Environmental Sustainability and the Inclusion of Geomorphosites in Tourist Activity—Case Study: The Baiului Mountains, Romania

Ligia Barbălată (Alb),Laura Comănescu

doi:10.3390/su13148094

Abstract

This paper presents the sustainability of the relief at geomorphosites in terms of tourist activity and how tourism can affect the relief by presenting the major sustainable tourism issues. For the study area, the Baiului Mountains from Romania were chosen. In addition, we present the method for assessing tourist and exploitation values of geomorphological sites in the tourist area of Romania. Jean-Pierre Pralong first used the method and it aims to qualify the potential in terms of scenic, scientific, cultural and economic values and the use of this potential in terms of degree and modality of exploitation. It was based on the study of 10 geomorphological sites in the area of the Baiului Mountains. We present each geomorphosite and its scale for every value. Finally, we develop an analysis of the potential and use of the studied geomorphosites and the relationship between the reliefs and tourism.

Highlights

This paper presents the sustainability of the relief at geomorphosites in terms of tourist activity and how tourism can affect the relief by presenting the major sustainable tourism issues
In order to fully validate this method, the criteria the values granted should be tested in different physical-geographical units and tourist units to be able to adapt the scale for the evaluation
Comparing this method with the same method used to evaluate the geomorphosites from Bucegi plateau, which is located near Baiului Mountains, it can be observed that the highest value (0.65) is found in extended areas like Caraiman Plateau (Bucegi Mountains) and Petru-Orjogoaia Ridge

Summary

Introduction

This paper presents the sustainability of the relief at geomorphosites in terms of tourist activity and how tourism can affect the relief by presenting the major sustainable tourism issues. We present the method for assessing tourist and exploitation values of geomorphological sites in the tourist area of Romania. Jean-Pierre Pralong first used the method and it aims to qualify the potential in terms of scenic, scientific, cultural and economic values and the use of this potential in terms of degree and modality of exploitation. It was based on the study of 10 geomorphological sites in the area of the Baiului Mountains. We develop an analysis of the potential and use of the studied geomorphosites and the relationship between the reliefs and tourism. It can have a negative influence by destroying some elements of the attractiveness of the morphology as a result of uncontrolled planning or by triggering current geomorphologic processes when it is unchecked

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion