THE INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF ACCESSIBILITY IN TOURISTIC SERVICES THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL...

THE INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF ACCESSIBILITY

IN TOURISTIC SERVICES THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF SOCIAL TOURISM OFFERS.

STUDY CONDUCTED IN VÂLCEA

Authors Iuliana CIOCHINĂ∗, Carmen-Maria IORDACHE∗∗

Abstract: This paper tries to clarify the concept of social tourism by definition, features, forms of manifestation and materialization, as the concept of social tourism was not very clear for many people, being confused with mass tourism, popular tourism, tourism for people with disabilities etc.. The central objective of this form of tourism is to facilitate access to as many people as a holiday / vacation / tourist stay, guaranteeing them one of his fundamental rights. Research on the social determination Travel offers accessibility among Vâlcea County highlighted issues relating to the degree / frequency of the practice of tourism, travel preferences as practiced, season, time, motivation and preferred destinations, programs offer options for tourists government tourism office, the most appropriate means of such promotional offers, etc.. Regarding the usefulness of the research results should be noted that these can be used both for policy makers and industry and those who work in tourism. The information refers both to tourism issues, preference, motivation, satisfaction, etc., and issues on the most appropriate techniques, communication means or medium recommended to be used to promote effective social travel offers.

Keywords: social tourism, tender reference, research, health tourism

1. Introduction

The emergence of the term social tourism is located in democratic Europe after the end of World War II. Hesitation between popular travel and tourism for all

∗Iuliana Ciochină, Ph.D., Professor „Constantin Brâncoveanu” University of Piteşti, România, e-mail:

[email protected] ∗∗ Carmen-Maria Iordache, Associate Professor Ph.D, „Constantin Brâncoveanu” University of Piteşti, România, e-mail:

[email protected]

TTOOUURRIISSMM

B&L Business & Leadership

Nr. 2 - 2012, pp. 85-105 ISSN 2069-4814

86 Iuliana Ciochina, Carmen-Maria Iordache

founders chose a term that can be translated easily into most languages in the world and fulfills a social vocation. A definition of social tourism was given by Professor Dr. W. Hunziker: "tourism that is characterized in that it is practiced by circles with low purchasing power and that is facilitated by its special benefits recognizable as such" (Hunziker, W., 1951).

According to a more operational definition, social tourism is a concept that refers to programs and actions designated to implement the right to holidays and travel accessibility for all population groups, particularly young people, families, retirees, people with special needs and disabled people with modest incomes, but also concerns the quality of the relationship between tourists and host communities (Lanquar R. & Raynouard Y., 1986, Rodgers G., Gore J. C. & Figueiredo, 1995).

Professor L. Desqlanques defines the travel industry as a whole social action aimed at developing tourism in the socio-professional categories with limited income. If we refer to the definition of Romanian specialists, that social tourism is a form of tourism for the masses, social classes, practiced with relatively limited financial possibilities, form which manifests itself as a family travel or tourism for all, it is noted that all definitions highlight this form of tourism focusing on a particular segment of the population, easy access to tourist product (Minciu, R., 2004, Iordache C., 2008).

Analyzing the different terms used in connection with the work of tourism (mass tourism - a large number of people participating in this activity, a tendency to generalize the nature of society today, popular tourism - tourist activities that denotes a wide public audience, because of their originality actractivităţii and etc..) AJBukart English teachers and S. Medlik describe social tourism as an activity different from mass tourism or popular tourism, dealing specifically with social participation in tourism categories with limited material resources including measures to encourage such participation and make it possible (Bukart, AJ and Medlik S., 1987).

Social tourism also includes measures taken by various countries governments to encourage holidays, programs that are the result of struggles waged by the unions, associations, community groupings (BITS - Bureau International Tourism Society, 1996).

More recently, the concept of social tourism integrates more clearly issues of equity and solidarity with the host communities (Minnaert L., Maitland R., and Miller G. 2007). Accessibility tourism concerns not only tourists, but also those who visit should have access to their resources and benefits from tourism (Lanquar R., Yves R., 1995, Lanquar R., Raynouard Y., 1986) .

Introducing a solidarity relationship between tourists and host populations with the objective of sustainable development, social tourism includes total mass tourism invader and plunderer of resources, highlighting this issue, is one of the main objectives pursued in this paper (Minnaert L. , Maitland R., Miller G., 2009,

The increase in the level of accessibility in touristic services through the promotion of social tourism offers. Study conducted in Valcea 87

Sharpley R., 1999). In this respect, the original scheme systematizes theoretical concepts taken from the literature, I put in a clearer form elements contained in their composition trying to highlight the interconnectivity between them.

2. Social Tourism Contents and Features

In terms of content, social tourism is defined, according to the status bits, as "a set of relationships and phenomena resulting from participation in tourism (travel) certain categories of modest income, participation possible or facilitated due to measures of character social well-defined (BITS, 1996.) ".

Tourism usually consist of treatment and cure medical spa, youth, study trips, school camps, some forms of tourism, rest, etc. from this point of view it is difficult to divide other forms of tourism. This approach, social tourism meets the characteristics of tourism in general or of any other forms of travel, customized by the category of consumers to whom it is addressed and how their holidays are financed (Hall C, 2000) .

The recipients of this type of tourism are the categories of people with limited financial means, represented by the minimum level of income located in the economy or social status showing this: pensioners, unemployed, students, workers in agriculture etc. (Chauvin J., 2002). In the travel opportunities, they are satisfied - or partly - through grants to the society through social welfare agencies and various other organizations: house insurance, unions of pensioners, trade unions, youth organizations, foundations, and payment facilities offered by the operators of tourism (rate reductions, a lower level of commission).

In starting any strategy for developing this form of tourism one will have to consider aspects that characterize social tourism industry (BITS 2001):

• in most countries, the tourism office has a homogeneous structure, both in terms of supply, and in terms of demand;

• tourism demand is very fluctuating, therefore, even in countries with tradition in this form of tourism, it is necessary to offer a well-structured.

Also, the organization of social tourism activity should be considered a number of distinctive features of this type of tourism (tourism Le social dans le monde., 2006):

• joint arrangements; • in Holiday villages, centers, camps, etc. More facilities are common in

nature - for example, dining room, rooms for television and bedrooms; • joint; • most vacations and holidays tourism office offers a variety of joint

activities, led by an organizer or promoter;


• sensitivity to environment - representing an early form of responsible tourism, social tourism has been characterized as respecting the local environment, both natural and human.

Should be noted here, however, a number of factors that can adversely affect the development of social tourism, tourism activities that are included here, such as (J. Freyne, Brennan AJ, Smyth B, Byrne D, Smeaton AF, Jones GJF, 2009, Marjoriebanks, K. 1998):

• psychological barrier when potential customers refuse to leave the season;

• obstacle family determined that a significant percentage of tourists are family man, with schoolchildren who cannot take vacation leaves only them;

• technical obstacle, related to large enterprises during the season would be to close their doors to workers who wish to spend holidays in the same period of school holidays.

Tourism as tourism office is directly related to the evolution of economic development, the degree of civilization of the population, the establishment of rest, paid holidays, etc.., Stages are prerequisites "democratization vacations and tourism" (J. Chauvin, 2002). Social tourism can play a major role in all accessible areas of tourism, industry associations designed to bind with strong partnerships with public authorities or private enterprises with trade unions, etc.., In order to enable all sections of the population, especially those with modest incomes to enjoy a holiday (Minnaert L., 2007).

In developed countries there are four types of financial sources of investment in social tourism grant credits state, the National House of family allowances (NCC) or locally from the House Family Allowance (CAF), or funds from to individuals or loans financial organizations.

Another way of implementing the so-called "social tourism management" in developed countries, which began to be practiced in Romania, based on holiday check sites, which suggests wage savings. An employee has the opportunity to save a certain amount per month, according to well-defined understanding employer, enabling and providing incentives for low-income employees.

There is also support from the National Agency for Savings holidays (ANCEV) with a social mission twice: on the one hand providing funds for holiday departures in the categories of persons who meet certain income requirements, age or social status, and secondly to manage social buildings to distribute funds for renovation, repair, improve comfort, etc...

Other body necessary to implement the management system of social tourism is Public Interest Group of Solidarity Scholarships (GIPBSV). Its purpose is to correlate offers residence for people who cannot go on holiday without financial support with a series of financial terms very favorable. This body collects bids


from a number of providers of tourist services, with professional associations in relation to people facing a range of social difficulties (Popescu D., Geamănu C., 2004).

France is a country with ongoing system of social tourism best set up, the vast majority of tourism associations and federations of uniting to form Leisure - Vacation - Tourism. Prices for holidays and holiday packages are set according to family income and the period chosen. Stability and development of social tourism is due to substantial subsidies given by: Ministries of Agriculture, Health and Youth Funds for Spatial Planning, National for family allowances, Central House for Credit Hotel, Commercial and Industrial, etc.., Also have applied some tax incentives, such as: tax cuts for small hospitality unclassified, special premiums for structures in coastal camping or construction funds for modernization and inter-equipment.

In Germany, there are currently about 330 resorts and 32 spas and resorts for youth, approved by the State that provides for social tourism. Legal rules of operation and financial support are achieved in each land. About 1 / 6 of the total number of tourists (1.7 million), enjoy spa treatments, subsidized houses of Social Insurance. Social Insurance Contribution Houses treatments in the resort rise to 70% of total costs. Every citizen is entitled, under certain conditions, to fully subsidize spa treatments every three years, depending on the employment status of each guest / patient. First, the minimum duration of a course being the patient and three weeks for four weeks for the parking, and a youth camp at least a week.

United Kingdom has a tradition of social tourism, trade unions are more concerned with ensuring the best possible working conditions for employees and less on how to spend their free time by themselves. Thus, tourism elderly (seniors) reduced subsidies, directed by people with serious diseases and those with special needs. Youth has decreased the number of scholarships, which are replaced by bank loans, and school trips and holidays fell very much because the family is required to pay all costs without any outside subsidy. The greater attention to young people with disabilities enjoy the British authorities trying to ensure their short vacations in hotels and special holiday centers, with appropriate vehicles.

In general, the current climate of Europe, it may be noted that the term social tourism is not used very often, due to the so called "militant" in which crystallized as a means of recreation and rest of the reach of many modest income and an available cash for the holidays, quite small compared to the costs of tourism services provided in tourism classes.

In 1963, he founded the International Bureau of Social Tourism (bits) in Brussels, an international nonprofit organization created to promote access of as many people on holidays and travel and to encourage the development of means necessary to implement this objective with those who share this responsibility: states, operators and social actors.


3. Coordinates of Social Tourism in Romania

The existence and development of social tourism is directly related to active collaboration between tourism companies, public power organizations, trade unions, the health insurance system and pension. In Romania, social tourism is practiced since the '70s, when given the so-called "ticket by union", existing in each business. When referring to currently support this form of tourism is the responsibility of different bodies, namely: National Tourism Authority (NTA), the Romanian Tourism Employers' Federation (FPTR), the Spa Tourism Employers in Romania (OPTBR) and Association National Rural, Ecological and Cultural (ANTREC).

Social tourism market shows some specific features, the level of demand and supply (Stănciulescu G., N. Lupu, Ţigu G., 1998, Asandei M., Ciochina I., Gangone A., Iordache C, Panoiu L. 2009).

In this context, social tourism offer, including in particular accommodation to a lower degree of comfort (hotels 1, 2, up 3 stars) and does not include meals. Travel social programs will have to resort to food services units, the same services in other locations frequented by tourists.

Regarding the period of operation of social tourism by encouraging attendance at tourist resorts especially in low season (or the beginning / end of season), it tries, in addition to increased traffic flow of interest and participation in travel to as many people (regardless income), and better use of the bases of interest, thus reducing, to some extent, the effects of seasonality.

Offer social tourism is, in most cases, internal (thus promote domestic tourist destinations, which in recent years have passed in the background, in favor of the party), most often part of that form of organized tourism or part organization ( services are wholly or partly engaged in advance) and the duration of stay is medium (7 - 12/15 days).

Tourist resorts socially responsible programs are in all three categories: health services (Amara, Govora, Herculane, Wah, Felix, Covasna, Olanesti, Călimăneşti-Căciulata etc...) Seaside (Mamaia, Eforie Nord, Eforie Sud, Neptune, Jupiter, Saturn, Mangalia), mountain (Predeal, Buşteni, Păltiniş etc.).. Application registered social tourism, involving travel outside the regular and temporary residence for reasons other than labor, calls for a characterization as exactly what can be achieved on several criteria: 1) Demographic and socio-economic criteria:

a. age: children, adolescents, young adults, aged people of III; b. socio-professional status: pupils / students, workers, employees,

retirees; c. education: secondary , medium, high; d. personal income: absent, low and medium.


2) Reasons: a. resting / recreation: for most in demand; b. medical treatment: in particular for persons age III; c. religious reasons: pilgrimages often organized by churches or religious

institutions and religious. In Romania, the main forms of social tourism are: State social security eligible persons insured in the state social insurance

system (employees, paying other CAS, pensioners etc.). • by building places of the own unions, that SIND Romania SRL, listed

as the largest travel network in the country because of interest available, 27 travel agencies in Bucharest and in main cities of the country, benefiting from an experience of over 25 years;

• camps administered by the Ministry of Education, Research and Innovation for holidays and preschool students who are holidays and pleasure centers hosting children and adolescents aged 5 to 12 years;

• youth tourism is considered an important facet of social tourism, given the economic and social status of young people, on the one hand and the need to support their learning process, on the other hand, tourism is the process whereby a important component.

Tourism camping is one of the cheapest forms of practice of tourism, both in accommodation prices and the possibility to serve dinner.

Agro-tourism is defined as a form of tourism practiced in rural areas, based on providing services of accommodation, meals, entertainment, etc.., the peasant, taking advantage and thus a higher, natural and human resources of the area and contributing to raising living standards of rural population (G. Stănciulescu, N. Lupu, G. Ţigu, 1998).

• Social tourism huts. Dispersion chalets in the area covering the most attractive mountain masses and their location close to mountain areas entered the travel (caves, climbing routes, natural slopes), supports the mountain tourism.

• Tourism age III. Tourists express their demand for tourism in order to restore health, entering into a naturally relaxed, picturesque place that can provide even new experience, provided they have a limited budget.

Among government programs and projects implemented in Romania in the field of social tourism we mention:

Social Programs Seaside: Seaside for all or a week at the sea, 1Mai the Great "Children of the Sun" and seeking to extend the summer season (seasonality problem was intractable on the season), by facilitating access to Seaside holidays to as many consumer segments.

Social programs spa "health tourism", "A week of recovery," Health for all "programs that offer retirees the opportunity to spend a week in a spa, providing


the rates encouraging both tourists and travel companies, seeking revival spa tourism by enhancing the movement of interest in this sector.

Social programs in rural areas, like "summer in the country", which seeks to channel tourist flows to rural traditions, which have an adequate tourism infrastructure resulting from rural tourism development. They include, in general, table service and is at an intermediate level, varying slightly from one year to another depending on the level of comfort chosen by the tourist.

4. Social Tourism Offers Accessibility for People - Study for Valcea County

4.1. Preliminary stages of research

General aim of research is to determine the accessibility of social tourism offer, in terms of tariff levels, awareness and information on these offers, in Vâlcea county. The main objectives of the research involved are:

1. Determining the extent / frequency of the practice of tourism, in general, the population of Vâlcea County.

2. Setting preferences for the form of tourism tourists Vâlcea practiced 3. Assessment of tourists’ options, in terms of season, duration, travel

motivation and destination choice in general. 4. Determination of awareness and information on social tourism offers. 5. Weighting of entering the consumption of these proposals and the

preferred form of social tourism. 6. Making choices to offer tourists Vâlcea tourism government social

programs. 7. Customer satisfaction tourism offers office, including special

programs, in terms of quality, accessibility (the charges), their diversity and usefulness.

8. Establish promotional means that people deemed suitable to offer social tourism in Romania.

Conduct of the research involves observation and determination unit, to the sample being represented by people who were surveyed at the study, 300 people respectively.

4.2. Data collection and processing of

Collection of information was achieved by adding an investigation based on a

questionnaire comprising assisted 22 questions with multiple choice answers, in which respondents selected the option that represent the utmost. The study was conducted from 7 – to 14 April, 2011, in the four places in the county - Vâlcea,


Goranu, Bujoreni and Vlădeşti . A mechanical step interview was randomly assigned to survey all persons available to respond. To conduct research is necessary to use a prior pilot investigation. This was carried out on a total of 40 people who were dissatisfied with the wording of the questions shown in two ways:

• Did not know the term "social tourism" and called its definition or examples;

• Some respondents had difficulty in marketing specific terms (promotional techniques) which were later removed, finding simple and clear forms.

The questionnaire was reformulated, with the necessary additions and then was distributed to add on a sample of 300 people.

Distribution and structure of the population surveyed by the tourism options in leisure

By response Number of persons

Structure %

Yes 159 53,00

No 36 12,00

Sometimes 105 35,00

Overall 300 100

From the table it is observed that more than half of persons subject to 53%

research, practically travels regularly (that means frequent leisure), 35% occasionally, and for 12% of respondents, tourism is not the options for holidays / vacations or weekends. Motivations for "sometimes" and "no" are finance, lack of free time or their mentality.

Distribution and population structure of respondents by frequency in the leisure tourism

By response

Number of persons

Structure %

Very rarly 72 27

Rare 64 25

Often 93 35

Very often 35 13

Overall 264 100


Almost half of those who said that do tourism practice (52%), do it slowly and very rarely, once or twice a year maximum, which confirms a reduced propensity to travel motivations justifying the result to the previous question. The distance is very large compared to those who practice leisure tourism in several times a year, only 13%, a higher proportion than registering those who resort to tour 3-4 times a year (perhaps in particular on vacation and around the major holidays) that is 35%.

Distribution and population structure of respondents by mode of employment benefit


structure %

Tourism organized

73 28

Tourism on your own

130 49

Joint 61 23

Overall 264 100

Half (49%) of those who travel prefer to organize individual stay, considering

it probably applying to an organized form of tourism and reduce the mobility of free movement in organizing their stay. But are 73 responses (28%) who prefer organized tour version, here entering the category of those who do not want to risk when accommodating at request, a situation encountered especially for those (older or health problems) which incurs a ticket in a spa treatment.

Distribution and population structure interviewed after preferred tourist season

By response

Number of persons

structure %

long 35 13

average 62 24

short 167 63

Overall 264 100

Short stays, up to 7 days, are preferred by most tourists, 63%, this being the

result of a complex of factors (limited time, limited financial resources, pursuit of leisure activities, other than those related to tourism, etc. ). Approximately 37% of those who chose tourism practice environments and long-stay in that category especially those who are entering a medical spa treatment, where the duration of treatment requires a longer period of time.


Distribution and population structure surveyed by ground travel

By response

Number of persons

Structure %

rest, recreation

146 55

spa 52 20

religious 21 8

Business 9 3

cultural reasons

10 4

other reasons

26 10

Overall 264 100

For 55% of tourists, the main reason for travel is leisure, recreation, option

generated by fatigue, stress, noises current period, accumulated during labor. Spa treatment is the option of 20% of people, especially those of elderly age. It is noted that business occupies a secondary place in the range of activities in Vâlcea, the share allocated to this motivation is only 3%. Religious tourism occupies a special place, 8% of those who practice a form of tourism opting for it.

Distribution and structure of interviewes people according to the chosen destination

By response

Number of Persons

Structure %

in country

245 93

abroad 19 7

Overall 264 100

93% of respondents chooses particular domestic destinations and 7% chooses

such places for spending holidays as: Bulgaria, Spain, Greece, Italy, Croatia, Austria. Choosing domestic destinations is motivated by the limited material opportunities for many of those interviewed, the choice of foreign destinations that are supported by members of the interviewed families or relatives working abroad by enabling them to travel less expensive.


Distribution and interviewed population structure after preferred tourist destination

By Response Number of Persons

Structure, %

seaide 36 14 mountain 70 26 Bathing 52 20 Delta-Dunării 11 4 Rural tourism 42 16 cities 32 12 others 21 8 Overall 264 100

Although the preferred season for tourism is summer, we might expect the

coast to be the main destination for most of the tourists in Vâlcea, but 26% of them prefer to go to the mountain, even in this season. In second place are the resorts, with only 20% and third place top choices are Black, half the share of mountains. This may be the result of a preconceived idea that the full season rates are the sea (and sometimes unreasonable) and not the mountains taking into consideration the fact that living in a mountain area people feel more attracted by this environment.

Distribution and population structure of respondents by knowledge of the existence of information on social tourism offer

By Response

Number of Persons

Structure %

YES 203 77

NO 61 23

Overall 264 100

This question filter, 77% of respondents said they know about the tourism

facilities which aim to stimulate spending holidays by one as many people, especially those with lower incomes. This share is however not satisfactory if we consider that social tourism is practiced for a long period of time, through various programs. It appears that this form of tourism is not sufficiently known either because of media failure or, in many cases, because ignorance or lack of interest.


Distribution and population structure of respondents by mode of information


Structure %

media 85 42

the workplace 20 10

through institutions

41 20

other sources 57 28

overall 203 100

Since the media (especially television, press) plays an important role in

modern human life, it is seen as the principal means of information about tourism by 42%, followed with 28% of non-conventional sources (relatives, friends, institutions, especially those in rural areas and even the Internet, for those in urban areas).

Distribution and population structure interviewed after the level of involvement in consumption

By Response

Number of Persons

Structure %

Yes 126 62

No 77 3

Overall 203 100

According to the answers to question 11, the third filter question

questionnaire, we find that only 62% of those who have information on interesting social offers has called and received. Reasons for which the other 38% of respondents did not request such an offer may be the most varied, among them being reduced confidence in these offerings (in terms of quality, thoroughness, safety) or issues related to status , image etc., persons involved in the promotional process.

98 Iuliana Ciochina, Carmen-Maria Iordache Distribution and population structure surveyed after the option on the form of social tourism


Structure %

Rest ticket / treatment by the state social insurance

62 23

by union 47 18

camps 16 6

Youth 10 4

Tourist camping 14 5

agriculturist 16 6

the chalets 26 10

for the third age 73 28

Overall 264 100

The first three places in the ranking of options for a form of tourism for the

tourism office is occupied by "old age of" - 28% (motivated by greater availability of time of this category of people), 23%, based on tourism held tickets obtained by social security, addressing both employees and retirees and, with a share close to 18% union offers, which are well known to employees, being used by more than 25 years ago.

Share the lowest one is "Youth Travel" but not "camping" (4% to 5%). A fairly significant proportion is held by "agriculturist" trend "back to nature", is manifested increasingly more in recent years (both national and international).

Distribution and population structure interviewed after option for government programs

By Response

Number of Persons

Structure %

Yes 148 56

No 116 44

Overall 264 100

Slightly over half, 56% o are interested in choosing social tourism offers

special programs that occur each year (especially in low season) because they run long and provides security on the organization of the program. Potential tourists or city agencies also manifests mistrust and lack of interest because of reduced information in this direction.


Distribution and population structure for one option interviewed by government programs subject to tender


Structure %

Coast for all 18 7

A week at sea 42 16

May 1 at Sea 16 6

Children of the sun 6 2

Health Tourism 11 4

A week of recovery 98 37

Health for all 8 3

Holidays in the countryside

65 25

Overall 264 100

The social program sought recovery of tourism is a spa (37%), which is

addressed to any person (regardless of age), on a 'first come, first served "type of service, followed very close to" Holidays in the countryside "Tourism in rural areas, with almost 25%, due to the way (part two of the program extends to November) and the desire for contact with nature, gaining increasing importance among tourists. Programs with the smallest request is "Children sun", "Health for All" due mainly to their running very short period of time.

Distribution and population structure interviewed after impressions on tender


Structure %

70%

6%

20%

4% Sample structure according tothe impressions on offer

Good

Very good

Poor

Very poor

Good 184 70

Very Good 16 6

Poor 53 20

Very poor 11 4

Overall 264 100

Offer feedback about these programs is generally good (70%), with however a

rather large percentage, or 20% of respondents deem inappropriate impression is determined either by work at the travel agency (as intermediary) or point chosen travel (destination).

100 Iuliana Ciochina, Carmen-Maria Iordache Distribution and population structure of respondents by the degree of satisfaction with the

quality of the benefit

By Response

Number of Persons

Structure %

Yes 176 67

No 87 33

Overall 264 100

For 33% of tourists, the quality of the benefit was not appropriate. This is

partly justified by the fact that tourism office, offers you particularly comfortable accommodation with a medium (1 and 2 stars), comfort is associated most often with a "little benefit in terms of quality”. But discontent is also due to the foundations of treatment services (for offers spa), but those who are considering having a meal, which addresses social tourism offer that meal is not included in any one of the social programs.

Distribution and population structure of respondents by the degree of satisfaction with the quality of the benefit

By Response Number of

Persons

Structure %

Yes, they are suitable

169 64

They aren’t attractive at all

26 10

Don’t know 69 26

Overall 264 100

Travel social tariffs are available for more than half of the tourists surveyed.

However, approximately 10% of the respondents considered it not very attractive. In case of nterviewees who have no choice on rates prevailing in the social programs, it is assumed that their decision on participation in social tourism, in various forms, is very much influenced by this component's marketing mix.


Distribution and population structure option interviewed after the election and other services for cost

By Response

Number of Persons

Structure %

Yes 58 22

No, I don’t think is needed

137 52

Don’t Know

69 26

Overall 264 100

Among those who believe that social tourism offer needs to be complemented

with other services for cost (22%), the majority specified in the questionnaire that approval should become a greater priority. This is true even for older people who choose, in particular, the spas, because not everyone who goes to a resort feel the need to conduct business during their pleasant stay. However, given the fact that there are also persons accompanied by children, it is required for animation programs, special places for spending time outdoors or other activities age. Off the season, as well as in low season, many units are closed (bars, restaurants, places of entertainment etc..) and there are too many opportunities spending free time (off the beach, which is greatly influenced by weather).

Distribution and population structure interviewed after utility offers in social tourism


Structure %

Yes, they are useful and should continue

227 86

Do not see the usefulness

5 2

I think in this respect

32 12

Overall 264 100

22

52

26

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Yes No Don”t know

The structure of the sample after the option of choice


Most people under investigation (86%) consider these offers useful, especially for those who otherwise cannot allow a holiday or vacation, but to stimulate tourist traffic and create a positive mindset tourism practice frequently. However, it is considered that these offers provide reduced seasonality in tourism activity, which is a conferred continuity and tourism unit more effectively.

Distribution and population structure surveyed after the option to extend the offer for social tourism abroad

By response Number of

persons Structure

%

Yes, I think is best

53 20

I do not think that is optimal

163 62

Do not know 48 18

Overall 264 100

For greater social tourism and foreign destinations, over 60% of people

deemed unsuitable, probably because of increasing costs, it reduces the level of address ability of social tourism, especially by people bound to a particular status socially determined by income, age, social status.

Distribution and population structure of respondents in the opinion of the degree of social tourism promotion programs


structure %

Yes, they are well promoted

42 16

No, should be promoted more

190 72

Do not know 32 12

Overall

264 100


72% of respondents feel that social tourism offer is not sufficiently promoted, it would be intensified their promotion, both at the agency and tourist establishments, the mass media (press Central, TV stations, radio, etc.), targets and other categories of consumers, potential tourists. Promotional policy is considered to be good only for 16% of those interested in this form of tourism.

Distribution and population structure of respondents by preference of means of promoting


Structure %

Local jobs radio and TV

53 20

Print media (local / central)

90 34

Internet 58 22

Other means 40 14

Do not know 23 10

Overall 264 100

34% of practicing social tourism shows that the best means to promote this

form of travel offers is print option determined by the depth distribution channel, newspapers are a relatively easily accessible way for both the urban and rural areas. Internet and TV and radio channels, with relatively similar share (22% and 20%) did not cover only very few rural settlements and TV channels also do not fully cover rural areas (most can only receive national television stations).

5. Conclusions

When determining methods to promote social tourism, offers should take into account the results of the study which, in some cases, contradict to some extent what was originally thought about the perception, preference, extent and manner of information on these offers. It should be noted that Black has always been considered as a first option for tourists, which proved to be wrong, because the preferred destination of urban mountain, and those in rural areas, the spas. In this context, it is recommended that the promotion of tourist offers to take account of these preferences. The study points out that favorite season who practice social tourism is hot, the option is determined by school holidays and leave is granted during it. Those activities cannot be interrupted during the summer were chosen


for the cold season, the proportions are very close, so must adapt and promote this issue. Promote social tourism offers should be unit-oriented segment of the target, both nationally (through advertising, public relations, special deal, etc.) And regional/local. Also, all the study, concluded that if we refer to the two areas of residence, urban and rural forms of promotion is not much different, only the technical restrictions (in rural areas the Internet has penetrated very least, and because of the geographical environment and its use is not recommended as a means of communication) and time (periods where the population of cities taking vacations, differs from that of rural areas in this respect, promote established itself to be made according of this).

With all the disadvantages of promoting the Internet, it becomes obvious that more and more consumers preferred information medium urban potential, while the most use to promote tourism by tour operators. Many of the results of the study can be used in developing measures strategic tourism development office in Vâlcea County, in conjunction with other forms of tourism that can effectively harness the potential offered by existing resources.

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