Territorial development and rural tourism are linked. Rural tourism involves tourists in rural areas who are attracted by the distinctive character of the landscape, recreation such as local and food resources, and the potential for spiritual, environmental, and cultural growth. The aim of the present paper is to investigate the economic, sustainable, and social role of tourism in the development of the rural area of Mărginimea Sibiului in Romania. It highlights the role of local entrepreneurs in developing new practices and sustainable approaches. Drawing on the literature review on the topic of sustainable rural tourism, this paper uses the case study as a methodological approach. We have developed consistent desk research relying on the processing of official governmental data and of national statistics, supported by analytical strategies involving induction and deduction. The main findings lead towards the conclusion that Mărginimea Sibiului has managed to gain both national and international notoriety while developing coherently, capitalizing on its natural and cultural heritage, and providing services in successful agritourist boarding houses and rural guesthouses, which have continuously developed both numerically and in terms of comfort levels. Because more than two thirds of the initially established lodgings in the early 2000s continue to function today, these facilities have proven to be sustainable and attractive businesses.

WELLNESS AND THERMAL TOURISM: AN INSIGHT FROM ITALY Antonietta Ivona University of Bari Aldo Moro, Piazza Umberto I, No.1, 70121, Bari, Italy Adrian Nedelcu Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti,...

One of the factors that threatens the sustainability of rural areas is the hegemonic agro-industrial model with obvious environmental and social impacts which dramatically limits rural life. The study draws attention to the opportunities offered by alternative agri-food systems based on agroecology and food sovereignty as cultural heritage to support sustainable local development. The results of the study demonstrate how the recovery and promotion of traditional ecological knowledge can help increase the capacity of socio-ecological systems to cope with shocks and disruptions and maintain long-term resilience. At the same time, agro-ecological practises allow collective identities to emerge around characteristics of rural space, strengthening local life, focusing on the coevolution of the society-ecosystem of local identity. The case study analyzed in Romania counties shows that rural areas play a critical role in economic and social cohesion, in the resilience of regions and in the contribution of countless services in various local ecosystems, including food production, to their consolidation socio-economic prosperity, the ability to innovate, to achieve a sustainable and inclusive social economy. The types of policies promoted by Romania conceive agro-ecological practices as an intangible collective heritage with a significant potential for transformation towards local sustainability.

The wine tourism developed in a growing manner in the last years contributing to the economic development of the wine regions of the world. The so called wine tourists seek for an authentic experience in the wineries based on the activities they develop during their visit and given by the region attributes. This research aims to emphasize the tourists’ experience in which relates the wine region of Dealu Mare, Prahova county and identifies the main advantages that this tourist area has regarding the agrotourism potential. The data were collected by applying a questionnaire (n=600) and the results were displayed using charts that show the behavior and activities undertaken by tourists during their visit in the wineries. Hence, the tourist’ behavior in which relates wine consumption and winery visitation has been outlined, also their preferences in terms of wine regions of Romania and abroad. The paper presents also some limitations in which relates the study area and the number of the respondents.