The National Agency for Mountain Areas – ANZM, within the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the Romanian Academy, through the Gheorghe Zane Institute for Economic and Social Research in Iași and the Centre of Mountain Economy (CE-MONT) in Vatra Dornei, organized the 26th edition of the International Conference on Tourism and Rural Space in National and International Context – TARS from May 24 to May 26, 2024.

The event was held in a hybrid format, with physical participation at the National Agency for Mountain Areas in Vatra Dornei and online participation from around the world. The structure of the event followed the tradition established from the beginning, with two days dedicated to presenting scientific papers and one day for a field trip.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The TARS Conference was initiated in 1999 by a group of researchers and university teaching staff who gathered in Câmpulung Moldovenesc: Alecsandru Puiu Tacu, Ion Talabă, Valentin Mihai Bohatereț, Daniela Matei (Gheorghe Zane Institute for Economic Research, Romanian Academy, Branch of Iași), Radu Rey (National Agency for Mountain Areas, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bucharest), Puiu Nistoreanu (Bucharest University of Economic Studies), and Valentin Niță (Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iași).

The founders, aware of tourism’s potential as a development vector and understanding the vital need for profound and extensive transformation of the Romanian rural space, have, relied, from the outset, on the integration of epistemic virtues with the applicative potential of this initiative. It is no coincidence that representatives of the Romanian scientific agora, through the Romanian Academy’s Gheorghe Zane Institute for Economic Research, have allied in this daring effort with representatives of the supreme executive body, the Government of Romania, through the National Agency for Mountain Areas, an entity integrated into the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The ultimate goal was to systematically, meticulously and honestly research and evaluate the Romanian rural tourism portfolio and finally propose strategies to promote rural tourism at both local and national levels. This would ultimately facilitate, inasmuch as possible, the development of Romanian rural areas through tourism. For this reason, the conference, initially of exclusively national scope, was named Romanian Rural Tourism – RoRuT.

The interest in examples of best practices from around the world has consistently increased the appetite of both organizers and participants for international approaches to the tourism phenomenon. Today, tourism and rural areas, both perceived under the imperative of sustainability, have become juxtaposed concepts within a scientific endeavor more aware than ever of their often paradoxical interaction. “Romanian rural tourism” is now Tourism and Rural Space – TARS, encompassing both national and international horizons.

The two driving forces—epistemic acquisition coupled with practical application—have been engaged from the very beginning as a paradigm for legitimizing the entire endeavor and are still being pursued with equal intensity today. However, since 2006, for nearly two decades, the focus on direct and immediate benefits has become prevalent. The organizers in Vatra Dornei have consistently aimed to enhance the epistemic value through the emotion of unforgettable experiences: the conference has become a tourist adventure in itself.

ROMANIAN RURAL TOURISM
The incursion into the picturesque settlement of the historical region of Bukovina, rightly dubbed the “pearl of Bukovina” – Vatra Dornei – means that a participant in the conference, whether Romanian or foreign, will not merely acknowledge the fact that triangular fuzzy numbers are capable of optimizing the tourism decision-making process. It won’t even conclude with the revelation that he/she is in a space with a “breathtaking Swiss-like landscape,” as noted in amazement by a guest from Asia this year. The organizers from Vatra Dornei have managed each year to set the stage for the incipit of an inner journey of familiarization (truly possible only through dedicated participation as TARS!) with what Peter Hurley referred to as “Europe’s last authentic rural civilization.”
A genuine tradition has emerged for conference participants to embark on a journey of (re)connection with the “soul of the village” (Lucian Blaga) through several specific cultural experiences related to spirituality and traditions. On another level of understanding, the equally relevant experience of successful rural tourism entrepreneurship in Romania is also introduced.

Participants, primarily online, included theorists and practitioners (researchers, teaching staff, doctoral students, undergraduates, entrepreneurs, etc.) from four continents.

PUBLICATIONS

There are two publishing opportunities for the papers presented at the TARS conference:

PROSPECTS

The 27th International Conference on Tourism and Rural Space in National and International Context – TARS will take place from May 29 to 31, 2025. Additional information is available on the TARS website:

www.tarsconference.com