Responsible Tourism
Many of us think of Romania as a place where man and nature have learned to coexist in harmony, by minimizing our oftentimes harmful influence on the environment. Romania owns the widest virgin forest areas in Europe and the largest populations of brown bears and wolves on the continent, as well as rural communities which have managed to preserve a traditional lifestyle. However, Romania’s economy becomes more competitive each year, and the transformations undergone by society are inevitable. Thus, in a constant competition of markets and statistics, the cultural differences between countries become less and less evident. The increasingly fragile environment we live in urges us to assume the principle of responsibility at all levels.
Rolandia is one of the few Romanian tour operators involved in the promotion of responsible travel, our activity revolving around three basic principles:
Raising awareness
Passing on the cultural heritage
Preserving
Today, regional identity is ever so often challenged by foreign influences as part of the globalization process that tends to bring about socio-cultural uniformity by imposing certain behavioral patterns. Beyond the apparent advantages, there are also several significant long-term losses, and they are most visible in communities distinguished by unique traditional elements which have been preserved for hundreds of years. In order to preserve Romania’s culture, we encourage local communities to identify authentic aspects of culture and civilization inherited from previous generations, elements conferring authenticity and encompassing the cultural and spiritual heritage.
In the creation phase of holiday packages, Rolandia focuses on high-quality services, exquisite sights, and original experiences that reveal the genuine, unspoiled Romania. The appreciation of tourists will support the social and material conditions for responsible tourism and will reinforce the locals’ pride and feeling of belonging within their own community. In fact, Rolandia takes a step forward and tries to involve the locals in the touristic activities, whether it’s about accommodation, traditional means of transport, sampling the local cuisine, or attending various workshops and events such as pottery workshops, wood carving workshops, or attending traditional Romanian weddings. Tourists can also buy souvenirs such as handmade or artisan objects.
Customs and traditions, crafts, traditional dances or folk costumes, all have a role to play in forging the identity of a Romanian community. The type of tourism promoted by Rolandia highlights the above-mentioned values and has a say in raising awareness on and preserving the cultural heritage.
Along with preserving the present day’s customs and traditions, it is important for a community to ensure the unaltered passage from one generation to another, as well as to anyone who takes an interest in the local culture. The frail balance between prosperity and sustainable development tends to jeopardize the traditional lifestyle; however, when original, genuine aspects of local identity are threatened to be erased by globalization, it is time to take action. This is why Rolandia made it its mission to encourage these activities and practices that help to maintain traditions and do not interfere with the community’s balanced lifestyle. Prior to their visit, tourists are informed about relevant customs or local rules of conduct.
Starting from these three principles, Rolandia offers an innovative, genuine travel experience for tourists who choose Romania as their destination.
to Rovis projects that support the sustainable
development of Romania.
All projects support the local communities
and ecosystems following the UN
Sustainable Development Goals.
(ROVIS)
to Rovis projects that support the sustainable
development of Romania.
All projects support the local communities
and ecosystems following the UN
Sustainable Development Goals.