GIS ANALYSIS OF ROMANIAN HARDLY ACCESSIBLE MOUNTAIN REGIONS WITH A COMPLEX AND HIGH-VALUED TOURISTIC POTENTIAL

The crucial importance of mountain regions for the cohesion policies is underlined by key Romanian and European Union documents. However, the lack of a unique definition or criteria used to delineate and analyze them constitutes a barrier to the elaboration of development strategies. This study has created Geographical Information Systems-based methodology to select Romanian hardly accessible mountain regions with a complex and high-valued touristic potential and determine their characteristics using spatial analysis based on specific indicators. The results indicate that mountain regions are affected by poor accessibility, resulting into the lack of basic supplies, as well as education and health issues. Tourism trends suggest reduced accommodation, food, and entertainment opportunities, increased number of tourists, but decreasing average durations of stay and usage of touristic facilities. Based on these findings, the outstanding touristic potential of Romanian mountain regions appears to be insufficiently valorized, calling for actions on behalf of the authorities.