RESEARCH REGARDING TOURISTS INTEREST FOR AGRITOURISM. CASE STUDY APUSENI MOUNTAINS

Abstract

The popularity of rural areas, and in particular mountain areas, as a holiday destination has grown in recent years in most countries. Tourist activity specific to the rural environment represents an area with potential for future growth. If we discuss the area of the Apuseni Mountains, then agritourism as a field of activity represents a necessity of future times, imposing itself as an economic and social stimulating activity of the rural environment, due to several aspects:

- Supporting new businesses, primarily with social benefits for the local community, especially by providing jobs;

- The capitalization of the local crafts, of the traditions, aspect that has as consequences both their preservation and the stimulation of their further practice, or the attraction of the young generations;

- The possibility of obtaining additional income by selling own local products;

- The possibility of ensuring a high standard of living in rural areas.

The aim of the paper is to highlight the degree of interest for the area, for the specific resources of the area and for the agritourism activities, coming from the tourists, and then to come up with a proposal for a tourist circuit as a sustainable projection.