Journal Archives

Exploring the symbolism of traditional Szekely gates in heritage tourism

Author: , , , , and

Gates represent an important component of the Romanian domestic life since historical times. They function as a barrier between the sacred family space from inside the household and the space and potential dangers from outside it. Traditional wooden gates have been inscribed with specific elements, thus functioning simultaneously as a household utility and conserving a common identity through their symbolism. Szekely gates represent a lesser-known and studied element of ethnocultural heritage, although the area where they are located has been in the last few years and will probably continue to be a very dynamic and sought after tourism destination. The wooden Székely gates, found in areas inhabited by this ethnic minority, represent a true accumulation of both Romanian and Székely rituals and symbols. The aim of the study is to highlight the importance of the gates for the traditional ethnographic heritage of this ethnic minority with real implications for the development of local cultural and heritage tourism. The objectives of the study consist in identifying the main areas of distribution for Székely gates in Transylvania, the significance of their main symbols and the level of their current national and international promotion. The research methodology included direct observations, GIS techniques, and field investigations. The results of this exploratory study show the location of the traditional Székely gates and their diversity, and the coexistence of a Romanian symbolism with one that is exclusively local through specific motifs and colours. This diversity and coexistence of symbols gives the possibility of inserting Székely gates as added cultural values into an already visible and viable tourism area.

Keywords: , , , ,
Issue: Volume 12, Issue 1, 2018

Stakeholder perspectives on climate change effects on tourism activities in the northern Romanian Carpathians: Vatra Dornei resort case study

Author: , , and

Less approached by scientific literature, stakeholder perspective on the effects of climate change for tourism activities is a very actual topic. As an essential part of the complex study of climate – tourism relationship, it needs to be investigated and illustrated through study cases. The present paper approaches this original topic for Vatra Dornei complex spa and mountain resort. Located in the northern part of Romanian Carpathians this destination depends to a great extent on climate resources which show a clear variability of main parameters on which its outdoor activities are based. In this context the voice of stakeholders involved in the local tourism industry is of great importance to certify and illustrate previously obtained modeling evidences. The present paper consequently outlines the main results of a survey undertaken on the topic of climate change effects on tourism in Vatra Dornei in the attempt to better characterize this complex interrelationship.

Keywords: , , , , ,
Issue: Volume 8, Issue 1, 2014

Romanian spa tourism: a communist paradigm in a post communist era

Author: , , and

Spa tourism is one of the oldest forms of tourism which continuously evolved in time as the leisure industry paradigm and the consumers’ behavior changed. Similar to other countries in Central and Eastern Europe, spa tourism is an old phenomenon in Romania which expanded to the dimensions of a well defined tourism industry during the mass tourism period which also corresponded to the communism epoch. Although severely affected by the major political and socio-economic changes which occurred after the Revolution in 1989, this industry coexists with new emergent forms of tourism orienting, itself towards new dimensions embraced by the contemporary leisure consumerism (e.g. medical tourism, cosmetic treatments). Lying on considerable balneal and climate resources and displaying an important communist heritage both in physical terms (large and massive tourism structures) and in virtual and psychological terms (social supportive ticket granting system), Romanian spa tourism faces various challenges in the attempt to adapt in a new tourism era.

Keywords: , , ,
Issue: Volume 5, Issue 2, 2011

The Impact of Deindustrialisation on Human Resources in Câmpulung Muscel Depression

Author: and

Industrial activities are part of the urban environment and oftenly they are considered to be determinants for urbanisation. The process of industrialisation in Câmpulung Depression, started since the beginning of the XX century and reached its climax during the communist

Keywords: , , , , ,
Issue: Volume 4, Issue 2, 2010

Host Community Perspective on Social Sustainable Tourism – Case Study of Gura Humorului – Bârgău Transcarpathian Corridor

Author:

Full text .pdf The social dimension of sustainable tourism has been more recently introduced than ecologic and economic dimensions and it focuses on host community as its core element. It is however of great difficulty to quantify through universally accepted

Issue: Volume 2, Issue 1, 2008
About journal

Title: Human Geographies - Journal of Studies and Research in Human Geography
ISSN online: 2067-2284
ISSN print: 1843-6587
Imprint: University of Bucharest
Frequency: Biannual (May&November)
First volume: 1/2007
Current volume: 17/2023
Language: English
Indexed in: SCOPUS, ERIH PLUS, EBSCO (SocINDEX), ProQuest (Social Science Journals, SciTech Journals, Natural Science Journals), Index Copernicus, National Technical Information Service (NTiS), Bodleian Libraries, ExLibris SFX, DOAJ, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Library, Google Scholar, Ulrich
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EDITORS


Prof. dr. Liliana Dumitrache
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geography- Human and Economic Geography Department, 1 Nicolae Balcescu Av., 010041, Bucharest, Romania

Dr. Daniela Dumbrăveanu
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geography- Human and Economic Geography Department, 1 Nicolae Balcescu Av., 010041, Bucharest, Romania

Dr. Mariana Nae
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geography- Human and Economic Geography Department, 1 Nicolae Balcescu Av., 010041, Bucharest, Romania

Dr. Gabriel Simion
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geography- Human and Economic Geography Department, 1 Nicolae Balcescu Av., 010041, Bucharest, Romania

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