{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,7]],"date-time":"2026-05-07T08:30:08Z","timestamp":1778142608111,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":68,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,23]],"date-time":"2022-12-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1671753600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Increasing the impact of excellence research on the capacity for innovation and technology transfer within USAMVB Timisoara","award":["6PFE"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["6PFE"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sustainability"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The current research was motivated by observed particularities of local communities and the necessity of local rural economy diversification. Development through rural tourism is a possible sustainable response that can be implemented in many of Europe\u2019s rural areas, including Marginimea Sibiului. Thus, the purpose of this research, and its main contribution, was to identify the specific features of the Marginimea Sibiului area and possible strategies for capitalizing on local resources through rural tourism activities. We also sought to understand the extent to which rural tourism is seen by the owners of tourist structures as a developmental possibility. We utilized a case study research method to address these questions. The research has major implications due to the questionnaires applied to the owners of rural tourism structures during August 2022, which allowed us to determine: the motivation of tourist structure owners to carry out tourism activity, the degree of development, aspects concerning the operation and management of the tourist structure, and future development and improvement of the owned products. Because the area is representative at the national level in terms of rural tourism activity, an X-ray was sketched after the conclusions were drawn, which issued some proposals for \u201cmixing\u201d the resources through rural tourist activities as a \u201cpresentation modality\u201d, which may potentially have favorable future consequences.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/su15010241","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,27]],"date-time":"2022-12-27T03:05:56Z","timestamp":1672110356000},"page":"241","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Rural Tourism in Marginimea Sibiului Area\u2014A Possibility of Capitalizing on Local Resources"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"given":"Tabita","family":"Adamov","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Management and Rural Tourism, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Michael I\u201d, Calea Aradului no.119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1645-5064","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tiberiu","family":"Iancu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Management and Rural Tourism, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Michael I\u201d, Calea Aradului no.119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Elena","family":"Pe\u021b","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Management and Rural Tourism, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Michael I\u201d, Calea Aradului no.119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0529-280X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gabriela","family":"Popescu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Management and Rural Tourism, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Michael I\u201d, Calea Aradului no.119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3901-5691","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura","family":"\u0218muleac","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Agriculture, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Michael I\u201d, Calea Aradului no.119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0360-1149","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea","family":"Feher","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Management and Rural Tourism, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Michael I\u201d, Calea Aradului no.119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4776-0571","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ramona","family":"Ciolac","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Management and Rural Tourism, University of Life Sciences \u201cKing Michael I\u201d, Calea Aradului no.119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"7","article-title":"New concept for rural development in the strategies and policies of the European Union","volume":"11","author":"Adamowicz","year":"2018","journal-title":"Econ. Reg. Stud."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Prideaux, B. (2009). Resort Destinations-Evolution, Management and Development, Elsevier.","DOI":"10.4324\/9780080939643"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1108\/16605370780000309","article-title":"Stakeholders in Sustainable Tourism Development and their Roles: Applying Stakeholder Theory to Sustainable Tourism Development","volume":"62","author":"Byrd","year":"2007","journal-title":"Tour. Rev."},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Weaver, D. (2006). Sustainable Tourism, Butterworth-Heinemann, Elsevier. [1st ed.]."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Murphy, P.E. (2013). Tourism: A community Approach (RLE Tourism), Routledge.","DOI":"10.4324\/9780203068533"},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Candela, G., and Figini, P. (2012). The Economics of Tourism Destinations, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-642-20874-4"},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.3390\/su6010001","article-title":"Critical Sustainability: Setting the Limits to Growth and Responsibility in Tourism","volume":"6","author":"Saarinen","year":"2014","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Villanueva-\u00c1lvaro, J.-J., Mond\u00e9jar-Jim\u00e9nez, J., and S\u00e1ez-Mart\u00ednez, F.-J. (2017). Rural Tourism: Development, Management and Sustainability in Rural Establishments. Sustainability, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/su9050818"},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ivona, A. (2021). Sustainability of Rural Tourism and Promotion of Local Development. Sustainability, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/su13168854"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"344","DOI":"10.1016\/j.aasci.2017.07.008","article-title":"Rural tourism as a promising trend of small business in Georgia: Topicality, capabilities, peculiarities","volume":"15","author":"Paresishvili","year":"2017","journal-title":"Ann. Agrar. Sci."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"575","DOI":"10.1080\/09669580802159644","article-title":"Sustainability indicators for small tourism enterprises\u2014An exploratory perspective","volume":"16","author":"Roberts","year":"2008","journal-title":"J. Sustain. Tour."},{"key":"ref_12","first-page":"313","article-title":"Characteristics and goals of rural family business owners in tourism and hospitality: A developing country perspective","volume":"33","author":"Zhao","year":"2008","journal-title":"Tour. Recreat. Res."},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"14","article-title":"Rural Tourism as A Factor of Integral and Sustainable Development of Rural Areas and Villages of Serbia and Voivodina","volume":"1","author":"Muhi","year":"2012","journal-title":"Her. J. Geogr. Reg. Plan."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.5775\/fg.2067-4635.2012.051.s","article-title":"Rural Tourism as a Strategic Option for Social and Economic Development in the Rural Area in Romania\/Turismul rural ca optiune strategica pentru dezvoltarea social-economica a zonei rurale din Rom\u00e2nia","volume":"Volume 11","author":"Bogan","year":"2012","journal-title":"Forum Geografic"},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"259","article-title":"Rural Tourism and Ecotourism\u2014The Main Priorities in Sustainable Development Orientations of Rural Local Communities in Romania","volume":"15","author":"Nistoreanu","year":"2012","journal-title":"Econ. Transdiscipl. Cogn."},{"key":"ref_16","unstructured":"Comisia European\u0103 (2009). O Selec\u021bie a Celor Mai Bune Practici Leader+, Comisia European\u0103."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"(2022, September 16). RNDR, Bune Practici, 2014, No. 4 Anul II, USR, Departamentul Publica\u0163ii MADR, disponibil pe. Available online: http:\/\/madr.ro."},{"key":"ref_18","first-page":"101","article-title":"Analsysis of the indicators characterizing the activity of rural tourism and agrituorusim in Valcea County from the perspective of total quality","volume":"21","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sci. Pap. Ser. Manag. Econ. Eng. Agric. Rural Dev."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Popescu, G., Popescu, C.A., Iancu, T., Brad, I., Pe\u021b, E., Adamov, T., and Ciolac, R. (2022). Sustainability through Rural Tourism in Moieciu Area-Development Analysis and Future Proposals. Sustainability, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/su14074221"},{"key":"ref_20","unstructured":"Nistoreanu, P. (1999). Turismul Rural-o Afacere Mic\u0103 cu Perspective Mari, Editura Didactic\u0103 \u015fi Pedagogic\u0103."},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"2","article-title":"The Evolution of Romanian Villages Since the Great Union of 1918","volume":"27","author":"Otiman","year":"2018","journal-title":"Transylv. Rev."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"17","article-title":"The Agritourism as a means of sustainable development for rural communities: A research from the field","volume":"8","author":"Ammirato","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int. J. Interdiscip. Environ. Stud."},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"357","article-title":"Study regarding the evolution of mountain tourism and rural mountain tourism in the Romanian Carpathians during COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"21","author":"Linca","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sci. Pap. Ser. Manag. Econ. Eng. Agric. Rural Dev."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ciolac, R., Iancu, T., Brad, I., Adamov, T., and Mateoc-S\u00eerb, N. (2021). Agritourism\u2014A Business Reality of the Moment for Romanian Rural Area\u2019s Sustainability. Sustainability, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/su13116313"},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"231","DOI":"10.14207\/ejsd.2017.v6n3p231","article-title":"The Rural Tourist Entrepreneurship\u2013New Opportunities of Capitalizing the Rural Tourist Potential in the Context of Durable Development","volume":"6","author":"Soare","year":"2017","journal-title":"Eur. J. Sustain. Dev."},{"key":"ref_26","first-page":"39","article-title":"Ways to Promoting Rural, Cultural and Gastronomical Tourism in M\u0103rginimea Sibiului","volume":"5","author":"Nicula","year":"2016","journal-title":"Int. J. Sustain. Econ. Manag."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Coro\u0219, M.M., Privitera, D., P\u0103unescu, L.M., Nedelcu, A., Lupu, C., and Ganu\u0219ceac, A. (2021). M\u0103rginimea Sibiului tells its story: Sustainability, cultural heritage and rural tourism\u2014A supply-side perspective. Sustainability, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/su13095309"},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"Beteille, R. (1999). La Valorisation Touristique de l\u2019Espace Rural, University of Poitiers."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"275","DOI":"10.1038\/548275a","article-title":"Revitalize the world\u2019s countryside","volume":"548","author":"Liu","year":"2017","journal-title":"Nature"},{"key":"ref_30","unstructured":"Gyr, U. (2022, October 13). The History of Tourism: Structures on the Path to Modernity; European History Online (EHO). Available online: http:\/\/ieg-ego.eu\/en\/threads\/europe-on-the-road\/the-history-of-tourism."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.30638\/eemj.2017.018","article-title":"Research regarding the implementation, development and impact of Agritourism on Romania\u2019s rural areas between 1990 and 2015","volume":"16","author":"Iancu","year":"2017","journal-title":"Environ. Eng. Manag. J."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"75","DOI":"10.1659\/mrd.1051","article-title":"Tourism: An Alternative to Development? Reconsidering Farming, Tourism, and Conservation Incentives in Northwest Yunnan Mountain Communities","volume":"29","author":"Yang","year":"2009","journal-title":"Mt. Res. Dev."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"389","DOI":"10.1080\/1528008X.2015.1096754","article-title":"Rural tourism develoment in mountain regions: Identifying success factors, challenges and potentials","volume":"17","author":"Lun","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Qual. Assur. Hosp. Tour."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1094","DOI":"10.1177\/0047287515605930","article-title":"Agritourism, farm visit, or...? A branding assessment for recreation on farms","volume":"55","author":"Barbieri","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Travel Res."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Milin, I.A., Mungiu Pupazan, M.C., Rehman, A., Chirtoc, I.E., and Ecobici, N. (2022). Examining the Relationship between Rural and Urban Populations\u2019 Access to Electricity and Economic Growth: A New Evidence. Sustainability, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/su14138125"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Iancu, T., Petre, I.L., Tudor, V.C., Micu, M.M., Ursu, A., Teodorescu, F.-R., and Dumitru, E.A. (2022). A Difficult Pattern to Change in Romania, the Perspective of Socio-Economic Development. Sustainability, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/su14042350"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mateoc-S\u00eerb, N., Albu, S., Rujescu, C., Ciolac, R., \u021aigan, E., Br\u00eenzan, O., M\u0103nescu, C., Mateoc, T., and Milin, I.A. (2022). Sustainable Tourism Development in the Protected Areas of Maramure\u0219, Romania: Destinations with High Authenticity. Sustainability, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/su14031763"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"297","DOI":"10.1080\/09654313.2017.1361596","article-title":"An alternative policy approach to rural development in regions facing population decline","volume":"26","author":"Dax","year":"2017","journal-title":"Eur. Plan. Stud."},{"key":"ref_39","first-page":"83","article-title":"Agritourism-a possibility of capitalizing the resources of the rural community","volume":"22","author":"Ramona","year":"2020","journal-title":"Agric. Manag. Lucr. Stiintifice Ser. I Manag. Agric."},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"Storey, D. (2010). Using the Past: Heritage and Re-imagining Rural Places. Geographical Perspectives on Sustainable Rural Change, Rural Development Institute."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Siakwah, P., and Musavengane, R. (2021). Re-imagining community-based tourism in rural Africa Through networks and management innovation. New Frontiers in Hospitality and Tourism Management in Africa, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-70171-0_14"},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2562","DOI":"10.3390\/su6052562","article-title":"Sustainable Tourism in Practice: Promoting or Perverting the Quest for a Sustainable Development?","volume":"6","author":"Aall","year":"2014","journal-title":"Sustainability"},{"key":"ref_43","first-page":"131","article-title":"Changing paradigms and global change: From sustainable to steady-state tourism","volume":"35","author":"Hall","year":"2010","journal-title":"Tour. Recreat. Res."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1107","DOI":"10.1080\/09669582.2012.673618","article-title":"Applying diffusion theory to destination stakeholder understanding of sustainable tourism development: A case of Taiwan","volume":"20","author":"Dabphet","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Sustain. Tour."},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ibanescu, B.C., Stoleriu, O.M., Munteanu, A., and Iatu, C. (2018). The Impact of Tourism on Sustainable Development of Rural Areas: Evidence from Romania. Sustainability, 10.","DOI":"10.3390\/su10103529"},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"342","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tourman.2012.10.008","article-title":"Implementing sustainable tourism: A multi-stakeholder involvement management framework","volume":"36","author":"Waligo","year":"2013","journal-title":"Tour. Manag."},{"key":"ref_47","unstructured":"Liburd, J.J., and Edwards, D. (2010). Understanding the Sustainable Development of Tourism, Goodfellow Publishers Limited."},{"key":"ref_48","unstructured":"Munjal, S., and Munjal, P.G. (2014). Sustainable Tourist Destinations: Creation and Development. Managing Sustainability in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry Paradigms and DIrections for the Future, Taylor & Francis Group."},{"key":"ref_49","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jenkins, I., and Schr\u00f6der, R. (2013). Sustainability in Tourism, Springer Fachmedien.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-8349-7043-5"},{"key":"ref_50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"He, Y., Gao, X., Wu, R., Wang, Y., and Choi, B.-R. (2021). How Does Sustainable Rural Tourism Cause Rural Community Development?. Sustainability, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/su132413516"},{"key":"ref_51","first-page":"46","article-title":"The importance of tourism impacts for different local resident groups: A case study of a Swedish seaside destination","volume":"6","author":"Lundberg","year":"2017","journal-title":"J. Destin. Mark. Manag."},{"key":"ref_52","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"527","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tourman.2012.09.005","article-title":"How does tourism in a community impact the quality of life of community residents?","volume":"36","author":"Kim","year":"2013","journal-title":"Tour. Manag."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"He, Y., Wang, J., Gao, X., Wang, Y., and Choi, B.R. (2021). Rural Tourism: Does It Matter for Sustainable Farmers\u2019 Income?. Sustainability, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/su131810440"},{"key":"ref_54","unstructured":"Creswell, J.W. (2014). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Methods Approaches, Sage. [4th ed.]."},{"key":"ref_55","unstructured":"Stake, R.E. (2006). Multiple Case Study Analysis, Guildford."},{"key":"ref_56","unstructured":"Yin, R.K. (2014). Case Study Research: Design and Methods, Sage."},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Simons, H. (2009). Case Study Research in Practice, Sage.","DOI":"10.4135\/9781446268322"},{"key":"ref_58","unstructured":"Stake, R.E. (1995). The Art of Case Study Research, Sage."},{"key":"ref_59","unstructured":"(2022, November 10). National Institute of Statistics. Available online: https:\/\/statistici.insse.ro."},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jennings, G.R. (2005). Interviewing: Jennings, Gayle Interviewing: A focus on qualitative techniques. Tourism Research Methods: Integrating Theory with Practice, CABI.","DOI":"10.1079\/9780851999968.0099"},{"key":"ref_61","unstructured":"Smith, S.L.J. (2012). Practical Tourism Research, CABI."},{"key":"ref_62","unstructured":"(2022, August 10). Available online: https:\/\/sibiucity.ro\/ro\/in_jur\/mrginimea-sibiului."},{"key":"ref_63","unstructured":"(2022, November 10). Available online: https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/place\/Jude%C8%9Bul+Sibiu."},{"key":"ref_64","unstructured":"(2022, August 10). Available online: http:\/\/www.sibiu-turism.ro\/Ce-vizitam-Destinatii-Regiuni-turistice-Marginimea-Sibiului.aspx."},{"key":"ref_65","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rujescu, C.I. (2022). Optimal Period for Winter Mountain Tourism in Romania. Sustainability, 14.","DOI":"10.3390\/su14073878"},{"key":"ref_66","first-page":"56","article-title":"Why sustainability is now the key driver of innovation","volume":"87","author":"Nidumolu","year":"2009","journal-title":"Harvard Bus. Rev."},{"key":"ref_67","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"D\u00e1vid, L.D., Csap\u00f3, J., Nagy, \u00c1., and T\u00f6r\u0151csik, M. (2020). Can We Understand Non-Tourism as a Form of Sustainable Tourism? The Role of Lifestyle and Motivations behind Non-Traveling Based on the Hungarian Example. Sustainability, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/su12187353"},{"key":"ref_68","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Khan, A., Bibi, S., Lorenzo, A., Lyu, J., and Babar, Z.U. (2020). Tourism and development in developing economies: A policy implication perspective. Sustainability, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/su12041618"}],"container-title":["Sustainability"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2071-1050\/15\/1\/241\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T01:49:32Z","timestamp":1760147372000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2071-1050\/15\/1\/241"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,23]]},"references-count":68,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,1]]}},"alternative-id":["su15010241"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/su15010241","relation":{},"ISSN":["2071-1050"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2071-1050","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2022,12,23]]}}}