Financial Instruments for Tourism and Agrotourism in Romania

In the European Union (EU), the tourism sector in 2012–2013 represented over 5% of GDP, providing over 7 million jobs. Rural tourism is universally accepted as a type of travel practiced in rural areas. Buildings in these areas are small, usually present architectural interest, and are decorated in a style reminiscent of traditional homes. Rural tourism may feature traditional local gastronomy and most often is conducted within a family system. “Rural tourism is a concept that includes tourist activity organized and led by the local population, based on a close connection with the environment, natural and human”. Tourism in rural areas has been maintained in its authentic form practiced, but was shaped, appreciated and requested the evolvement of civilization amid the higher phenomena of industrialization and urbanization. Rural tourism in its pure form should be located in rural areas, be functional from a rural point of view, be small in scale, both in terms of construction and settlements, and represent the traditional environment, economy, history, and location.