The Romanian authorities could raise an extra EUR 42 million for the state budget if they promoted and stimulated tourism in just five natural and national parks in the Carpathian Mountains, shows a recent study.

Although the areas already get their share of visitors, the number of tourists would increase if the protected areas had better infrastructure and services, the research found.

A study, conducted in Croatia, found that visitors are willing to pay an additional amount of up to 34 percent from the initial price for hotels located in forest areas, the landscape being a deciding factor in choosing a hotel.

Protected areas have an important development potential in the tourism sector. However, in order to generate constant revenues, investments are needed to improve infrastructure, to protect biodiversity and to maintain mountain trails.

If managed in a sustainable manner, tourism in the five natural parks in Romania, namely Apuseni Natural Park, Retezat National Park, Piatra Craiului National Park, Vanatori-Neamt Natural Park and Maramuresului Mountains Natural Park, could generate an extra EUR 2.6 billion in the next 25 years.

Visiting costs could have a significant economic impact on a local and national scale.  For example, Apuseni Natural Park generated direct revenues of EUR 34,000 in 2010, mainly from visiting tariffs.

Romania’s Apuseni Natural Park and Piatra Craiului National Park are considered to be “gold mines” for the development of ecotourism in the country and the number of visitors in these areas is expected to increase.

Vanatori-Neamt Natural Park also attracts visitors through the high number of monasteries and hostels, as well as diverse recreational opportunities, such as horseback riding, spa facilities, or visits to the Dragos Voda zoo which hosts bears, wolves, wild boars and many species of birds.

Also, in Maramures Mountains Natural Park, visitors can enjoy complex packages that include a ride with Mocanita - the Romanian narrow gauge steam train, one of the main attractions of Vaserului Valley.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com