lundberg, 2013)
The negative impact of the cultural tourism is that it divides the community who have and who
do not have experienced it before. As the increasing activities of the tourism, the level of
overcrowding also increases day by day. The tourism leads to interaction between the host
community and local community but its negative is that the attitude of the host community is
getting worse towards the tourist that leads to the erosion of local dialect. The tourism host
interaction leads to the conflict among the incompatible demands of the tourist and hosts. The
key cultural impact of tourism is that it destroys the traditional culture of the century and host
behaviour can be transformed.
The impact of the social-cultural is categorised into three parts that are tourism host interaction,
development of tourism and key cultural impact. Due to the increase in the physical development
of tourism and relationship growth the industry is making its place in the heart of people. The
Tourism is having the great impact on the Viscri, Romania. Due to the continuous fall or loss of
the culture, there is the great impact of tourism on local common the cultural and heritage
tourism (Nunkoo & Ramkissoon, 2012). The Viscri, Romania, is known for its natural beauty but
due to the overflow of the visitors, the country is rapidly losing its beauty. The behaviour of the
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tourist leads to the loss of the heritage and culture such as over crowd, over pollution, and so on.
It is quite necessary to take the necessary steps for making the symbiotic relationship, for this the
community to input their efforts in the tourism planning and gaols settings which is essential.
The residents of the local community are being seen increasingly as the tourism product the
residents of destination needs to act as like the tourism product. The planning such as national,
international, domestic, community or the regional is important aspects of the tourism which
plays an essential function in accomplishing the aims and objectives that is ensures both the
ongoing benefits and satisfaction for the citizens of the destination areas.
In order to encourage the local and host community, it is necessary to participate and involve in
the tourism development planning that requires knowledge that brings various benefits to the
local community as well as visitors. The community of the Viscri, Romania, perceives various
benefits from the tourism that will contribute to improving the tourism development within the
country.
Impact of tourism on local communities
The UK is having the integral features for the tourism sector development that involves the
visitor attraction. The country is having the significant cultural heritage and historical
background. It is having the wide range of the opportunities who investigates the new markets in
order to find out the new niche market for incorporating the new cultural events. The
The Viscri, Romania is the part of the United Kingdom that is having various cultural and
heritage destinations. The tourism brings a huge contribution to the improvement of the social
infrastructure within the destination. The cultural destination is measured as the positive impact
of visiting the attractions. There are various situations that be present in the tourism behind the
preservation and awareness of local traditions and culture.
According to the Lee, (2013), it argues that the social-cultural impact affects the Viscri, Romania
that is designs to accomplish the ideals of sustainable development. The impact of social-cultural
can be accomplished when there is an communication between the local community and visitors.
The reason behind the Viscri, Romania is that the environment of the country is interactive. The
community interacts with the visitors who come to visit the country. The environment of the
Viscri, Romania is known for the people’s tourism that concentres on the day to day changes of
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the excellence of life of the citizens in the destinations. Woosnam (2012), States that host
interaction and tourist not only having the much effect on the society but it affects the tourist
who comes to visit the society.
The social-cultural impact is having both the positive and negative impact on the Viscri,
Romania that affects both the host communities and visitors. As the impact of the social-cultural
tourism carets the social tensions for the country. The actions of the host country are changes in
such as way that initiates the tourist. At the time of staying of the tourist with the local residents,
the interaction comes as the modification of quality of life with the host community, family
contact, attitude, behavioural patterns, ceremony, creative expressions and so on.
The tourism activities within the Viscri, Romania has been associated with the behaviours,
culture, traditions and values. It uses the framework that host the tourist to learn better from each
other with the way of interaction. Due to the tourism activities the host community of the Viscri,
Romania becomes more responsive and educated that provides quality of services to the tourist.
With the context the interaction between the tourist and local community there is the production
of new ideas, values and motivations in the economic and social progress. It revitalizes the
culture of the community’s life and tradition for attracting the foreign visitors (Carlisle, et. al.,
2013).
Rural Tourism in Viscri, Romania
The development of the infrastructure within the rural area of Viscri, Romania is having the
potential for the tourism that supports the exiting and sustainable life of the destination
development. The objective of the showcase in the rural areas such as culture, art and heritage is
affected due to increase in the tourism sector. People from outside countries visit the place and
try to expand their culture and heritage which is rapidly adopted by the rural locations within the
village of Viscri, Romania. The rural people of Viscri, Romania are rich in the handlooms,
textiles and craft which are considered as the set of the country and influences the visitors to visit
the destinations. Increase in the tourism in the country lead to provide benefit to both the socially
and economically and enables the interaction between the local population and tourist that will
lead to increase and enriching the experiences of both the countries (Lee, 2013).
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This will promote the village as the primary tourism product and spread its social economic
benefits to the rural and the geographical regions. The government of the Viscri, Romania will
help in creating the involvement of the local community in the work plan implementation of
tourism development that creates the revenues for the host community’s service providers. The
rural tourism adds the value through the packaged program in craft and art which is imparted by
the skilled local autisms.
Socio-cultural impacts of tourism in Viscri, Romania
Romania is the country that is situated in Central Europe and it's national that is uprising held in
1989. It is the diverse country that heartily welcomes the tourist so that they can enjoy the
heritage and culture of the different country, scenic splendours and opportunities for the leisure.
Romania is highly rich in the tourism infrastructure and provides good marketing services to the
tourist that may include the tourist-related services and facilities. The country is listed in the
United Nations in which five cities are acknowledged by the UNESCO in world cultural
heritage. One of the listed sites that are addressed under the UNESCO is Viscri fortified church
which is the famous church in Romania. It was built by the ethnic German Transylvanian Saxon
community when the city is addressed under the Kingdom of Hungary.
The Mihai Eminescu Trust was incorporated in the year 1987, in London, United Kingdom. The
trust is working for the conservation of the heritage side of Romania and supporting the
conservation Transylvania’s Cultural Heritage in Romania. It is working for the preservation and
renewal of villages and commune in Transylvania and the Maramures, two of the most unspoilt
regions of Europe.
It is delicately working for the conservation of the old frau fernolend’s house which is in Viscri.
The Mihai Eminescu Trust has given a new life to the whole village. It is completely changing
the whole picture by reviving the old heritage and culture of the old frau fernolend’s house.
People and local citizens are providing a helping hand in this Nobel cause by working with them.
Prince Charles visited Romania in 2003 and he stated the reason for choosing Romanian house in
particular. He said that there is something positive in this place. We can learn a lot of things from
every bit of this place. There is something magical and catching in the air. The last corner of
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Europe where you see true sustainability and complete resilience, and the maintenance of entire
ecosystems to the benefit of mankind and also for nature.”
The conservation projects have changed the lives of more than 500 people who used to live in
the small houses of the village inViscri, Romania. The Prince of Wales Foundation launched in
Romania, helped people in gaining a new perspective on the sustainability and the heritage
conservation (Andersson & Lundberg, 2013).
Before the launch of the project in Romania, the localities were putting their best efforts to
conserve the beauty but the arrival of the project, their methods improved to many folds. Now,
they can use the advanced technology and techniques with their traditional ones to conserve their
heritage.
The project was launched on 2 June in 2015, and till now, the people had witnessed the high
level of changes. They can now find the media people easily roaming in their village which
points at the high rate of the popularity of their village after this project.
The project is working with people and getting their huge support. It aims at working with
people and educates them or inherits a new skill or talent in them, which in long term will help
them to acquire and find new livelihoods.The project is doing wonders in lives of the people. It is
improving and helping them in earning their livelihoods. It is continuously working on
improving their living standards which will automatically help in increasing their income and
improving their health and hygiene. The trust had helped the sites to gain wider attention and
response from rest of the world. People are now taking immense interest in visiting the place and
witness its model of sustainability.
It is helping in spreading a positive word of mouth among the people. They seem to be more
aware and concern about their heritage conservation. The tremendous growth and development
projects by the trust helped the place to regain its world heritage site status again. The result is
working in its favour. The land prices in that area are continuously on a rise. Due to which global
players are taking interest in investing there and developing business modules there (Vana &
Malaescu, 2016).
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Its core agenda is “value the past, but build for the future”. Its environmental friendly activities
are helping it in attaining this goal. They are working for zero percent carbon emission which
will help in reducing the will effects of global warming. The world can be made a better place to
live with the collective measures only. It is high time now when we are ignoring our nature and
its resources but now we must take care of it to continue living on planet Earth.
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