Tourism in romania - constanta county

TOURISM IN ROMANIA

CONSTANTA COUNTY

Romania is situated in the southeastern part of Central Europe - Balkan Peninsula - and shares borders with Hungary to the northwest, Yugoslavia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, the Black Sea and Ukraine to the southeast and to the north and the Republic of Moldova to the east and is the second largest country in the area, after Poland.

Physical features :

. Mountains: 31% of Romania's territory

. Hills and orchards: 36%

. Plains: 33%

. Areas covered by rivers and lakes: 3.7 %

. Total number of lakes: 3,500

. Lakes greater than 250 acres: 300

. Highest mountain peak: Moldoveanu Mt. - 8,349 ft.

Romania's territory features splendid mountains, beautiful rolling hills, fertile plains and numerous rivers and lakes. The Carpathian Mountains traverse the center of the country bordered on both sides by foothills and finally the great plains of the outer rim. Forests cover over one quarter of the country and the fauna is one of the richest in Europe including bears, deer, lynx, chamois and wolves.

The legendary Danube River ends its eight-country journey through eight European countries at the Black Sea by forming one of the biggest and most interesting wetlands in the world, the Danube Delta.

About 21,700,000 people live in Romania.  Ethnic breakdown is 89% Romanian 7.5% Hungarian, 1.9% Gypsy, German, Ukrainian, Armenian, Croatian, Serbian and Turkish.

There are 263 towns in Romania out of which 25 have a population of more than 100,000 while 8 cities count more than 300,000 inhabitants. 45 % of Romanians live in rural areas: 2,868 communes and 13,285 villages. The administrative divisions are counties. There are 41 counties in Romania. The capital city, Bucharest, has the status of a county.

PREZENTATION OF THE COUNTY

The county of Constanta lies in the sounth-eastern part of Romania, being contiguous on the north to the county of Tulcea, on the easst to the Black Sea, on the south to Bulgaria and on the west to the Danube in the region called Dobrogea.

The county of Constanta has an area of 7071 square kilometers and takes, in this respect, the eight place among the counties of Romania. Territorial-administartively, it embraces 3 municipia, 9 towns and 56 communes.

The county of Constanta has 713563 inhabitans, taking, from this point of view, the fourth place among the counties of the country. The density is of 101 inhabitans per sq.km., i.e. above the country average. The municipium of Constanta is the capital of the county and is the second in size, after Bucharest, the capital of Romania.

As a degree of urbanization, the county of Constanta takes the third place in the country, concentrating 73.5% from its population in those 12 towns.

The contribution made by the county of Constanta to the industrial production of the country is of 10.3% crude oil extracted, 18.5% oil processed, 18.2% sulphuric acid, 192.% cement, 2.3% chemical fertilizer, 1.6% woolen woven materials, 10.3% vegeteble oil and 2% natural gas extracted .

Within the mechnical engineering branch: shipyards Constanta, Mnagalia and Midia turnout wrack carries, ore carriers and oil-tankers of big tonnage up to 200000 tdw, ferry-bouts, floating docks and ship repairs. These shipyards rank amoung the most up to date in the world.

The chemical industry is represented, mainly by PETROMIDIA, with its most up-to -date facilities processing 3.5 mil. tons oil per annum; FERTILCHIM Navodari, producing sulphuric acid, phosphatic fertilizers; ENERGIA Constanta, specialized in techonollogical equipment, mechanical rubber goods, injected and extruded goods from plastics.

The oil extractive industry makes itself felt in the economy of the county through PETROMAR extracting yearly from the shelf of the Black Sea above 700000 tons oil and 400 million mc gas. The electric and thermal energy is turned out by the power stations Constanta, Ovidiu, Navodari. In 1996 the first group of 700 MW of the Nuclear Power Plant Cernavoda was commissioned and produce 900 mil. kwh/ year.

The county of Constanta boasts significant capacities for processing wood and producing pulp and paper. ROMCIM Medgidia, SOMACO and CELCO Constanta meet the demand for cement and building material on the domestic and foreign market.

The agriculture area of the county of Constanta is of 565737 hectares from which 326751 hectares are held by the private sector. Food grains predominate. The county of Constanta boasts the most complex irigation amounting to 431000 hectares

43% from the touristic potential of the country is concentrated in the county of Constanta which is one of th emost important touristic regions of Romania.

The location of the beach in east-south-eastern part of the county, the sun shining 10-11 hours a day in summer-time, the thermic stability day after day, the rare rainfalls, breezes, sea water, curative mud are amoung the natural factors making the sojourn at the Romanian seaside into a very efficient cure. The littoral boasts a necklace of resorts: Navodari, Mamaia, Eforie Nord, Eforie Sud, Techirghiol, Costinesti, Olimp, Neptun, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mangalia with their 278 hotels, 418 villas, 29 campings, 13 school camps in operation.

For a sustainable regional development , investments with a major role of local government is mandatory .

In Constanta county case , the major investments were focused to infrastructure :

Urban streets reabilitation - 40 mil.$

county roads reabilition - 100 mil.$

public lighting system - 18 mil.$

Water supply and sewerage system - 20 mil.$

tourism infrastructure - expo base - 9 mil.$

reabilition of spa center - 7 mil.$

Regional development for constanta county is strongly related to the tourism development , being one of the most important source for incomes and jobs .

Being a summer type , the tourism activity has major influence in rate of unemployment and development also .

Type of tourism in Constanta County

Summer Sojourn tourism - all along the Black Sea Coast

Balnea and SPA tourism

Historical and Religiouse tourism - all along the county

Bussiness tourism

Warm climate, miles of sand beaches, ancient monuments, vineyards and modern resorts invite travelers to seriously consider Romania's Black Sea Coast as their summer vacation destination.
Beaches, stretching from Mangalia to Mamaia, are dotted with fine resorts and hotels, and countless sports and entertainment facilities.
Romania's main sea resorts are centered on 45 miles of fine sand beaches and include Mamaia, Eforie, Neptun, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and Mangalia.

The Black Sea coast has long been known for cures of arthritic, rheumatic, internal and nervous disorders. Eforie Nord and Mangalia Spas specialize in mud baths (the mud is taken from the area's salty lake waters) as well as in world famous 'Gerovital' and 'Aslavital' original rejuvenation treatments.

Located in a 30 sqkm-wide natural park and operating all year round is  the Ana Aslan HEALTH SPA INVESTMENTS IN TOURISM SUPPORTED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT :

Resorts

Beautification
Recent additions have included 150 Palm Trees and the installation of decorative sidewalk bricks replacing asphalt.

TELEGONDOLA

This project involves the installation of a telegondola system running parallel with the beach in Mamaia.   It is 2000 Meters in length and run from Perla Place in the southern point of Mamaia north to Casino Place.  Tourists are able to exit or enter the system at either station and the ride last approximately seven minutes, gliding 50 meters above the beach.  Capacity of the system is 1500 people an hour and each gondola has eight seats.

Total investment in this project is 3.5 million Euro, from which 1.5 million Euro is supported by the City Hall of Constanta. 

AQUA MAGIC WATER PARK

The Aqua Magic Water Park project was initiated by the City Hall and Ministry of Tourism and is the first water park in Romania.  Construction began in March 2003 and was completed four short months later on July 1, 2003.   Aqua Magic is situated at the entrance of Mamaia from the south and has a surface area of 27,200 SM.  It is open to all ages and has a capacity of 2500 visitors.

The park has nine water attractions including two for children.  The facilities include fast food stands, a restaurant, a disco, and souvenir shops.

OBJECTIVE

Contribute to growing regional economic attractiveness, by multiplying the business opportunities within the region

DESCRIPTION

Land 6,000 square meters

Constructions 4,511 square meters

Available equipped space 7,623 square meters, including:

Exhibition hall 4,883 square meters

Conference Centre 205 seats

NET PRESENT VALUE = 13139121 EURO

INTERNAL RATE OF RETURN =32,6

BENEFIT/COST RATIO = 1.605

Of which Phare non reimbursable assistance 5.000 Meuro

National Funds 1.667 Meuro

Constanta County Council  1.408 Meuro

Jobs directly created 175

Job indirectly created 300

Development benefits: important, although not quantifiable