Rural Tourism: A Factor of Sustainable Development for the Traditional Rural Area of Bucovina, Romania

Abstract

This paper explores an important issue, namely rural tourism, by analyzing the supply and demand of tourism in three rural regions (Gura Humorului, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna) in Bucovina, Suceava County, as an alternative economic development for rural areas. The statistical data on tourist traffic in the three regions of Suceava County were taken from the website of the National Institute of Statistics of Romania and analyzed over a period of 10 years (2014–2023). The analysis of the total number of tourist accommodation facilities recorded increases of over 200% in all three regions analyzed. Dynamic analysis of the accommodation capacity in operation, the number of tourists and overnight stays, and the average length of stay was carried out by calculating the absolute and relative indicators with fixed and chained base and average indicators. Despite the increase in the number of tourists and overnight stays, the average length of stay remains relatively low. The calculation of the net utilization rate of the accommodation capacity in operation shows an efficient use of the accommodation facilities in the three regions analyzed. The importance of the research and the originality of this research are closely related to understanding the dynamics of tourism in the rural regions analyzed for the formation of future strategies for sustainable rural development in Bucovina.

1. Introduction

At a global level, tourism has become one of the fastest-growing sectors of the economy, as it is closely linked to the socio-economic development process, with the capacity and potential to create new jobs [1]. According to Romania’s National Tourism Development Strategy 2023–2035 [2], the analysis of the tourism offer, the core market, and national marketing programs shows that Romania possesses a rich mix of unique natural, cultural, and medical/wellness attractions of global stature that are ready to be leveraged. Significant efforts to develop tourism in Romania have spanned several decades, during which a series of guides, policies, and strategic documents have been created. However, these strategies have mostly targeted niche segments of tourism, such as ecotourism, medical and spa tourism, and regional strategies or those dedicated to city-break-type tourism. To serve as a guide for the sustainable development of tourism in Romania, further strengthening the country as a well-known, year-round global tourism destination, as well as a destination that meets EU standards for product and service delivery, is needed. Romania’s National Tourism Development Strategy focuses on aspects such as valuing people, traditions, places, and Romania’s natural and cultural heritage, as well as increasing Romania’s visibility and reputation in top international tourism markets [2].

By its nature, tourism is an economic activity situated at the intersection of other branches, and thus, the development of this activity is influenced by other sectors with an impact on tourism (culture, transport, agriculture, regional development, and the environment) [3]. Rural communities can perceive the development of tourism as a positive support for new job opportunities, improved well-being and living standards, improved rural infrastructure, and the offering of new entertainment possibilities [4,5,6,7,8]. Rural areas can be considered an important factor for tourism development due to their capacity to preserve traditional culture and ethno-cultural heritage, and local community support has a direct impact on the development, quality, and sustainability of a tourist destination [9,10,11]. The economic impact of rural tourism is not considered significant, but even on a small scale, it has good potential to be used as a means of rural development [12].

Sustainable tourism is one of the sectors with significant growth potential due to the need to develop a sustainable economic model capable of offering future generations at least the same living conditions as those of the present [13,14]. While it represents a developed sector in Western European countries, clearly defined within the structure of the tourism industry, in Romania, the field is still emerging, despite its potential in terms of tourism experience and very good potential. In the development process, rural areas face a wide range of economic, environmental, and social challenges [15].

Current development challenges impose new criteria for evaluating national performance, with the concept of well-being tending to be measured not only in terms of economic and social dimensions but also in relation to the environment [16]. Sustainable development aims to balance the performance of economic, social, and environmental sectors, with a key question remaining whether progress has been made [17,18]. Rural material deprivation and the means available to reach a certain standard of living lead to an appreciation of the ability to meet the sustainable development goal related to poverty [19].

As society develops, pressure on the environment tends to shift from the need to meet basic human needs to those related to the higher needs of society. While the least developed nations must pay special attention to population growth, sanitation, and health as main channels for better environmental protection, the most developed countries’ main directions for environmental improvement may be education and good governance. Thus, in the development process, a great concern for the environment must be cultivated, regardless of its stage, but with distinct directions for action [20]. In one of the wealthiest areas of Romania in terms of public goods, the valleys of the Dorna region in northeastern Romania, we encounter both local and external consumers who have different perspectives on the utility of public goods. The region is characterized by extensive activities, especially in agriculture and forestry, and many of the public goods are linked to environmental dimensions, which is why many consumers are both tourists and consumers of local private goods [21].

Tourism is an important sector of the European Union economy, supporting economic growth and employment. However, one of the biggest challenges lies in strengthening and improving the evolution of sustainable tourism to ensure the industry’s long-term competitiveness [22].

In Romania, rural tourism has an excellent development environment for a simple reason: approximately half of the country’s population lives in rural areas. According to the National Institute of Statistics of Romania, as of 1 July 2024, the proportion of residents in rural areas was 44.38% [23]. By analyzing the external tourism market for rural tourism and comparing the strengths of the Romanian offer in the field, it is characterized by a high proportion of unspoiled natural mountain landscapes, which are untouched by human modification; the preservation of old rural civilization elements and their application in daily life; the presence of representative ethno-folkloric traditions and values (traditional architecture, handicrafts, folklore, folk costumes, folk festivals, and customs, etc.); Romanian hospitality with Latin influences, gastronomic customs from major Orthodox Christian religious holidays; fruit therapies and other forest products, the consumption of fresh, organic, and ecological foods at very low prices; the practice of occupational therapy and initiation into the secrets of traditional Romanian natural medicine; integration into very old rural communities and experiencing their specific atmosphere; a large number of speakers of widely spoken international languages; and the ease of understanding and speaking foreign languages [24].

The return to nature is increasingly manifesting in all countries, with multiple causes, and the trend is more pronounced in areas where post-industrial civilizations have triggered a desire to retreat from cities. All the resources in rural areas can be used to create attractive tourist offers with multiple beneficial perspectives, both for tourists, who will receive natural, original, and authentic products, and for the villagers, who will earn additional income. A well-known “secret/effect” of this type of rural activity is that, in addition to relaxing in a clean natural environment, the consumer who comes to rest in the rural environment gladly participates in local customs, traditions, and handicrafts, which give the “specifics of rural life”, and pays for these aspects [25].

Rural tourism has been the subject of intensive research in recent years, as its importance for the sustainability of rural communities has long been recognized [26], as well as its potential to diversify from the declining mass tourism destinations [27]. Grouping the attractions, services, and activities of a destination during a national promotional event directs attention to less frequented and unexplored tourist resources in rural areas [28]. Rural tourism is generally seen as a collection of a wide variety of activities, events, accommodation services, public catering, and entertainment that are developed in an area defined as rural [29]. This form of tourism, which is well suited without involving very large investments, can lead to financial benefits for local tourism structure owners, with the money being reinvested to improve the tourist offer. Where there are localities with “a large repository of real/sustainable resources”, their involvement in tourism [30,31] is not only desirable but also necessary, with the possibility of preserving and perpetuating representative elements (in suitable forms).

Rural tourism activities can link the economic, social, and environmental aspects of rural communities to enable the holistic utilization of all resources in an innovative way that ensures future productivity, economic competitiveness, and profitability [31,32,33,34,35]. The development of entrepreneurship through rural tourism, as sustainable as possible, can be an attractive option for young people, encouraging them to stay in these areas in the long term by creating new jobs [36].

The purpose of this paper is to study the Bucovina region and the exceptional tourism potential of the rural areas in this region, such as the Gura Humorului, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna areas in Suceava County. Since the tourist is the consumer of the product “rural tourism in Bucovina”, the aim of the paper is to identify the level of appreciation for this area, the suitability of the Bucovina region for rural tourism activities by analyzing the tourism market, which consists of supply indicators (the number of tourist accommodation structures, the operating accommodation capacity, and the net utilization rate of the operating accommodation capacity) and demand indicators (arrivals, overnight stays, the average length of stay) over a 10-year period (2014–2023). Additionally, it aims to estimate the accommodation capacity, arrivals, overnight stays, and average length of stay for the next 5 years of the analyzed period.

2. Literature Review

The development of rural tourism as an element of the diversification of the rural economy, amid the diminishing central role of agriculture and forestry, has been successful in many European countries [37,38,39,40,41,42,43] and in this field as well. By combining several specific factors [36,44,45] of rural areas, including the Bucovina region (small guesthouses and stunning landscapes), multiple effects [46,47,48] can manifest, potentially bringing changes to the lifestyle of the local population (some beneficial and others negative). The direct and lasting impact of the development of rural tourism on the village [49,50,51], particularly on the discussed area, can be quantified in improving general infrastructure through the establishment of farms, guesthouses, and tourist households as models [52] by organizing activities while respecting local architecture and traditions. To remain a sustainable form of tourism for rural areas, certain principles must be respected: The tourism activity must be initiated with the local community’s own resources. The community must maintain control over the tourism development. Tourism must provide employment for locals such that it improves the quality of life for the local communities. A balance must be maintained between existing economic activities in the area and tourism activities, and educational and training programs must be developed to improve management in the field of protection of natural and cultural resources. Therefore, tourism represents a viable alternative for economic activities in rural areas and improves the living standards of local communities [3].

The rural areas of Europe, including Romania and Bucovina, are undergoing profound changes, with many issues that will most likely accelerate in the coming years, placing increasing importance on achieving sustainable development and thus responding to the demand for ecological services. In most countries undergoing economic development, the rural economy is predominantly primary, with agriculture accounting for approximately 60% of its structure (compared to around 14–15% in developed EU countries), leading to negative effects regarding the employment of the rural active population, the low level of processing agricultural raw materials, and consequently the creation of added value and the minimal taxation of agricultural and food production [53]. These aspects are further compounded by the decline of traditional activities, rural exodus, population aging, the remote position of certain areas, poor infrastructure quality, and the relatively poor quality of services offered. To address these issues, the European Union has focused on implementing its rural development policy [54,55,56].

Bucovina is considered a picturesque area of Romania because it surprises tourists with a mixed landscape that consists of hills, sub-Carpathians, and massive mountains. Thus, guests can discover stunning views with varying and unique horizons. Due to the beauty of the places, the purity of the air with a sedative effect, the crystal-clear waters, as well as the priceless cultural and religious heritage, Bucovina, also known as the land of monasteries, has very high tourism potential, which can be compared to other tourist regions in the country and abroad. Along with the picturesque nature of the region, the well-known Bucovinian hospitality, popular traditions, and the specific Bucovinian cuisine add local color to attract tourists. Bucovina, or the land of beech trees, also known as the “Land of Monasteries”, is a historic region of great value in Romania, known for the monasteries built by former rulers and boyars of Moldavia. Eight of these monasteries are part of the UNESCO World Heritage, namely the Church of Tree; the Monasteries of Voroneț, Humor, Probota, Moldovița, Sucevița, and Pătrăuți; and “St. John the New” from Suceava. It is a region located in the north of Romania and is famous for its beautiful landscapes and heritage [57].

The structural changes in the economy are causing severe constraints in rural areas, especially those heavily dependent on agriculture. Such areas exist in most European countries. In these areas, farm profits [58,59] are declining, and rising unemployment leads to an exodus of the productive workforce, and thus to demographic imbalance. Local leaders and authorities are seeking innovative actions to solve the problems of these areas and thus support the well-being of the rural population [25]. In the case of Bucovina, the good part is that the area has excellent tourist resources, thus offering the possibility of turning towards tourism activities.

In contemporary society, under increasingly stressful living conditions, attention has shifted towards an alternative way of spending free time, leading to a form of tourism known as “rural tourism”, which harmoniously combines natural resources (geographical location, relief, climate, hydrology, landscape, hunting and fishing grounds, vineyards, and orchards) with social resources (cultural–historical objectives, monuments, museums, hospitality, language, mentality, customs and traditions, ethnography and folklore, art and culture, etc.), all of which are found in the rural environment of Bucovina.

At the global tourism economy level, rural tourism activities generally involve capitalizing on extraordinary natural resources, which are essential cultural heritage; buildings with local architecture, rural traditions, or agricultural products; and using specific products that illustrate the unique identity of the rural area, thereby covering the needs of consumers regarding three elements of tourist products: accommodation, food, and leisure. The aim of rural tourism activities is thus to ensure sustainable local development, providing a new modern vision on this form of tourism [60,61].

The capitalization of resources specific to rural areas can thus support their sustainability over time by conducting tourism activities in an environment with unique characteristics, and the interrelation with the local society leads to the development of a special tourist–host relationship and participation in the local community life [62,63,64,65,66]. Through rural tourism activities, one can understand the valorization of the “specific rural way of life” and its resources by applying specific management that could sustain future benefits for small local communities, thus ensuring sustainability [67,68,69].

In general, rural tourism forms should capitalize on authentic rural households, and by introducing them and other resources into the tourist circuit, they should ensure socio-economic development. However, rural tourism does not always guarantee the sustainability of an area, as destructive actions such as the brutal intervention of humans on the landscape and natural resources, physical pollution, noise, visual pollution, architectural damage, etc., can have negative effects. In our research area, the three regions in Bucovina (the Humor Area and the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area from the Moldova Depression and the Vatra Dornei Area from the Dorna Depression) stand out due to the uniqueness of rural tourism, the existing conditions, the culture, and the purity of the people; coupled with hospitality, interest, motivation, and aspiration towards improvement, these areas can establish rural tourism and contribute to the sustainable and responsible development of the Bucovina village [70,71] and the rural area as a whole [72]. Rural tourism has a long history in this area, where the types of structures such as rural guesthouses have the largest number among the types of tourist reception structures with accommodation functions. If this type of activity is carried out responsibly, as a well-managed process, it will lead to the long-term sustainability of the Bucovina rural area. This possible sustainability could be assessed through economic and social benefits [73,74,75,76].

The positive action of rural tourism on the rural environment means the perspective of long-term development for the rural community, with the possibility of becoming a support for new businesses and jobs that will drive local development. Thus, it acts on the economic development of the locality by increasing the population’s income, which leads to changes in expenditure structure, a significant increase in investments, the development and improvement of transport and communications, and the expansion of economic activity through the emergence of new sectors complementary to rural tourism activities [77,78,79,80].

Rural tourism also influences the social factors in the rural environment by reducing rural exodus and stabilizing the rural population. This phenomenon occurs by offering decent living opportunities in this environment through occupational diversification for the population, especially for young people, who are usually the most vulnerable on the job market and the most affected by crises and economic recessions [81,82].

Rural tourism has a positive influence on the rural environment through educational and cultural factors by establishing relationships of knowledge between those who come to experience the rural area and the locals. Tourists will also benefit from the opportunity to learn about local customs and traditions, the history, and the authenticity of the respective people. It can be appreciated that a favorable image of the respective country is created globally, with rural tourism being the most effective and pacifist ambassador of a country [72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83]. Rural tourism can also influence the management system of the respective locality, the local organizational factors, mobilizing them and increasing their concerns for arranging the rural space in terms of infrastructure, thereby indirectly forcing them to find funding sources for the achievement of modernization goals, such as access roads, the restoration of tourist objectives, the repair of functional buildings, etc. [28,69,84,85,86,87].

The rural space creates various possibilities and forms of tourism, such as rural tourism itself; agrotourism, which combines agricultural activities with tourism activities, with the main goal of obtaining additional income; ecotourism, which targets natural resources and their use through tourism activities, highlighting the ecological benefits for local communities; and cultural tourism, which establishes a connection and a special relationship between the local cultural and tourist heritage, focusing on historical resources and community values [64,88].

There were some critical points or possible limitations in the realization of this research: The study is quite extensive geographically, but the three regions represent the most important tourist areas of Suceava County, as they are the most important tourist resorts of the county, respectively, the resorts of Vatra Dornei, Câm-pulung-Moldovenesc, and Humor. Also, another limitation of the study is related to the missing data from the records of the National Institute of Statistics of Romania for the Humor region.

Although Bucovina is recognized in many studies as having a very good potential for sustainable tourism [89,90,91], there is no concrete approach in the literature related to the expansion of the tourism phenomenon in direct relation to the phenomenon of sustainability. Moreover, it is not yet known whether the managers of tourist accommodation facilities in the analyzed rural regions of Bucovina address this concept in their current activities.

According to the European System of Tourism Indicators, a tourist area is a place or area in which it is possible to measure the supply and demand of tourism services, i.e., the visitor economy [22]. Therefore, we consider that the analysis of the tourist supply and demand of the three areas of Bucovina is opportune because it showed a significant increase in the number of tourist accommodation structures and accommodation capacity in operation, as well as in the number of arrivals and overnight stays, but the low and decreasing values of the average length of stay highlight the fact that managers are failing to retain tourists in their establishments, and this suggests that tourism entrepreneurs are not, at least not yet, willing/ready to truly implement the principles of sustainable tourism. We thus propose a continuation of this study to explore the opportunity for tourism entrepreneurs to achieve better average length of stay values by applying the principles of sustainable tourism. The theoretical research model used in this study is schematized in Figure 1.

The rural areas in Romania are characterized by the uniqueness they offer in relation to the geographical region in which they are located and by the fact that they preserve the traditional and cultural specificity characteristic of each human settlement. The factors influencing a tourist’s decision to choose a particular destination are many and varied, ranging from climatic conditions [92] to the resources offered by the specific natural environment of a given area [85]. Existing research in the literature up to 2025 does not address in a comprehensive and detailed way the impact of rural tourism on the natural environment and long-term sustainability for the geographical area of Suceava County in Romania.

In Romania, few studies have been conducted on the impact of rural tourism as a sustainable development alternative for different geographical regions [93,94], so this paper aims to complement the existing data in the literature in order to provide an overview of rural tourism specific to the Bucovina region with the three areas studied (Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc and Dorna) for the years 2014–2023 and to offer new possibilities for sustainable development that offer a high level of sustainability in terms of preserving and transmitting to the next generations the crafts, customs, traditions, and local culture specific to the area.

3. Argumentation of the Study

The area of focus for this research is the rural region of Bucovina, specifically the Humor Area, the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area, and the Dorna Area, which are located in the northeastern part of Romania, in Suceava County. The analysis of the tourism market, consisting of supply and demand indicators, was carried out for a period of 10 years, between 2014 and 2023. The processed data were downloaded from the website of the National Institute of Statistics of Romania [23]. These three regions represent the most important tourist areas of Suceava County, as they host the county’s major tourist resorts, namely, the Vatra Dornei Resort, a nationally recognized treatment resort with permanent operations, included in the international tourist circuit, known for its therapeutic springs and a natural climate favorable to restoring health; the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Resort, a climatic resort offering excellent conditions for winter sports enthusiasts, as well as a rich offering in cultural and religious tourism; and the Gura Humorului Resort, another important climatic resort offering great conditions for winter sports lovers. However, tourists are particularly attracted to the famous Voroneț Monastery, dubbed the “Sistine Chapel of the East”, a historical and religious monument dating from 1488. These areas have succeeded in gaining national and international recognition for their specific resources and activities related to rural tourism.

Due to its history and special geographical location, which has witnessed the peaceful coexistence of several ethnic groups, Bucovina is a region of cultural intersections, situated “between East and West” [89].

By belonging to different geographical, cultural, and geopolitical areas and through the frequent change in the dominant political nation, the historical and cultural destiny of this region is exceptional.

From a geographical point of view, Bucovina is part of Eastern Europe. Culturally, due to its inclusion in the Austrian state (Austro–Hungarian Empire), this region was part of the central European cultural area between 1775 and 1918. Belonging to the central European cultural area facilitated the introduction and consolidation of German culture in Buchenland (“The Land of Beech Trees”). This extensive and complex process was largely carried out through the German and Jewish Kulturträger (“carriers of culture”), who were German or Yiddish speakers.

From a geopolitical perspective, Bucovina was, during the Middle Ages, a region at the intersection of the spheres of influence of Hungary, Poland, and the Ottoman Empire. Starting with the 18th century, Bucovina came under the influence of three empires: the Ottoman, the Austrian, and the Russian empires. Over time, this region could not form a real political identity, as it was successively part of Medieval Moldova (second half of the 14th century–1774), the Austrian Empire (1774/1775–1918), and the Kingdom of Romania (1918–1940; 1941–1944). The northern part of the province was part of the Soviet Union (1940–1941; 1944–1991). Today, the historic province of Bucovina is divided into two parts: the southern part is part of Suceava County (8555 km²) in Romania, while the northern part has been integrated into the Chernivtsi Region (8100 km²) in Ukraine since 1991 [90].

The entry of this area into history began in the second half of the 14th century, a period in which this territory became the core around which the medieval state of Moldova was formed. During this time, a vibrant spiritual life developed, focused around famous monasteries (Putna, Moldovița, Sucevița, Voroneț, Arbore, Solca, Dragomirna, etc.), which continue to attract many tourists to the area. The northern part of Romania experienced strong economic development both due to the establishment of the capital of Moldova in Suceava (starting in 1387) and the articulation of an internal and international trade route network and defense points (the Suceava and Hotin fortresses). The Byzantine tradition and influences from Western Europe are evident in the splendid medieval architecture, most of which was built in the 15th and 16th centuries with the financial contributions of the Moldovan rulers and boyars, as well as the efforts of the local population [91].

In accordance with the European Tourism Indicator System [22], by managing rural tourism in a sustainable manner, we aim to ensure that we recognize the limits and capacity of the tourism resources available in the three analyzed tourist areas (Gura Humorului, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna) and that we encourage a development approach capable of creating a balance between optimizing immediate economic, ecological, and socio-cultural benefits while simultaneously ensuring a long-term future for the Romanian tourism industry in the European context. The tourism industry in Romania, and implicitly in the EU, needs to significantly improve its competitiveness and sustainability by taking into account aspects such as the quality of products and services, social and environmental responsibility, natural resources, and the diversity of cultural heritage and local identities, all of which are part of the heritage of the analyzed region, namely Bucovina, Romania.

In this work, the first objective pursued was the theoretical argumentation for the existence of valuable heritage for tourism within the three studied areas (Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna). The next objective was related to the analysis of the rural tourism market through its two components (supply and demand), and the final objective was to draw conclusions based on the findings of this study (

Table 1. Research steps and objectives of this study.

Research steps and objectives	Office research	✓ Theoretical justification of the possibilities for utilizing local resources through rural tourism activities.
	2. Interpretation/exposure of the result of the research	✓ Analysis of the tourist offer in the Humor Area, the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area, and the Dorna Area: tourist reception structures, absolute and relative dynamics of operational accommodation capacity, and the estimation of operational accommodation capacity for the period from 2024 to 2028, along with the net accommodation capacity utilization index. ✓ Analysis of the tourist demand in the Humor Area, the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area, and the Dorna Area: absolute and relative dynamics of arrivals, overnight stays, and the average length of stay, as well as the estimation of arrivals, overnight stays, and the average length of stay for the period from 2024 to 2028.
	3. Issuing the conclusions resulting from this study

).

4. Materials and Methods

The reason for choosing this area stems from its long history of religious tourism and rural tourism activities, as well as its favorable geographical location (close to famous monasteries and at the confluence of mountain tourist routes). Tourist traffic in this area is high, especially during the peak season, and the tourism potential is significant, making it a good candidate for applying the study. Achieving the correct balance between the needs of tourists, host communities, and the environment, as well as recognizing the interdependence between them, requires a special approach to destination management. According to the European Tourism Indicator System [22], a destination can be defined as a tourist area that represents or could represent an attraction for visitors/tourists; a place or area that is easily recognized and defined as a destination for visitors, with a range of facilities and products for tourism purposes; a place or area promoted as a destination; a place or area where the demand and supply of tourism services can be measured, i.e., the visitor economy; and a place or area where the visitor management process usually involves various stakeholders from the public and private sectors, as well as the host community.

The statistical data used in this research were taken from the website of the National Institute of Statistics of Romania (www.insse.ro) [23], and the analyzed period covered the years 2014–2023. The statistical analysis performed in this paper was carried out in accordance with the de-description of statistical indicators used in time series processing presented by Petcu [95].

The working method used in this paper was based on a statistical and concrete analysis of the evolution of the phenomena of increase or decrease in the attraction of tourists to the Suceava county region of Romania with the three areas studied (Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna). The data used in this article respect the specific notions and particularities of time-series data analysis described by Petcu [95], namely data variability (the data used are different from one year to another as a result of the random or intentional action of climatic, social, and economic factors that influenced the number of tourists and the length of stay), data homogeneity (all the data used are characteristic of rural tourism with strict reference to the same pattern of description of the three analyzed areas, the number of tourists coming on holiday, and the number of tourist accommodation units existing in the analyzed area for the last 10 years, respectively, namely from 2014 to 2023), data periodicity (the data used were presented for each of the 10 years analyzed), and the interdependence of the terms presented (the data presented are characteristic for each year studied, following a standard analysis pattern whereby all the values taken into account coincide with the same parameters for the entire time interval analyzed). The statistical analysis was carried out in this paper following the steps presented in Figure 2.

The statistical characterization of the tourist offer of the three regions analyzed (Gura Humorului, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna) in this study was carried out by analyzing the total number of tourist accommodation structures with tourist accommodation functions by localities and in total. A tourist accommodation structure with tourist accommodation functions is any building or arrangement that permanently or seasonally provides accommodation and other specific services for tourists. Tourist accommodation establishments providing tourist accommodation with an installed accommodation capacity of less than 5 places were not included in the statistical survey [23].

For an objective presentation of the offer, an analysis of the level and dynamics of the tourist accommodation capacity in operation in the three analyzed regions (Gura Humorului, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna) was carried out. For a dynamic analysis of this indicator, the following time series indicators were used: absolute and relative indicators with fixed and chained base and average indicators. The capacity of tourist accommodation in operation is the number of tourist accommodation places made available to tourists by tourist accommodation establishments while taking into account the number of days the establishments are open during the period considered. This excludes places in rooms or units temporarily closed due to a lack of tourists, repairs, or other reasons [23].

In order to show how efficient the use of accommodation in tourist accommodation facilities in the rural settlements of the analyzed regions was, the index of net utilization of the accommodation capacity in operation was analyzed. The net utilization rate of the tourist accommodation capacity in operation expresses the relationship between the capacity of tourist accommodation in operation and its actual use by tourists in a given period (calendar year) [23].

In = (N/Cf) × 100

where In is the index of utilization of the operational tourist accommodation capacity;

N is the number of overnight stays recorded in a given period;

Cf is the operational tourist accommodation capacity.

The statistical characterization of tourist demand in the three regions analyzed (Gura Humorului, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna) in this study was carried out by analyzing the level and dynamics of the number of tourists (arrivals) and overnight stays. The number of tourists accommodated in tourist lodging units includes all individuals (both Romanian and foreign) who travel outside the localities where they have their permanent residence, for a period of less than 12 months, and stay at least one night in a tourist accommodation unit in the visited areas of the country. The primary reason for the trip is different from engaging in a paid activity in the places visited. A tourist overnight stay is the 24 h period, starting from the check-in time, during which a person is registered in the records of the tourist accommodation and receives lodging for the corresponding room rate, even if the actual stay is shorter than the specified period. This also includes overnight stays for any additional beds installed (paid for by the guests) [23].

To show how effective the tourism offer is in retaining tourists in a particular area, the average length of stay was calculated. The average length of stay is determined by the ratio between the number of tourist days (NTZ) and the number of tourists (T) [96,97].

$$\mathrm{Ds}={\displaystyle \frac{\mathsf{Ʃ}NTZ}{\mathsf{Ʃ}NT}}$$

where Ds is the mean duration of sojourn;

NZT is the numbers of days/tourist;

NT is the tourist number.

The processed data also came from the website of the National Statistical Institute of Romania (www.insse.ro). Time series indicators were also used to analyze the dynamics of arrivals, overnight stays, and the average length of stay.

Time series can be statistically characterized using a system of absolute, relative, and average indicators. Thus, for the operating accommodation capacity, arrivals, overnight stays, and the average length of stay, the absolute and relative changes (dynamic index and dynamic rate) were calculated with fixed base and chained base and average indicators [95].

The absolute modifications is as follows: With a fixed base, ${∆}_{\mathrm{t}/1}$ = y_t − y₁, where $\mathrm{t}=\overline{2,\mathrm{n}}$. Within a chain base (mobile or variable base), ${∆}_{\mathrm{t}/\mathrm{t}-1}={\mathrm{y}}_{\mathrm{t}}-{\mathrm{y}}_{\mathrm{t}-1}$, where $\mathrm{t}=\overline{2,\mathrm{n}}$.

Relative indicators are mainly presented as a percentage. In this situation, it is mandatory that the title or outside the table mentions the rating so that the data interpretation can be correctly performed.

Dynamic index: with a fixed base, ${\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{t}/1\left(\mathrm{\%}\right)}={\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{y}\mathrm{t}}{\mathrm{y}1}}\times 100;$ within a chain base, ${\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{t}/\mathrm{t}-1\left(\mathrm{\%}\right)}={\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{y}\mathrm{t}}{\mathrm{y}\mathrm{t}-1}}\times 100$.

Dynamic rhythm: with a fixed base, ${\mathrm{R}}_{\mathrm{t}/1}={\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{t}/1\left(\mathrm{\%}\right)}-100\mathrm{\%}$; within a chain base, ${\mathrm{R}}_{\mathrm{t}/\mathrm{t}-1}={\mathrm{I}}_{\mathrm{t}/\mathrm{t}-1\left(\mathrm{\%}\right)}-100\mathrm{\%}$, $\mathrm{t}=\overline{2,\mathrm{n}}$.

Average indicators: $\overline{\mathrm{y}}$ is the average level of the interval time series, where $\overline{\mathrm{y}}={\displaystyle \frac{\sum _{\mathrm{t}=1}^{\mathrm{n}}{\mathrm{y}}_{\mathrm{t}}}{\mathrm{n}}}$. $\overline{∆}$ is the average level of the absolute change (increase or decrease), where $\overline{∆}={\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{y}\mathrm{n}-\mathrm{y}1}{\mathrm{n}-1}}$. $\overline{\mathrm{I}}$ is the average index of dynamics, where $\overline{\mathrm{I}}=\sqrt[\mathrm{n}-1]{{\displaystyle \frac{\mathrm{y}\mathrm{n}}{\mathrm{y}1}}}$, and $\overline{\mathrm{R}}$ is the average growth rate, where $\overline{\mathrm{R}}=\overline{\mathrm{I}}-100$.

To adjust the number of tourists, the method of trends adjusted according to the linear trend for the time period between 2014 and 2028 was used: linear model: y = a + bt. R is the correlation between the values predicted by the equation and the current values. The square of R is used to indicate the variation in the values from the trend line [97,98].

Absolute indicators represent a basic form of the dynamic series, whereby general indicators could be obtained. Level indicators are the terms of a series formed by absolute indicators (y … y_t … y_t−1). The total level of terms, $\left(\sum _{\mathrm{t}=1}^{\mathrm{n}}{\mathrm{y}}_{\mathrm{t}}\right)$, is only used for time interval series with absolute measures.

5. Results

5.1. Theoretical Justification of the Possibilities for Utilizing Local Resources Through Rural Tourism Activities

Below is a description of the Humor Area, the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area, and the Vatra Dornei Area as research locations and significant holders of important resources for Romanian rural tourism [99,100,101,102].

The Humor Area (Figure 3) is located in the central part of Suceava County, with a temperate continental climate specific to mountainous and plateau regions (cold air, with blizzards and frost in winter, and dry, warm air in summer). The Humor Area is crossed by the Moldova River and its tributaries and is composed of several types of relief such as obcinis (Obcina Mare: Large Ridge; Humor Obcina: Humor Ridge), plateaus, intramontane depressions, hills, and valleys (Valley of Moldovia, part of the Suceava Plateau, Liteni-Mill Depression). The settlements in the Humor Area are scattered villages, which show a tendency to spread out towards the periphery (in the obcinis) and a tendency to concentrate or form clustered settlements in the plateau area. The population of this region is an “ethnic” and confessional mosaic made up of Romanians, Germans, Poles, Ukrainians, Hungarians, and Roma of Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, Pentecostal, Adventist, Baptist, and Evangelical Christian confessions.

The traditional architecture of the Humor Area is characterized by households entirely made of wood, which are typical of mountainous areas, with spaces designated for housing animals and storing feed, as well as households built from wood and other materials (burnt and unburnt clay, stone, wicker, etc.), with annexes for housing animals, storing tools, and preserving agricultural products, characteristic of plateau areas. A distinctive architectural element of this area is the porch (cerdac), which serves to protect the entrances of older houses from the elements while also being a place for domestic activities or a resting place for the household members.

The main cultural landmarks in this area include the Humor Monastery, the Roman Catholic Church “Assumption of the Virgin Mary” (Basilica Minor) in Cacica, the Cacica Salt Mine, and the Memorial House and Museum “Ciprian Porumbescu”.

Humor Monastery is located in the village with the same name. It was founded by Toader Bubuiog and his wife Anastasia in 1530. It is notable for its frescoes, both inside and outside the monastery. (The exterior frescoes are characterized by the predominance of red colors).

Roman Catholic Church “Assumption of the Virgin Mary” (Basilica Minor) in Cacica was built in the Neo-Gothic style from raw brick between 1903 and 1904. It has a 50 m high spire and impresses with the stained glass windows of the five windows in the presbytery and the two side windows made of colored glass from the transverse naves. The church was declared a national sanctuary in 1997 and was elevated to the rank of Basilica Minor three years later by Pope John Paul II.

Cacica Salt Mine is located in the village of Cacica. It was built based on the plan of the famous Wieliczka Salt Mine (Poland). The Cacica Salt Mine includes the old mine, which has been transformed into a true underground museum at a depth of 50 m; St. Barbara’s Chapel, which was built in 1904 and arranged 21 m underground; the bas-relief room; the underground salty water lake, which is 38 m deep (unique in Romania); and the festive hall where balls used to be held, which is located 44 m underground.

Memorial House and Museum “Ciprian Porumbescu” is located in the village of Ciprian Porumbescu. It houses significant monuments from the life and activity of the famous Romanian composer Ciprian Porumbescu, such as authentic exhibits (the piano, cello, conductor’s baton, and violin case), photographs, prints, posters, and numismatic or philatelic items.

The main occupations of the locals in the Humor Area include crop cultivation (wheat, barley, oats, flax, hemp) in the plateau area, animal husbandry (sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, poultry) in the mountainous area, and forestry or silviculture in the mountain and plateau regions.

The Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area (Figure 4) is located in the central-western part of Suceava County with a moderate temperate continental climate and is characterized by long winters with heavy snowfalls and humid, cool summers. Câmpulung Moldovenesc is situated in a mountainous area, with landforms such as mountains, ridges, intramontane depressions, valleys, terraces, and floodplains, and is crossed by the Moldova and Moldovița rivers and their tributaries.

The Câmpulung Moldovenesc settlements are in the form of scattered villages (dispersed and separated along the valleys), with a tendency to gather along the Moldova Valley. The population of this region is an “ethnic” and confessional mosaic made up of Romanians, Ukrainians, Germans, and Roma of Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Greek Catholic, Pentecostal, Adventist, and Baptist confessions. The traditional architecture of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area is represented by households entirely made of wood, with annexes for housing animals, tools, carts, and firewood, for storing food and preparing meals. A distinctive architectural element is the porch, which highlights the entrance, with pillars richly decorated on all surfaces.

The main cultural landmarks of interest in the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area include the Moldovița Monastery, the “Lucia Condrea” Painted Eggs Museum in Moldovița, and the Bucovina Village in Breaza.

The Moldovița Monastery is located in the village of Hearth of Moldovița. It was founded by Petru Rareș in 1532 (son of Stephen the Great) and painted in 1537. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastery is painted on the outside as well and is considered a fortress, with walls 6 m high and 1.2 m thick and with towers at both corners of the facade and a gate tower.

“Lucia Condrea” Painted Eggs Museum in Moldovița contains an impressive number of over 5000 exhibits, which are arranged according various themes. The museum is named after the artist who adopted and developed the art of egg painting. The painted eggs, which are created using different techniques, place the artist among the leading artists in the world. Her works can be found in major museums worldwide as well as in various private collections.

Bucovina Village in Breaza: Even in 2025, this village consists of traditional houses that are over 100 years old, and some of the buildings that make up the village date back more than two centuries in those lands. This village offers tourists optimal accommodation and dining conditions.

The traditional occupations of the locals in the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area include animal husbandry (sheep, horned cattle, and horses), crop cultivation (corn, potatoes, rye, barley, beet, etc.), and forestry/silviculture.

The Dorna Area (Figure 5) is located in the southwest of Suceava County, in the mountainous and depression areas, with relief consisting of mountains, intramontane depressions, and valleys. It has a temperate continental mountain climate, with frequent temperature inversions and heavy precipitation in the winter. The region’s hydrography consists of surface waters represented by the Bistrița River, with its tributaries, and the Dorna River, with its main tributaries, as well as underground waters from mineral springs, including carbonated, ferruginous, chlorinated, sulphated, and sulfurous waters in Șaru Dornei, Coșna, Poiana Negri, Dorna Candreni, and Meadow Stampa.

The Dorna settlements are in the form of scattered villages (lined along the valleys), whereby some have a tendency to gather (grouped on terraces). The population of this region is an “ethnic” and confessional mosaic made up of Romanians, Germans, Ukrainians, Hungarians, and Roma of Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Adventist, Baptist, Old Rite Christian, and Evangelical Christian confessions. The traditional architecture of the Dorna Area is represented by agro-pastoral households that are entirely made of wood, with spaces for housing animals and storing feed, and households specialized in crafts, with annexes for carrying out activities and storing work materials and finished products. The distinctive architectural element is the porch (cerdac), which protects the entrance of older houses from the weather and serves as a place for household activities or as a resting spot for the householders.

The main cultural landmarks of interest in the Dorna Area include the Village Museum in Dorna Candreni, the Ethnographic Museum in Stampa Meadow, and the Painted Eggs Museum in Ciocănești.

The Village Museum in Dorna Candreni contains over 2000 exhibits that are mostly ethnographic (chests, sewing looms, folk costumes, and traditional means of transport).

The Ethnographic Museum in Stampa Meadow: this museum reproduces the atmosphere of a typical home from the region, highlighting the hearth and porch, wooden objects, wall hangings, bedspreads, and blankets, as well as the frames used by housewives to work on clothing and decorative pieces.

The Painted Eggs Museum in Ciocănești: The museum holds a collection of over 2000 painted or decorated eggs created by local artisans. Household items made of wood and ceramics, such as pastoral inventory; tools used by carpenters, such as weaving looms; and decorative and folk clothing pieces evoke the way of life and the occupations of the locals. The traditional occupations of the local population in the Dorna Area mainly focus on animal husbandry (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and birds), which is characteristic of the mountain area; forestry/silviculture; and crop cultivation (millet, rye, barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, corn, etc.).

The traditional crafts of the three studied areas (Humor Area, Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area, and Dorna Area) are largely shared due to their geographical proximity (Suceava County, Romania) and the common historical developments through which all three areas evolved over time. These crafts are highly appreciated by tourists who visit the rural museums where craft objects are displayed. Many of these crafts are still practiced by the inhabitants of these regions, who strive to pass on the village professions to younger generations.

The traditional crafts of the three studied areas (Humor Area, Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area, and Dorna Area) include the following:

• Carpentry (common to all three areas), which involves the construction of houses and household annexes using only wood;
• Joinery (specific to Humor and Dorna Areas), which involves making door and window frames as well as furniture using wood;
• Cooperage (common to all three areas), which involves the making of wooden containers to store liquids, cheese, and preserved fruits;
• Blacksmithing (specific to Humor and Dorna Areas), which involves the processing of iron to produce various objects and tools;
• Pottery (specific to Humor Area only), which involves processing clay (especially clay) to make household items;
• Spinning and Weaving (common to all three areas), which involves making fabrics for clothing and decorative textile items using flax, hemp, and wool;
• Sewing (specific to Humor and Dorna Areas): the traditional technique is still preserved in 2025;
• Leatherwork or processing of skins and furs (common to all three areas), which involves using sheep and cattle skins to create clothing items known as “cojoace”;
• Roofing (specific to Humor and Dorna Areas), which involves covering houses, generally using spruce wood;
• Rope-making (specific to Humor Area): the craft of making ropes from hemp, which were later used to tie cattle;
• Egg Decorating or Dyeing (common to all three areas): this craft is especially practiced in the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area in Romania;
• Folk Musical Instruments (specific to Câmpulung Moldovenesc and Dorna Areas), which involve the making of folk musical instruments mostly from resonant wood such as fir and spruce;
• Making traditional shoes and boots (common to all three areas), which involves creating footwear typical of the 20th century rural Romania using pig or calf leather;
• Belt making (specific to Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area), which involves mounting leather ornaments made by specialized women, as well as making and repairing harnesses for horses, bridles, and whips;
• Vegetable Dyeing (specific to Dorna Area), which involves dyeing flax, hemp, and wool threads using plant-based dyes extracted from plant roots, rhizomes, stems, leaves, or flowers;
• Horn Processing (specific to Dorna Area), which involves making objects from deer or cattle horns, which was once practiced in the Bistrița Gold Valley (especially in Cârlibaba) and belonged to the Huțul horse people settled there in the 18th century. The objects, whether decorated or not, had various uses, such as horns for blowing, measuring, or storing gunpowder.

The traditional customs of the three studied areas (Humor Area, Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area, and Dorna Area) are represented by fixed-date holidays (and movable ones for Easter) and the specific customs and traditions associated with each holiday. The main holidays that reflect the most important traditional customs of the three studied areas include Saint Basil’s Day (1 January), where children practice the custom of “seeding” (throwing cereal grains through homes and offering wishes of health, prosperity, and abundance to the hosts); Epiphany (6 January), the procession of water blessing, the making of the ice cross, and sprinkling households, people, and animals with holy water (called aghiasmă); The 40 Martyrs’ Day (9 March), which is considered the Agricultural New Year; Alexii (17 March), which is considered the Beekeeping New Year; Blagovishenia (25 March); Saint George’s Day (23 April), which is considered the Pastoral New Year; Easter (painting eggs, preparing traditional meals, attending the Resurrection service, blessing the Easter basket, festive meal, bell ringing, egg tapping, watering from the second day of Easter, village dances, etc.); Pentecost (celebrated 50 days after Easter); Saint John’s Day (24 June); Saint Elijah’s Day (20 July); Village Feast (related to a religious holiday patronizing the locality); Assumption of Mary (15 August); Nativity of the Virgin Mary (8 September); Holy Cross Day (14 September); Good Friday (14 October—also known as “The Wedding of the Sheep”, which Christianity later overlapped with the celebration of Saint Parascheva); Samedi (or “Autumn Ancestors”, 26 October); Saint Andrew’s Day (30 November), where the night before is known as the night of the spirits, with magical customs such as spells, prophecies, etc.; Saint Nicholas (6 December)—Saint Nicholas is a kind, wise figure who helps widows and orphans, facilitates marriages for poor girls, and brings gifts to children; Pig Slaughtering Day (20 December)—the day when pigs are slaughtered; Christmas Eve (24 December), which includes preparing the Christmas Eve meal, caroling (a tradition initially started by children, continued by groups of young people, and supported by the elderly and even very old people until Epiphany); Christmas Day (25 December), which involves going caroling with the star and the Christmas carolers, a form of folk-religious theater performed by small groups of young people dressed as biblical characters; and New Year’s Eve, which is one of the richest moments in traditions and customs, including mask games (bears, goats, deer, “bunghieri”, “moșii și babele”, traders, doctors, and devils) and the “plugușorul” (a traditional carol for the new year).

Cultural events in all three areas studied (Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna) are numerous and attract many tourists. Many of them are associated with religious holidays and represented by various artistic performances, such as festivals and concerts (e.g., “Pilgrim in Bucovina” on 14–15 August in Humor, the religious music festival “Buna Vestire” in March in Fundu Moldovei, the National Trout Festival in August in Ciocănești, and Winter traditions and customs in December and January in all three studied areas).

5.2. Analysis of the Tourist Offer in the Humor Area, the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area, and the Dorna Area

The number of tourist accommodation facilities in the 12 rural localities of the Humor Area (Berchisești, Cacica, Capu Câmpului, Ciprian Porumbescu, Ilișești, Mănăstirea Humorului, Ostra, Păltinoasa, Pârteștii de Jos, Poieni Solca, Stulpicani, and Todirești) varied over the 10 years analyzed (2014–2023), ranging from 20 to 69 facilities (

Table 2. The number of tourist accommodation facilities in the rural localities of the Humor Area during the period between 2014 and 2023.

Places	Years UM: Number
	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Berchisești	:	:	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Cacica	3	3	7	9	8	8	8	14	15	15
Capu Câmpului	:	:	:	:	:	:	:	1	1	1
Ciprian Porumbescu	:	:	:	:	:	:	1	1	1	1
Ilișești	1	1	1	1	1	:	:	:	:	:
Mănăstirea Humorului	12	14	18	21	20	20	22	30	33	42
Ostra	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Păltinoasa	:	:	:	:	:	:	:	2	2	2
Pârtestii de Jos	2	2	2	2	2	2	3	2	3	4
Poieni-Solca	:	:	:	1	1	1	1	1	1	:
Stulpicani	:	:	:	:	:	:	:	1	1	2
Todirești	1	:	:	:	:	:	:	1	:	:
Total	20	21	30	36	34	33	37	55	59	69

‘:’—missing data. Source: www.insse.ro.

), with the number being 245% higher in 2023 compared to 2014.

The number of tourist accommodation facilities in the 9 rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area (Breaza, Frumosu, Fundu Moldovei, Moldova Sulița, Moldovița, Pojorâta, Sadova, Vama, and Vatra Moldoviței) varied over the 10 years analyzed (2014–2023), between 43 and 136 facilities (

Table 3. The number of tourist accommodation facilities in the rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area during the period between 2014 and 2023.

Places	Years UM: Number
	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Breaza	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	5	5	3
Frumosu	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	4	5	6
Fundu Moldovei	2	6	6	10	11	12	10	16	17	19
Moldova Sulița	:	:	:	1	3	2	3	4	4	2
Moldovița	1	1	2	3	3	2	2	9	7	8
Pojorâta	10	8	9	13	13	13	16	30	34	31
Sadova	7	6	7	7	7	7	7	17	17	19
Vama	19	18	18	22	24	23	24	31	32	31
Vatra Moldoviței	2	3	3	10	10	11	14	14	15	15
Total	43	44	48	70	75	74	80	130	136	134

‘:’—missing data; Source: www.insse.ro.

), with the number in 2023 being 211.62% higher compared to 2014.

The number of tourist accommodation facilities in the 10 rural localities of the Dorna Area (Cârlibaba, Ciocănești, Coșna, Crucea, Dorna Candreni, Dorna Arini, Iacobeni, Panaci, Poiana Stampa Meadow, and Șaru Dornei) varied over the 10 years analyzed (2014–2023), ranging from 34 to 134 facilities (

Table 4. The number of tourist accommodation facilities in the rural localities of the Dorna Area during the period between 2014 and 2023.

Places	Years UM: Number
	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Cârlibaba	2	2	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	1
Ciocănești	3	3	5	7	7	8	8	11	11	11
Coșna	1	1	2	3	3	3	3	3	4	4
Crucea	1	2	2	2	2	2	2	3	4	5
Dorna Candreni	5	5	6	8	8	8	12	16	16	18
Dorna Arini	12	12	13	21	22	22	22	32	35	44
Iacobeni	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2
Panaci	2	2	3	5	6	6	6	11	12	12
Stampa Meadow	2	2	2	2	2	2	3	4	3	4
Șaru Dornei	5	5	7	14	16	16	18	25	27	33
Total	34	35	43	65	69	70	76	107	114	134

Source: www.insse.ro.

), with the number in 2023 being 294.11% higher compared to 2014.

The operating tourist accommodation capacity, which represents the number of accommodation places provided to tourists by the accommodation units while taking into account the number of days the units are open during the considered period, is expressed in bed-days [23] and is analyzed both in terms of structure and dynamics in

Table 5. The absolute and relative changes in the operating accommodation capacity in the tourist reception structures of the rural localities in the Humor Area during the period between 2014 and 2023.

Years	Accommodation Capacity in Operation (Places-Days)	Absolute Changes		Dynamics Index (%)		The Rhythm of Dynamics (%)
		∆t/1	∆t/t−1	It/1	It/t−1	Rt/1	Rt/t−1
2014	95,128	-	-	-	-	-	-
2015	102,594	7466	7466	107.85	107.85	7.85	7.85
2016	125,711	30,583	23,117	132.15	122.53	32.15	22.53
2017	119,636	24,508	−6075	125.76	95.17	25.76	−4.83
2018	133,109	37,981	13,473	139.93	111.26	39.93	11.26
2019	135,371	40,243	2262	142.30	101.70	42.30	1.70
2020	115,696	20,568	−19,675	121.62	85.47	21.62	−14.53
2021	217,053	121,925	101,357	228.17	187.61	128.17	87.61
2022	256,082	160,954	39,029	269.20	117.98	169.20	17.98
2023	285,479	190,351	29,397	300.10	111.48	200.10	11.48
	$\overline{\mathrm{y}}$	$\overline{∆}$		$\overline{\mathrm{I}}$		$\overline{\mathrm{R}}$
	158,585.9	21,150.11		1.1298 (112.98%)		12.98%

∆_t/1—absolute changes with a fixed base; ∆_t/t−1—absolute changes with a chain base; I_t/1—fixed base dynamic index; I_t/t−1—chain base dynamic index; R_t/1—fixed base dynamic rate; R_t/t−1—chain base dynamic rate; $\overline{\mathrm{y}}$—average level of the series; $\overline{∆}$—average level of absolute increase/decrease; $\overline{\mathrm{I}}$—average dynamic index; $\overline{\mathrm{R}}$—average rate of increase/decrease. Source: calculated based on www.insse.ro.

,

Table 6. The absolute and relative changes in the operating accommodation capacity in the tourist reception structures of the rural localities in the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area during the period between 2014 and 2023.

Years	Accommodation Capacity in Operation (Places-Days)	Absolute Changes		Dynamics Index (%)		The Rhythm of Dynamics (%)
		∆t/1	∆t/t−1	It/1	It/t−1	Rt/1	Rt/t−1
2014	145,702	-	-	-	-	-	-
2015	167,473	21,771	21,771	114.94	114.94	14.94	14.94
2016	170,307	24,605	2834	116.89	101.69	16.89	1.69
2017	208,059	62,357	37,752	142.80	122.17	42.80	22.17
2018	238,184	92,482	30,125	163.47	114.48	63.47	14.48
2019	244,792	99,090	6608	168.01	102.77	68.01	2.77
2020	178,769	33,067	−66,023	122.69	73.03	22.69	−26.97
2021	348,930	203,228	170,161	239.48	195.18	139.48	95.18
2022	371,804	226,102	22,874	255.18	106.56	155.18	6.56
2023	412,447	266,745	40,643	283.08	110.93	183.08	10.93
	$\overline{\mathrm{y}}$	$\overline{∆}$		$\overline{\mathrm{I}}$		$\overline{\mathrm{R}}$
	2,486,467	29,638.33		1.1225 (122.25%)		22.25%

∆_t/1—absolute changes with a fixed base; ∆_t/t−1—absolute changes with a chain base; I_t/1—fixed base dynamic index; I_t/t−1—chain base dynamic index; R_t/1—fixed base dynamic rate; R_t/t−1—chain base dynamic rate; $\overline{\mathrm{y}}$—average level of the series; $\overline{∆}$—average level of absolute increase/decrease;$\overline{\mathrm{I}}$—average dynamic index; $\overline{\mathrm{R}}$—average rate of increase/decrease. Source: calculated based on www.insse.ro.

and

Table 7. The absolute and relative changes in the operating accommodation capacity in the tourist reception structures of the rural localities in the Dorna Area during the period between 2014 and 2023.

Years	Accommodation Capacity in Operation (Places-Days)	Absolute Changes		Dynamics Index (%)		The Rhythm of Dynamics (%)
		∆t/1	∆t/t−1	It/1	It/t−1	Rt/1	Rt/t−1
2014	166,061	-	-	-	-	-	-
2015	181,578	15,517	15,517	109.34	109.34	9.34	9.34
2016	179,047	12,986	−2531	107.82	98.61	7.82	−1.39
2017	239,753	73,692	60,706	144.38	133.91	44.38	33.91
2018	238,882	72,821	−871	143.85	99.64	43.85	−0.36
2019	264,206	98,145	25,324	159.10	110.60	59.10	10.60
2020	189,129	23,068	−75,077	113.89	71.58	13.89	−28.42
2021	342,400	176,339	153,271	206.19	181.04	106.19	81.04
2022	366,117	200,056	23,717	220.47	106.93	120.47	6.93
2023	383,444	217,383	17,327	230.91	104.73	130.91	4.73
	$\overline{\mathrm{y}}$	$\overline{∆}$		$\overline{\mathrm{I}}$		$\overline{\mathrm{R}}$
	2,550,617	24,153.67		1.0974 (109.74%)		9.74%

∆_t/1—absolute changes with a fixed base; ∆_t/t−1—absolute changes with a chain base; I_t/1—fixed base dynamic index; I_t/t−1—chain base dynamic index; R_t/1—fixed base dynamic rate; R_t/t−1—chain base dynamic rate; $\overline{\mathrm{y}}$—average level of the series; $\overline{∆}$—average level of absolute increase/decrease; $\overline{\mathrm{I}}$—average dynamic index; $\overline{\mathrm{R}}$—average rate of increase/decrease. Source: calculated based on www.insse.ro.

.

The dynamics and estimation of the operating accommodation capacity during the period between 2014 and 2028 in the tourist reception structures of the rural localities in the Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna Areas in Suceava County, are presented and analyzed in Figure 6 and

Table 8. The estimation of the operating accommodation capacity during the period of 2024–2028 in the tourist reception structures of the rural localities in the Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna Areas in Suceava County.

Years	T(x)	Humor Area y = 21,429x − 4 × 107	Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area y = 29,725x − 6 × 107	Dorna Area y = 24,957x − 5 × 107
2024	11	266,410.13	403,409.2	386,342.93
2025	12	292,617.72	437,862.3	415,121.90
2026	13	319,880.46	474,721.7	444,864.87
2027	14	351,544.60	509,054.7	470,260.50
2028	15	381,309.75	546,893.8	504,281.45

.

The accommodation capacity utilization rate, calculated by comparing the number of overnight stays to the operating accommodation capacity [23], which shows the efficiency of using accommodation spaces in the analyzed localities, is presented in

Table 9. The net utilization rate of the operating accommodation capacity in the tourist reception structures of the rural localities in the Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna Areas of Suceava County during the period of 2014–2023.

Years	Index of Net Utilization of Accommodation Capacity (%)
	Humor Area	Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area	Dorna Area
2014	14.62	19.27	19.82
2015	18.99	19.11	20.87
2016	25.89	20.41	25.44
2017	34.05	18.45	23.71
2018	34.11	21.11	27.81
2019	38.98	22.64	29.25
2020	25.64	20.35	25.16
2021	27.04	22.68	25.80
2022	28.40	22.78	25.55
2023	26.11	25.68	25.53

Source: calculated based on www.insse.ro.

.

5.3. Analysis of Tourist Demand in the Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna Areas

The level and dynamics of arrivals for the three analyzed areas are presented in

Table 10. The absolute and relative changes in arrivals at tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Humor Area during the period of 2014–2023.

Years	Arrivals (Number of Persons)	Absolute Changes		Dynamics Index (%)		The Rhythm of Dynamics (%)
		∆t/1	∆t/t−1	It/1	It/t−1	Rt/1	Rt/t−1
2014	6482	-	-	-	-	-	-
2015	9224	2742	2742	142.30	142.30	42.30	42.30
2016	15,823	9341	6599	244.10	171.54	144.10	71.54
2017	17,434	10,952	1611	268.96	110.18	168.96	10.18
2018	19,162	12,680	1728	295.61	109.91	195.61	9.91
2019	21,271	14,789	2109	328.15	111.00	228.15	11.00
2020	13,420	6938	−7851	207.03	63.09	107.03	−36.90
2021	26,640	20,158	13,220	410.98	198.50	310.98	98.50
2022	31,115	24,633	4475	480.02	116.79	380.02	16.79
2023	33,213	26,731	2098	512.38	106.74	412.38	6.74
	$\overline{\mathrm{y}}$	$\overline{∆}$		$\overline{\mathrm{I}}$		$\overline{\mathrm{R}}$
	19,378.4	2970.11		1.1990 (119.90%)		19.90%

∆_t/1—absolute changes with a fixed base; ∆_t/t−1—absolute changes with a chain base; I_t/1—fixed base dynamic index; I_t/t−1—chain base dynamic index; R_t/1—fixed base dynamic rate; R_t/t−1—chain base dynamic rate; $\overline{\mathrm{y}}$—average level of the series; $\overline{∆}$—average level of absolute increase/decrease; $\overline{\mathrm{I}}$—average dynamic index; $\overline{\mathrm{R}}$—average rate of increase/decrease. Source: calculated based on www.insse.ro.

,

Table 11. The absolute and relative changes in arrivals at tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area during the period of 2014–2023.

Years	Arrivals (Number of Persons)	Absolute Changes		Dynamics Index (%)		The Rhythm of Dynamics (%)
		∆t/1	∆t/t−1	It/1	It/t−1	Rt/1	Rt/t−1
2014	10,665	-	-	-	-	-	-
2015	13,946	3281	3281	130.76	130.76	30.76	30.76
2016	17,829	7164	3883	167.17	127.84	67.17	27.84
2017	19,143	8478	1314	179.49	107.37	79.49	7.37
2018	24,706	14,041	5563	231.65	129.06	131.65	29.06
2019	26,176	15,511	1470	245.44	105.95	145.44	5.95
2020	16,247	5582	−9929	152.34	62.07	52.34	−37.93
2021	35,149	24,484	18,902	329.57	216.34	229.57	116.34
2022	37,116	26,451	1967	348.02	105.60	248.02	5.60
2023	49,443	38,778	12,327	463.60	133.21	363.60	33.21
	$\overline{\mathrm{y}}$	$\overline{∆}$		$\overline{\mathrm{I}}$		$\overline{\mathrm{R}}$
	25,042	4308.67		1.1858 (118.58%)		18.58%

∆_t/1—absolute changes with a fixed base; ∆_t/t−1—absolute changes with a chain base; I_t/1—fixed base dynamic index; I_t/t−1—chain base dynamic index; R_t/1—fixed base dynamic rate; R_t/t−1—chain base dynamic rate; $\overline{\mathrm{y}}$—average level of the series;$\overline{∆}$—average level of absolute increase/decrease; $\overline{\mathrm{I}}$—average dynamic index; $\overline{\mathrm{R}}$—average rate of increase/decrease. Source: calculated based on www.insse.ro.

and

Table 12. The absolute and relative changes in arrivals at tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Dorna Area during the period of 2014–2023.

Years	Arrivals (Number of Persons)	Absolute Changes		Dynamics Index (%)		The Rhythm of Dynamics (%)
		∆t/1	∆t/t−1	It/1	It/t−1	Rt/1	Rt/t−1
2014	12,933	-	-	-	-	-	-
2015	15,337	2404	2404	118.59	118.59	18.59	18.59
2016	17,011	4078	1674	131.53	110.91	31.53	10.91
2017	24,428	11,495	7417	188.88	143.60	88.88	43.60
2018	25,508	12,575	1080	197.23	104.42	97.23	4.42
2019	30,259	17,326	4751	233.97	118.63	133.97	18.63
2020	21,573	8640	−8686	166.81	71.29	66.81	−28.71
2021	39,096	26,163	17,523	302.30	181.23	202.30	81.23
2022	40,553	27,620	1457	313.56	103.73	213.56	3.73
2023	42,409	29,476	1856	327.91	104.58	227.91	4.58
	$\overline{\mathrm{y}}$	$\overline{∆}$		$\overline{\mathrm{I}}$		$\overline{\mathrm{R}}$
	26,910.7	3275.11		1.1410 (114.10%)		14.10%

∆_t/1—absolute changes with a fixed base; ∆_t/t−1—absolute changes with a chain base; I_t/1—fixed base dynamic index; I_t/t−1—chain base dynamic index; R_t/1—fixed base dynamic rate; R_t/t−1—chain base dynamic rate; $\overline{\mathrm{y}}$—average level of the series; $\overline{∆}$—average level of absolute increase/decrease;$\overline{\mathrm{I}}$—average dynamic index; $\overline{\mathrm{R}}$—average rate of increase/decrease. Source: Calculated based on www.insse.ro.

, while their dynamics and estimates are shown in Figure 7 and

Table 13. The estimation of arrivals during the period of 2024–2028 in the tourist accommodation structures of the rural localities in the Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna Areas of Suceava County.

Years	T(x)	Humor Area y = 2645.5x − 5 × 106	Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area y = 3734.7x − 8 × 106	Dorna Area y = 3364.2x − 7 × 106
2024	11	33,977.33	44,727.80	45,190.93
2025	12	36,377.87	48,768.25	48,775.64
2026	13	38,636.79	53,028.97	52,284.77
2027	14	41,748.76	57,707.95	55,414.7
2028	15	45,014.20	62,262.26	59,422.89

.

The level and dynamics of overnight stays for the three analyzed areas are presented in

Table 14. The absolute and relative changes in overnight stays at tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Humor Area during the period of 2014–2023.

Years	Overnight Stays (Number)	Absolute Changes		Dynamics Index (%)		The Rhythm of Dynamics (%)
		∆t/1	∆t/t−1	It/1	It/t−1	Rt/1	Rt/t−1
2014	13,904	-	-	-	-	-	-
2015	19,482	5578	5578	140.12	140.12	40.12	40.12
2016	32,545	18,641	13,063	234.07	167.05	134.07	67.05
2017	40,731	26,827	8186	292.94	125.15	192.94	25.15
2018	45,401	31,497	4670	326.53	111.47	226.53	11.47
2019	52,771	38,867	7370	379.54	116.23	279.54	16.23
2020	29,665	15,761	−23,106	213.36	56.21	113.36	−43.79
2021	58,696	44,792	29,031	422.15	197.86	322.15	97.86
2022	72,730	58,826	14,034	523.09	123.91	423.09	23.91
2023	74,534	60,630	1804	536.06	102.48	436.06	2.48
	$\overline{\mathrm{y}}$	$\overline{∆}$		$\overline{\mathrm{I}}$		$\overline{\mathrm{R}}$
	44,045.9	6736.67		1.2050 (120.50%)		20.50%

∆_t/1—absolute changes with a fixed base; ∆_t/t−1—absolute changes with a chain base; I_t/1—fixed base dynamic index; I_t/t−1—chain base dynamic index; R_t/1—fixed base dynamic rate; R_t/t−1—chain base dynamic rate; $\overline{\mathrm{y}}$—average level of the series; $\overline{∆}$—average level of absolute increase/decrease; $\overline{\mathrm{I}}$—average dynamic index; $\overline{\mathrm{R}}$—average rate of increase/decrease. Source: calculated based on www.insse.ro.

,

Table 15. The absolute and relative changes in overnight stays at tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area during the period of 2014–2023.

Years	Overnight Stays (Number)	Absolute Changes		Dynamics Index (%)		The Rhythm of Dynamics (%)
		∆t/1	∆t/t−1	It/1	It/t−1	Rt/1	Rt/t−1
2014	28,076	-	-	-	-	-	-
2015	32,012	3936	3936	114.02	114.02	14.02	14.02
2016	34,761	6685	2749	123.81	108.59	23.81	8.59
2017	38,389	10,313	3628	136.73	110.44	36.73	10.44
2018	50,272	22,196	11,883	179.06	130.95	79.06	30.95
2019	55,417	27,341	5145	197.38	110.23	97.38	10.23
2020	36,379	8303	−19,038	129.57	65.65	29.57	−34.35
2021	79,122	51,046	42,743	281.81	217.49	181.81	117.49
2022	84,694	56,618	5572	301.66	107.04	201.66	7.04
2023	105,908	77,832	21,214	377.22	125.05	277.22	25.05
	$\overline{\mathrm{y}}$	$\overline{∆}$		$\overline{\mathrm{I}}$		$\overline{\mathrm{R}}$
	54,503	77,832		1.1589 (115.89%)		15.89%

∆_t/1—absolute changes with a fixed base; ∆_t/t−1—absolute changes with a chain base; I_t/1—fixed base dynamic index; I_t/t−1—chain base dynamic index; R_t/1—fixed base dynamic rate; R_t/t−1—chain base dynamic rate; $\overline{\mathrm{y}}$—average level of the series; $\overline{∆}$—average level of absolute increase/decrease; $\overline{\mathrm{I}}$—average dynamic index; $\overline{\mathrm{R}}$—average rate of increase/decrease. Source: calculated based on www.insse.ro.

and

Table 16. The absolute and relative changes in overnight stays at tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Dorna Area during the period of 2014–2023.

Years	Overnight Stays (Number)	Absolute Changes		Dynamics Index (%)		The Rhythm of Dynamics (%)
		∆t/1	∆t/t−1	It/1	It/t−1	Rt/1	Rt/t−1
2014	32,920	-	-	-	-	-	-
2015	37,892	4972	4972	115.10	115.10	15.10	15.10
2016	45,544	12,624	7652	138.35	120.19	38.35	20.19
2017	56,846	23,926	11,302	172.68	124.82	72.68	24.82
2018	66,434	33,514	9588	201.80	116.87	101.80	16.87
2019	77,286	44,366	10,852	234.77	116.34	134.77	16.34
2020	47,579	14,659	−29,707	144.53	61.56	44.53	−38.44
2021	88,324	55,404	40,745	268.30	185.64	168.30	85.64
2022	93,536	60,616	5212	284.13	105.90	184.13	5.90
2023	97,877	64,957	4341	297.32	104.64	197.32	4.64
	$\overline{\mathrm{y}}$	$\overline{∆}$		$\overline{\mathrm{I}}$		$\overline{\mathrm{R}}$
	64,423.8	7217.44		1.1287 (112.87%)		12.87%

∆_t/1—absolute changes with a fixed base; ∆_t/t−1—absolute changes with a chain base; I_t/1—fixed base dynamic index; I_t/t−1—chain base dynamic index; R_t/1—fixed base dynamic rate; R_t/t−1—chain base dynamic rate; $\overline{\mathrm{y}}$—average level of the series; $\overline{∆}$—average level of absolute increase/decrease; $\overline{\mathrm{I}}$—average dynamic index; $\overline{\mathrm{R}}$—average rate of increase/decrease. Source: calculated based on www.insse.ro.

, while their dynamics and estimation are shown in Figure 8 and

Table 17. The estimation of overnight stays during the period of 2024–2028 in the tourist accommodation structures of the rural localities in the Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna Areas of Suceava County.

Years	T(x)	Humor Area y = 6109.9x − 1 × 107	Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area y = 8372.2x − 2 × 107	Dorna Area y = 7068.4x − 1 × 107
2024	11	78,157	97,509.07	103,459.53
2025	12	83,763.6	107,664.3	110,672.81
2026	13	88,816.77	118,302.3	117,394.64
2027	14	95,089.24	128,885.2	123,993.67
2028	15	102,302.18	139,099.2	131,456.13

.

The average length of stay, as an indicator that shows the average time (in days) tourists spend in accommodation facilities and thus reflects the ability of the offer to retain tourists in a specific area or region, according to the National Institute of Statistics [23], during the analyzed period (2014–2023) in the rural localities of the Gura Humorului Area ranged between 2.06 and 2.48 days, and in the rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area, it ranged between 1.95 and 2.63 days, and in the rural localities of the Dorna Area, it ranged between 2.21 and 2.68 days (

Table 18. The average length of stay during the period of 2014–2023 in the tourist accommodation structures of the rural localities in the Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna Areas of Suceava County.

Years	DMS (Days)
	Humor Area	Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area	Dorna Area
2014	2.15	2.63	2.55
2015	2.11	2.30	2.47
2016	2.06	1.95	2.68
2017	2.34	2.01	2.33
2018	2.37	2.03	2.60
2019	2.48	2.12	2.55
2020	2.21	2.24	2.21
2021	2.20	2.25	2.26
2022	2.34	2.28	2.31
2023	2.24	2.14	2.31

DMS—average length of stay. Source: calculated based on www.insse.ro.

).

The level and dynamics of the average length of stay for the three analyzed areas are presented in

Table 19. The absolute and relative changes in the average length of stay at tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Humor Area during the period of 2014–2023.

Years	DMS (Days)	Absolute Changes		Dynamics Index (%)		The Rhythm of Dynamics (%)
		∆t/1	∆t/t−1	It/1	It/t−1	Rt/1	Rt/t−1
2014	2.15	-	-	-	-	-	-
2015	2.11	−0.04	−0.04	98.14	98.14	−1.86	−1.86
2016	2.06	−0.09	−0.05	95.81	97.63	−4.19	−2.37
2017	2.34	0.19	0.28	108.84	113.59	8.84	13.59
2018	2.37	0.22	0.03	110.23	101.28	10.23	1.28
2019	2.48	0.33	0.11	115.35	104.64	15.35	4.64
2020	2.21	0.06	−0.27	102.79	89.11	2.79	−10.89
2021	2.20	0.05	−0.01	102.33	99.55	2.33	−0.45
2022	2.34	0.19	0.14	108.84	106.36	8.84	6.36
2023	2.24	0.09	−0.1	104.19	95.73	4.19	−4.27
	$\overline{\mathrm{y}}$	$\overline{∆}$		$\overline{\mathrm{I}}$		$\overline{\mathrm{R}}$
	2.25	0.01		1.0045 (100.45%)		0.45%

DMS—average length of stay; ∆_t/1—absolute changes with a fixed base; ∆_t/t−1—absolute changes with a chain base; I_t/1—fixed base dynamic index; I_t/t−1—chain base dynamic index; R_t/1—fixed base dynamic rate; R_t/t−1—chain base dynamic rate; $\overline{\mathrm{y}}$—average level of the series; $\overline{∆}$—average level of absolute increase/decrease; $\overline{\mathrm{I}}$—average dynamic index; $\overline{\mathrm{R}}$—average rate of increase/decrease.

,

Table 20. The absolute and relative changes in the average length of stay at tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area during the period of 2014–2023.

Years	DMS (Days)	Absolute Changes		Dynamics Index (%)		The Rhythm of Dynamics (%)
		∆t/1	∆t/t−1	It/1	It/t−1	Rt/1	Rt/t−1
2014	2.63	-	-	-	-	-	-
2015	2.30	−0.33	−0.33	87.45	87.45	−12.55	−12.55
2016	1.95	−0.68	−0.35	74.14	84.78	−25.86	−15.22
2017	2.01	−0.62	0.06	76.43	103.08	−23.57	3.08
2018	2.03	−0.6	0.02	77.19	101.00	−22.81	1.00
2019	2.12	−0.51	0.09	80.61	104.43	−19.39	4.43
2020	2.24	−0.39	0.12	85.17	105.66	−14.83	5.66
2021	2.25	−0.38	0.01	85.55	100.45	−14.45	0.45
2022	2.28	−0.35	0.03	86.69	101.33	−13.31	1.33
2023	2.14	−0.49	−0.14	81.37	93.86	−18.63	−6.14
	$\overline{\mathrm{y}}$	$\overline{∆}$		$\overline{\mathrm{I}}$		$\overline{\mathrm{R}}$
	2.20	−0.05		0.9773 (97.73%)		−2.27%

DMS—average length of stay; ∆_t/1—absolute changes with a fixed base; ∆_t/t−1—absolute changes with a chain base; I_t/1—fixed base dynamic index; I_t/t−1—chain base dynamic index; R_t/1—fixed base dynamic rate; R_t/t−1—chain base dynamic rate; $\overline{\mathrm{y}}$—average level of the series; $\overline{∆}$—average level of absolute increase/decrease; $\overline{\mathrm{I}}$—average dynamic index; $\overline{\mathrm{R}}$—average rate of increase/decrease.

and

Table 21. The absolute and relative changes in the average length of stay at tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Dorna Area during the period of 2014–2023.

Years	DMS (Days)	Absolute Changes		Dynamics Index (%)		The Rhythm of Dynamics (%)
		∆t/1	∆t/t−1	It/1	It/t−1	Rt/1	Rt/t−1
2014	2.55	-	-	-	-	-	-
2015	2.47	−0.08	−0.08	96.86	96.86	−3.14	−3.14
2016	2.68	0.13	0.21	105.10	108.50	5.10	8.50
2017	2.33	−0.22	−0.35	91.37	86.94	−8.63	−13.06
2018	2.60	0.05	0.27	101.96	111.59	1.96	11.59
2019	2.55	0	−0.05	100.00	98.08	0.00	−1.92
2020	2.21	−0.34	−0.34	86.67	86.67	−13.33	−13.33
2021	2.26	−0.29	0.05	88.63	102.26	−11.37	2.26
2022	2.31	−0.24	0.05	90.59	102.21	−9.41	2.21
2023	2.31	−0.24	0	90.59	100.00	−9.41	0.00
	$\overline{\mathrm{y}}$	$\overline{∆}$		$\overline{\mathrm{I}}$		$\overline{\mathrm{R}}$
	2.43	0.03		0.9890 (98.90%)		−1.1%

DMS—average length of stay; ∆_t/1—absolute changes with a fixed base; ∆_t/t−1—absolute changes with a chain base; I_t/1—fixed base dynamic index; I_t/t−1—chain base dynamic index; R_t/1—fixed base dynamic rate; R_t/t−1—chain base dynamic rate; $\overline{\mathrm{y}}$—average level of the series; $\overline{∆}$—average level of absolute increase/decrease; $\overline{\mathrm{I}}$—average dynamic index; $\overline{\mathrm{R}}$—average rate of increase/decrease.

, while their dynamics and estimation are shown in Figure 9 and

Table 22. The estimation of the average length of stay during the period of 2024–2028 in the tourist accommodation structures of the rural localities in the Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna Areas of Suceava County.

Years	T(x)	Humor Area y = 0.012x − 21.874	Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area y = 0.0005x + 1.2239	Dorna Area y = −0.0375x + 78.159
2024	11	2.34	2.12	2.23
2025	12	2.36	2.21	2.19
2026	13	2.35	2.27	2.13
2027	14	2.31	2.28	2.11
2028	15	2.31	2.28	2.04

.

6. Discussion

Tourist accommodation structures with accommodation functions, which represent any building or arrangement providing accommodation services and other specific services for tourists in the analyzed areas, are predominantly from the category of structures with low accommodation capacity, namely tourist and agritourism guesthouses (80–90%, according to www.insse.ro) [23]. The number of tourist accommodation structures in the three analyzed areas (Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna) registered significant increases of over 200% in all three areas by the end of the analyzed period (2023), compared to the base year (2014). In a study by Dincu et al. in 2019, the authors noted that the total number of tourist accommodation establishments with tourist accommodation functions in Suceava County in 2018 was 460 establishments, 75.43% of which were in the category of low-capacity accommodation establishments (tourist hostels at 50, 43% and agrotouristic guesthouses at 25%) [106], and in our study, in the year 2023, there were 810 accommodation units in Suceava County (337 units in the three regions analyzed); thus, an increase of 76% in the number of accommodation structures in 2023 compared to 2018 was seen.

By examining the absolute and relative dynamics of the operational accommodation capacity in the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Humor Area during the period of 2014–2023 (Table 5), it was found that by the end of the analyzed period (2023), there was a significant increase in the number of bed-nights, by 200.1% compared to the base year (2014). However, a significant decrease in the number of bed-nights was recorded in 2020 compared to 2019, by 14.53%, due to the temporary closure of accommodation units caused by a lack of tourists (2020 being a pandemic year), or for repairs (as these were even suitable in the absence of tourists). Compared to the previous year, the most significant increase in the number of bed-nights occurred in 2021, with 87.61%. Overall, the average level of operational accommodation capacity in the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the area was 158,585.9 bed-nights, with an average absolute increase of 21,150.11 bed-nights and a relative increase of 12.98%.

In the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area (Table 6), the operational accommodation capacity shows that the number of bed-nights increased similarly to the number of bed-nights in the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Humor Area. By the end of the analyzed period (2023), there was an increase of 183.08% compared to the base year (2014). A significant decrease in the number of bed-nights was also recorded in 2020 compared to 2019, by 26.97%, due to the temporary closure of accommodation units caused by a lack of tourists (2020 being a pandemic year), or for repairs (as these were even suitable in the absence of tourists). Compared to the previous year, a significant increase in the number of bed-nights was recorded in 2021, with 95.18%, indicating that the accommodation structures were ready to welcome tourists after a difficult year, such as 2020, marked by severe travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the average level of operational accommodation capacity in the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area was 2,486,467 bed-nights, with an average absolute increase of 29,638.33 bed-nights and a good relative increase of 22.25%.

In the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Dorna Area (Table 7), it is observed that the operational accommodation capacity saw a somewhat lower increase compared to the number of bed-nights in the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Humor and Câmpulung Moldovenesc Areas. By the end of the analyzed period (2023), there was an increase of only 130.91% compared to the base year (2014). A significant decrease in the number of bed-nights was also recorded in 2020 compared to 2019, by 28.42%, due to the temporary closure of accommodation units caused by a lack of tourists (2020 being a pandemic year), or for repairs (as these were even suitable in the absence of tourists). Compared to the previous year, a significant increase in the number of bed-nights was recorded in 2021, with 81.04%, indicating that the accommodation structures were ready to welcome tourists after a difficult year like 2020 for tourism. Overall, the average level of operational accommodation capacity in the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Dorna Area was 2550.617 bed-nights, with an average absolute increase of 24,153.67 bed-nights and a relative increase of only 9.74% lower than in the other two analyzed regions.

Among the three analyzed rural regions, the most significant increase in the number of bed-nights (operational accommodation capacity) by the end of the analyzed period (2023) compared to the base year (2014) was recorded in the Humor Area, with an increase of approximately 200%, followed closely by the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area with an increase of about 180%. These figures indicate that in these two regions, the number of structures has increased, and consequently, the number of available accommodation places has risen due to the high demand for tourism in these areas, compared to the Dorna Area, where the accommodation capacity increased by only about 130%. This is because in this area, the number of available bed-nights is quite good and sufficient to meet the tourism demand. Given that the influencing factors on tourism activity in the rural localities of the analyzed regions will maintain the same pace in the next five years of the analyzed period (2014–2023) (Figure 6, Table 8), by 2028, the number of bed-nights could reach approximately 380,000 in the rural localities of the Humor Area, around 550,000 in the rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area, and approximately 505,000 in the rural localities of the Dorna Area.

In the same study, which was conducted by Dincu et al. in 2019, the authors mentioned that in terms of accommodation capacity in Suceava County, in 2017, it recorded 2,964,646 bed-days [106], and in our study, in 2023, 4,029,294 bed-days were recorded in Suceava County (1,081,370 bed-days in the accommodation facilities in the three regions analyzed), thus recording an increase of 35.91% in the number of bed-days in 2023 compared to 2017.

The net occupancy rate of the operational accommodation capacity in the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Humor Area (Table 9) varied between 14.62% (in 2014) and 38.98% (in 2019) during the analyzed period (2014–2023). In 2020 (a pandemic year), the efficiency of accommodation space usage decreased significantly compared to 2019, by 34.22%. By the end of the analyzed period (2023), the net occupancy rate of the operational accommodation capacity in the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Humor Area was 26.11%, representing an increase of approximately 78.59% compared to 2014 (14.62%), which was still lower than the national value of this indicator for 2023 (30.02%), according to the National Institute of Statistics [23].

The net occupancy rate of the operational accommodation capacity in the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area (Table 9) varied between 18.45% (in 2017) and 22.78% (in 2022) during the analyzed period (2014–2023). In 2020 (a pandemic year), the efficiency of accommodation space usage decreased compared to the previous year (2019), by 10.11%. By the end of the analyzed period (2023), the net occupancy rate of the operational accommodation capacity in the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc region was 25.68%, representing a 33.26% increase compared to 2014 (19.27%), which was still lower than the national value of this indicator for 2023 (30.02%), according to the National Institute of Statistics [23].

The net occupancy rate of the operational accommodation capacity in the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Dorna Area (Table 9) varied between 19.82% (in 2014) and 29.25% (in 2019) during the analyzed period (2014–2023). In 2020 (a pandemic year), the efficiency of accommodation space usage decreased compared to 2019, by 13.98%. By the end of the analyzed period (2023), the net occupancy rate of the operational accommodation capacity in the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Dorna Area was 25.53%, representing a 28.80% increase compared to 2014 (19.82%), which was still lower than the national value of this indicator for 2023 (30.02%), according to the National Institute of Statistics [23].

Among the three analyzed rural regions, the most significant increase in the net occupancy rate of the operational accommodation capacity by the end of the analyzed period (2023) compared to the base year (2014) was recorded in the Humor Area, with an increase of 78.59%. This indicator, which shows how efficiently the accommodation spaces were utilized, recorded similar values by the end of the analyzed period across the three rural regions and, at the same time, lower values in all three cases compared to the national average of Romania by approximately 13–14%. Thus, it results that in the three analyzed rural regions (Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna), there is no immediate need for the construction of new tourist accommodation units, considering that the operational accommodation capacity has not been used in the most efficient way.

By analyzing the absolute and relative dynamics of arrivals from the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Humor Area for the period of 2014–2023 (Table 10), it was found that by the end of the analyzed period (2023), there was a significant increase of 412.38% in the number of tourists arriving compared to the base year (2014). However, a significant decrease in the number of tourist arrivals was recorded in 2020 compared to 2019, by 36.9%, due to the pandemic. Compared to the previous year, the most significant increase in the number of tourists arriving occurred in 2021, with a rise of 98.5%, as tourists were eager to go on vacation and mostly chose rural areas, which were less exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the average number of arrivals reached 19,378.4 people, with an average absolute increase of 2970.11 people and a relative increase of 19.9%.

By analyzing the absolute and relative dynamics of arrivals from the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area for the period of 2014–2023 (Table 11), it was found that by the end of the analyzed period (2023), there was a significant increase of 363.6% in the number of tourists arriving compared to the base year (2014). However, a significant decrease in the number of tourist arrivals was recorded in 2020 compared to 2019, by 37.93%, due to the pandemic. Compared to the previous year, the most significant increase in the number of tourists arriving occurred in 2021, with a rise of 116.34%, as tourists also wanted to go on vacation and chose rural regions, which were less exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic, as was the case with the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area. Overall, the average number of arrivals reached 25,042 people, with an average absolute increase of 4308.67 people and a relative increase of 18.58%.

By analyzing the absolute and relative dynamics of arrivals from the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Dorna Area for the period of 2014–2023 (Table 12), it was found that by the end of the analyzed period (2023), there was also a significant increase of 227.91% in the number of tourists arriving compared to the base year (2014). A significant decrease in the number of tourist arrivals was also recorded in 2020 compared to 2019, by 28.71%, due to the pandemic. Compared to the previous year, the most important increase in the number of tourists arriving occurred in 2021, with an increase of 81.23%, as tourists chose rural areas, which were less exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the Dorna area. Overall, the average number of arrivals reached 42,409 people, with an average absolute increase of 3275.11 people and a relative increase of 14.1%.

Among the three rural regions (Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc region, and Dorna), significant relative increases in the number of tourist arrivals were recorded in the analyzed period (2014–2023). The most important relative increase in arrivals was recorded in the Humor area, by 19.9%. If the influencing factors in the tourism activity in the rural localities of the analyzed regions maintain the same pace over the next five years of the analyzed period (2014–2023) (Figure 7, Table 13), in 2028, the number of tourists arriving could reach approximately 45 thousand in the rural localities of the Humor Area, 62 thousand in the rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area, and 59 thousand in the rural localities of the Dorna Area.

In a study by Simeanu C. et al. in 2022, analyzing the absolute and relative dynamics of arrivals in tourist accommodation facilities in Suceava County in the period of 2010–2019 revealed that the average level of arrivals recorded was 310,033.6 people, with an average absolute increase of 30,172.9 people and a relative increase of 10.2% [98]; in this study, the relative dynamics of arrivals recorded higher values, with 95.1% for the Humor region, 82.16% for the Câmpulung Moldovenesc region, and 38.24% for the Dorna region.

In the study conducted by Dincu et al. in 2019, the authors noted that the number of tourists (arrivals) recorded in Suceava County in 2017 was 385,676 people [106], and in our study, in 2023, 560,176 people were registered in Suceava County (125,065 people in the three regions analyzed), thus recording an increase of 45.25% of arrivals in 2023 compared to 2017.

By analyzing the absolute and relative dynamics of overnight stays from the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Humor Area for the period of 2014–2023 (Table 14), it was found that by the end of the analyzed period (2023), there was a significant increase of 436.06% in the number of overnight stays compared to the base year (2014). A significant decrease in the number of overnight stays was recorded in 2020 compared to 2019, by 43.79%, due to the pandemic. Compared to the previous year, the most important increase in the number of overnight stays occurred in 2021, with an increase of 97.86%, as tourists were eager to go on vacation and predominantly chose rural areas, which were less exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the average number of overnight stays reached 44,045.9, with an average absolute increase of 6736.67 overnight stays and a relative increase of 20.5%.

By analyzing the absolute and relative dynamics of overnight stays from the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area for the period of 2014–2023 (Table 15), it was found that by the end of the analyzed period (2023), there was a significant increase of 277.22% in the number of overnight stays compared to the base year (2014). A significant decrease in the number of overnight stays was recorded in 2020 compared to 2019, by 34.35%, due to the pandemic. Compared to the previous year, the most important increase in the number of overnight stays occurred in 2021, with an increase of 117.49%, as tourists also wanted to go on vacation and chose rural regions, which were less exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic, as was the case with the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area. Overall, the average number of overnight stays reached 54,503, with an average absolute increase of 77,832 overnight stays and a relative increase of 15.89%.

By analyzing the absolute and relative dynamics of overnight stays from the tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Dorna Area for the period of 2014–2023 (Table 16), it was found that by the end of the analyzed period (2023), there was also a significant increase of 197.32% in the number of overnight stays compared to the base year (2014). A significant decrease in the number of overnight stays was also recorded in 2020 compared to 2019, by 38.44%, due to the pandemic. Compared to the previous year, the most significant increase in the number of overnight stays occurred in 2021, with an increase of 85.64%, as tourists chose rural areas, which were less exposed to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the Dorna Area. Overall, the average number of overnight stays reached 64,423.8, with an average absolute increase of 7217.44 and a relative increase of 12.87%.

Between the three rural regions (Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna), during the analyzed period (2014–2023), significant relative increases in overnight stays in tourist accommodation structures were recorded. The most important relative increase was also recorded in the Humor Area, at 20.5%, a region closer to tourist-generating centers (Suceava City, Iași City), compared to the other analyzed regions. Given that the influencing factors in the tourist activity in the rural localities of the analyzed regions will maintain the same pace in the next five years of the analyzed period (2014–2023) (Figure 8, Table 17), by 2028, the number of overnight stays could reach approximately 102,000 in the rural localities of the Humor Area, approximately 139,000 in the rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area, and approximately 124,000 in the rural localities of the Dorna Area.

In the study conducted by Simeanu C. et al. in 2022, analyzing the absolute and relative dynamics of overnight stays in tourist accommodation facilities in Suceava County in the period of 2010–2019 revealed that the average level of overnight stays recorded was 696,295.6 overnight stays, with an absolute average increase of 61,534, 4 overnight stays and a relative increase of 9.1% [98]; in this study, the relative dynamics of overnight stays registered higher values, with 125.27% for the Humor region, 74.62% for the Câmpulung Moldovenesc region, and 41.43% for the Dorna region.

By analyzing the absolute and relative dynamics of the average length of stay in tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Humor Area for the period of 2014–2023 (Table 19), it was found that by the end of the analyzed period (2023), there was an increase of only 4.19% compared to the base year (2014). However, a significant decrease in the average length of stay was recorded in 2020 compared to 2019, by 10.89%, due to the pandemic. Overall, the average length of stay recorded was 2.25 days, with an average absolute increase of only 0.01 days and a relative increase of 0.45%.

By analyzing the absolute and relative dynamics of the average length of stay in tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area for the period of 2014–2023 (Table 20), it was found that by the end of the analyzed period (2023), there was a decrease of 18.63% compared to the base year (2014). However, decreases were observed throughout the entire analyzed period, most likely due to the economic development level of Romania and the relatively low incomes of those who vacationed in these regions, which were predominantly Romanian tourists. The most significant increase in the average length of stay occurred in 2020 (5.66%) compared to 2019, as tourists chose to stay longer in tourist and agritourism guesthouses, which are the most common types of structures in rural areas and have limited accommodation capacity, especially due to isolation rules imposed by the pandemic. Overall, the average length of stay recorded was 2.2 days, with an average absolute decrease of 0.05 days and a relative decrease of 2.27%.

By analyzing the absolute and relative dynamics of the average length of stay in tourist accommodation structures in the rural localities of the Dorna Area for the period of 2014–2023 (Table 21), it was found that by the end of the analyzed period (2023), there was a decrease in the average length of stay by 9.41% compared to the base year (2014). However, the most significant decrease occurred in 2020 (a pandemic year), with a 13.33% decrease compared to both the base year (2014) and the previous year (2019), most likely also due to the greater distance of the rural localities in the Dorna Area from the tourist-emitting centers (Municipality of Suceava and Municipality of Iași). Overall, the average length of stay recorded was 2.43 days, with an average absolute increase of only 0.03 days and a relative decrease of 1.1%.

Among the three analyzed rural regions (Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna), during the analyzed period (2014–2023), rural localities in the Gura Humorului Area recorded a slight relative increase in the average length of stay, most likely due to the fact that it is the region closest to the tourist-emitting centers (Municipality of Suceava and Municipality of Iași), while rural localities in the other two regions (Câmpulung Moldovenesc and Dorna) recorded relative decreases of 2.27% and 1.1%, respectively, in the average length of stay. If the influencing factors on tourism activity in the rural localities of the analyzed regions maintain the same pace over the next five years of the analyzed period (2014–2023) (Figure 9, Table 22), in 2028, the average length of stay could be 2.31 days in rural localities in the Humor Area, 2.28 days in rural localities in the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Area, and 2.04 days in rural localities in the Dorna Area.

In the study carried out by Simeanu C. et al. in 2022, the absolute and relative dynamic analysis of the average length of stay in tourist accommodation facilities in Suceava County in the period of 2010–2019 revealed that the average length of stay registered was 2.27 days, with an absolute average decrease of 0.02 days and a relative decrease of 1% [98]. The average length of stay in tourist accommodation units in the rural localities analyzed in this paper for the period of 2014–2023 shows a slight relative increase for the Humor region (0.45%), while in the other two areas (Câmpulung Moldovenesc and Dorna), there were relative decreases of 2.27% and 1.1%, 1.1% respectively, which shows that in this aspect, things have not changed much compared to the period (2010–2019) analyzed.

7. Conclusions

According to the specialized literature, the three areas analyzed (Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna) have a high potential for tourism due to the special natural landscape represented by mountainous landforms, intramontane depressions of particular beauty, rural settlements with traditional architecture, and numerous cultural tourist attractions including the famous monasteries with exterior paintings, which were built in the XV–XVI centuries, which are part of UNESCO heritage (Humor Monastery and Moldovița Monastery). Traditional crafts, traditional customs, and traditional manifestations specific to the Romanian villages in Bucovina are examples of preservation and alignment with Romania’s National Strategy for Tourism Development, which focuses on sustainable tourism development.

The analysis of the number of tourist accommodation structures in the three regions analyzed shows that in all three regions, in the analyzed period (2014–2023), there was an increase in the number of structures by over 200%, which shows an increased interest of entrepreneurs to strengthen tourism in these areas. The analysis of the accommodation capacity in operation shows that the most important relative increase in the number of bed-days was recorded in the areas of Câmpulung Moldovenesc and Humor due to the high demand for tourism in these areas and somewhat less for the Dorna area, because in this area, the number of existing bed-days is sufficient to cover the tourist demand. The analysis of the index of net utilization of the accommodation capacity in operation recorded close values at the end of the analyzed period between the three rural regions, values that, however, recorded differentiated increases compared to the reference year (2014), from about 30% for the Dorna and Câmpulung Moldovenesc Zones and about 79% for the Humor region, which shows that the lower number of tourist accommodation structures and therefore of accommodation places led to a more efficient use of accommodation spaces in the Humor Zone.

The number of tourist arrivals and overnight stays recorded significant relative increases in all three areas analyzed, compared to the average length of stay which in the Gura Humorului Area recorded a slight relative increase (0.45%), while in the other two areas (Câmpulung Moldovenesc and Dorna), there were relative decreases of 2.27% and 1.1%, respectively. This shows that although the number of tourists arriving in these areas is higher, they stay less, which should make entrepreneurs more concerned about how to get tourists to stay longer.

The estimation of the accommodation capacity in operation for the year 2028 shows that if the influencing factors are maintained, the number of bed-days could be around 380 thousand in the rural settlements in the Humor Zone and over 500 thousand in the rural settlements in the Câmpulung Moldovenesc and Dorna Zones. The estimation of arrivals and overnight stays shows that the number of tourist arrivals in the year 2028 could be between approximately 45 thousand and 60 thousand in the rural localities of the three areas, and the number of overnight stays could be between approximately 100 thousand and 140 thousand. Estimates for the year 2028 of the average length of stay in the rural localities of the three areas analyzed range from 2.04 to 2.31 days.

Thus, based on the data and results presented in this paper, we can consider that the development of rural tourism is beneficial in the analyzed regions (Humor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna), because tourism is a certain sustainable development activity in a rural community. The analysis of the tourism market through its indicators (tourism supply and demand) shows that rural tourism in the three regions analyzed has good potential for development. We recommend that in the future, HoReCa entrepreneurs operating in the three tourist areas studied (Hunor, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, and Dorna) should focus more on the leisure offer they make available to tourists in order to provide guests with enough arguments and leisure opportunities to stay longer in these areas and to enjoy all the opportunities for knowledge and relaxation that the wonderful Bucovinean Area offers. At the same time, the collaboration of hospitality entrepreneurs with local authorities in organizing traditional events can be a good way to attract more tourists.