Vatra Dornei Research Articles

Evaluation of the bioclimate of the Piatra-Neamț tourist resort

Abstract: Background: The study responds to real needs of knowing the bioclimate of some tourist resorts in order to develop different types of tourism, in which the bioclimate plays a significant role. In Romania, a similar study was carried out for the resort towns of Vatra Dornei and Tg. Ocna. Methods: The research is based on time series of weather elements from 1961-2021. These series were used for the calculation of the bioclimatic index of the physiological equivalent temperature (PET) which allows the analysis of the temporal peculiarities of the bioclimate. In order to highlight in a new perspective the relationship between biocli-mate and tourism in the Piatra Neamț resort, we created climate-tourism schemes (CTIS). Results: PET values ranged between a maximum of 35.7°C (severe thermal stress due to heating) and a minimum of - 29.3°C (extreme thermal stress due to cooling). The mean PET value was 8.8°C (indicating moderate cold stress). The period of the year with biocli-matic comfort, for hiking, visiting, outdoor sports, climatotherapy, balneotherapy cor-re-sponds to the interval April (3rd decade) - October (1st decade). Conclusions: Tourists who want to plan their vacation in Piatra Neamț will benefit from non-restrictive bioclimatic conditions from the end of April to the beginning of October. During the cold season, with a layer of snow, winter sports can be practiced.

Tracing Jewish family history in a post-Holocaust world

ABSTRACT The growth in online platforms and documentary aggregator sites has revolutionised the process of Jewish family history research. This article records how the loss of EU citizenship rights following Britain’s departure from the European Union encouraged the author to investigate their own family history. Drawing upon the author’s findings, it describes how communal record books left on the shelves of town halls across Romania for over a century have been given new life thanks to the efforts of community archivists. This article chronicles their efforts to identify, preserve and digitise these documents which help to shed light on the history of the Jewish community of Dorna Watra, now Vatra Dornei, a small town in the former Austrian crownland of Bukovina. This article provides a detailed evaluation of the opportunities facing Jewish family researchers and the strengths and weaknesses of online aggregator sites such as Ancestry.Com and JewishGen.

A multilayer network approach to tourism collaboration

During the last years, tourism studies witnessed an accelerated interest for inquiring stakeholder collaboration by means of Social Network Analysis. However, following a systematic literature review, we identified that little attention has been paid to the different types of relationships that compose a destination's network and especially regarding how these types of relationships interact between themselves. The aim of the current study is to adopt a multilayer network approach in order to decompose stakeholder networks from destinations and analyse the structure of distinct collaboration layers built around different tourism activities, as well as the interdependencies between them. The background of analysis consists of two Romanian case studies, one representative for emerging destinations (Bran) and the other for stagnating ones (Vatra Dornei). Methodologically, Social Network Analysis and nonparametric statistical analysis have been employed in order to uncover general and in-depth aspects of stakeholder collaboration. The main findings point out notable differences in size and structure between the collaboration layers generated by each activity, as well as the fact that particular collaboration layers are significantly interdependent. It has been demonstrated, inter alia, that stakeholders who collaborate for products creation will also collaborate for exchange of knowledge, while those who collaborate for designing policies and strategies will also collaborate for accessing funds and developing common projects. The study has implications for theory building and for destination management, pointing out towards the types of relationships that reinforce each other, and that could maximise collaboration's benefits in destinations, if managed properly.

Inquiring Structure and Forms of Collaboration in Tourism through Social Network Analysis

Collaboration in tourism is widely perceived as a solution for achieving success and for ensuring sustainability in tourist destinations. However, collaboration is a complex and dynamic process, and although there is a growing interest in understanding its mechanisms, much remains unexplored on the matter. The aim of this paper is to operationalise a network approach in analysing characteristics of collaboration in tourism and then to reveal structural weaknesses and strengths from a destination management perspective. The background for analysis is a well-known tourist destination in Romania (Vatra Dornei) that can be considered illustrative for a large spectrum of Eastern European destinations. Methodologically, Social Network Analysis (SNA) techniques were employed, centred on matters related to density and centrality of the tourism network. The results reveal a series of deficiencies inside the network, which have to be addressed by policymakers: (i) a general low level of collaboration; (ii) poor communication between public and private sectors; (iii) a reduced number of central stakeholders but high diversity regarding their fields of activity. The study contributes to the literature by advancing knowledge on particularities of collaboration among tourism stakeholders, while also adding evidence to the utility of SNA in understanding relational dynamics specific to tourism destinations.

The Imperative Need to Create a Rapid and Efficient Connection between Transylvania and Bukovina During the First World War – The Construction of the Prundu Bârgăului - Vatra Dornei Railway Line

Abstract In the context of the World War I outbreak and given the lack of a direct railway line between Transylvania and Bukovina, the Austro-Hungarian army is forced to find a quick and operative solution to the supply of weapons, food, but also to restore the supply to the Austro-Hungarian empire with manganese ore, dolomite, lumber, cereals, animals and other goods provided by Bukovina. Therefore, they considered building a fast link between Transylvania and Bukovina, along a spectacular route, namely, the Prundu Bârgăului-Vatra Dornei railway line. In the successful realization of this great project an ingenious, even revolutionary solution was found for those days: the construction of a railway line with normal gauge, adapted to trains and the petrol-electric traction, according to a model that was used and successfully put into practice since 1912 in Austrian Tirol. The works were completed in a very short time, even though there were very harsh working conditions and the route was extremely difficult. Both the Austro-Hungarian army and civilians from neighbouring villages and prisoners of war contributed to this success.

Assessment of the climate potential for tourism. Case study: the North-East Development Region of Romania

For the North-East Development Region of Romania, balneary-climatic tourism can potentially become a development engine. To this type of tourism, other forms or types of tourism are added, which are to some extent conditioned by the regional particularities of the climate and bioclimate. To better understand the climatic conditioning on the tourism in this region, we have selected five representative balneary-climatic resorts, located in three different bioclimatic zones: tonic-stimulant (Vatra Dornei), sedative-indifferent (Slănic Moldova, Târgu Ocna, and Bălţătesti), and turn-applicant (Nicolina). The location under different bioclimatic conditions allowed us a good comparative analysis of the differences and similarities between the resorts. For this, we used an hourly database for the period January 1, 1961 to December 31, 2015, from which we built the daily database for all the elements and parameters required to calculate the physiologically equivalent temperature index, based on the RayMan model, its representations, and the climate-tourism schemes. The physiologically equivalent temperature and the climate-tourism schemes allowed us to identify the best periods of the year for conducting balneary and climate-therapeutic activities—both adjacent and standalone, or a variety of relaxing or recreational leisure activities conducted in the open. Finally, the trends of the annual series of PET data for the interval 1961–2015 and the subintervals 1961–1980 and 1981–2015 were identified and analyzed. We were consequently able to draw a set of conclusions outlining a series of changes that are likely to intervene in the relationship between climate and tourism in this region in the immediate future.

A new approach on the quality evaluation of tourist services

This paper emphasises how the quality of tourist services can be evaluated. The first part presents the best known models developed by specialists for service quality evaluation, then the authors created their own model. According to this model, a global quality evaluation indicator of tourist services was proposed, based on certain aspects of quality aimed by both the provider and the customer/consumer of tourist services. The calculus of this indicator was exemplified in the case of a Romanian tourist area, Vatra Dornei.

Having A Look Back To The Former Petrol-Based Electric Railway, Dornişoara - Tihuţa - Prundu Bârgăului

Abstract The former petrol-based electric railway, built during First World War originally served for the food and ammunition transport meant for the armies, which had settled down the mountain peaks nearby, today in the area of Vatra Dornei or Cârlibaba and which were guarding the passage towards Transylvania. They were often used to evacuate the wounded and for commercial purposes as well, in order to transport cereal and many other kinds of grains at the blooming 1916, all this acquired from the requisitions of Bucovina and even from the smuggling or imports of Romania, which still enjoyed neutrality by the time.

The impact of municipal solid waste landfills in Suceava County on air quality

The location of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills in inappropriate places is a serious risk to the quality of all environmental factors. These waste disposal sites can become major sources of air quality deterioration through emissions of toxic gas resulted from anaerobic decomposition of organic waste. The paper discusses in detail the qualitative and quantitative effects of municipal waste landfills of the main urban settlements in Suceava County (Suceava City municipal landfill and Gura Humorului, Radauţi, Siret, Câmpulung Moldovenesc, Falticeni and Vatra Dornei urban waste landfills) on air quality. The dispersion of methane emitted from the largest MSW landfill in the county, the Suceava municipal landfill respectively, is also presented, taking into account seasonal, daytime and nighttime meteorological parameters

Stakeholder perspectives on climate change effects on tourism activities in the northern Romanian Carpathians: Vatra Dornei resort case study

Less approached by scientific literature, stakeholder perspective on the effects of climate change for tourism activities is a very actual topic. As an essential part of the complex study of climate - tourism relationship, it needs to be investigated and illustrated through study cases. The present paper approaches this original topic for Vatra Dornei complex spa and mountain resort. Located in the northern part of Romanian Carpathians this destination depends to a great extent on climate resources which show a clear variability of main parameters on which its outdoor activities are based. In this context the voice of stakeholders involved in the local tourism industry is of great importance to certify and illustrate pre- viously obtained modelling evidences. The present paper consequently outlines the main results of a survey undertaken on the topic of climate change effects on tourism in Vatra Dornei in the attempt to better characterize this complex interrela- tionship.

A Study on the Correlation between Execution Techniques and Timing Performance among First-Year Students in a Ski Course

This is a constative study carried out on a number of 40 students. The study was organised and took place in February 2012, within the Science of Movement, Sports and Health Faculty at the “Vasile Alecsandri” University of Bacau, at the Vatra Dornei sports facility with the purpose of highlighting the efficiency of the instructive-educative act organised with the students studying in the Physical Education and Sports, as well as the Sports and Motor Performance sections. In order to acknowledge the level of practical and technical acquisition we used as an evaluation instrument the exercises of rounding swivel swing, and christianias with distancing the skis (performed on a ramp with a 30 degree inclination) on a 200 m distance, with the obligation of performing at least 3 rounds. In order to appreciate the students’ applicative capacity, we organized a descent contest, which involved passing 16 (8 red and 8 blue) gates on a 400 m distance, on a 40-43 degree inclined ramp, with a lower incline on the finishing line. The results have highlighted the efficiency of module work over a 15-day period, with 42 teaching hours, and 42hours of individual study.

The current state of municipal solid waste landfills in Suceava county and their impact on water and soil

The location of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills in inappropriate places is a serious risk to the quality of all environmental factors. These waste disposal sites can become major sources of chemical pollution and biological contamination of soil, groundwater and surface waters due to the high content of heavy metals and organic substances with low biodegradation rate. The paper discusses in detail the issues of the landfill sites territorial distribution in Suceava County (the Mirăuţi landfill, located in the adjacent area of Suceava city and the Gura Humorului, Radauti, Siret, Campulung Moldovenesc, Fălticeni and Vatra Dornei urban landfills), together with a review of the technical data of the landfills, as well as an evaluation of the qualitative and quantitative effects they produce on the landscape, soil and groundwater quality.

Sustainable Management of Nardus stricta L. Grasslands in Romania’s Carpathians

The grassland area of Romania covers over 4.8 million hectares, of which more than a half are located in upland areas. In the present research it has been studied the influence of organic fertilization on the productivity, vegetal canopy and fodder quality of the intramontane Depression of Vatra Dornei, from the North-Eastern Romanian Carpathians, at rates of 20-50 Mg ha-1, applied either on a yearly basis, or every two years. The purpose of this study is to underline the dynamics of productivity and phytocenosis biodiversity, due to the application of some practical, technical measures meant to improve the production and fodder quality of Nardus stricta L. permanent grasslands, with minimal effects on the environment. The organic fertilizer rates triggered changes in the canopy structure by reducing the percentage of Nardus stricta L species, from 70% to 14-31%, and increasing the percentage of legumes, as well as the productivity and fodder quality 5-30%, respectively.

Comparative Analysis on the Clients’ Perception of the Quality of Tourist Products and Services

In general, the technical progress, especially the innovation and progress of the telecommunication means, the development of the cultural, educational, and professional level have determined a rapid development and evolution of preferences and tastes concerning the choice of a certain tourist destination by potential clients. From this point of view, the quality of tourist products is considered as depending on the beauty of the tourist patrimony, on the accessibility, and on the technical performances of the tourist infrastructure, on the professionalism and competence of the service providing personnel. In this context, the subjective factor has a major influence in the clients’ evaluation of the qualitative level of a tourist product. Thus, a higher quality of a tourist product cannot always compensate the lower quality of another. Consequently, the buying clients wish to be informed correctly and thoroughly in what concerns the quality of the chosen tourist product, so as to be able to choose the product which best meets the level of their expectations. This study, referring to the perception of the clients of tourist receiving structures from the areas Vatra Dornei and Neamţ (Romania) in what concerns the quality of the tourist products and services offered, has the purpose to identify the points of view of the tourist consumers. Key words: Quality; Tourist product; Market research; Clients’ evaluation; Qualitative level; Perception of the clients

Statistical Research Regarding the Consolidation Strategies for Greater Efforts Concerning the Quality of Tourist Products and Services Offered by Tourist Receiving Structures from the Tourist Areas Vatra Dornei, Neamţ and Brig

The recent continuous development of the tourism, its vast expansion on a national level, the increase of the methodology of the quantification of tourist circulation, which today involves much larger categories of people of different age, education, and occupation, determined that the tourism represent an extremely important phenomenon of the contemporary world.For a good development of tourist activity in a tourist receiving structure, it was necessary to implement a consolidation strategy concerning the quality of tourist products and services, which offer the possibility of leading the quality in conditions of maximum efficiency in order to increase the satisfaction of potential consumers of tourism.

Study of mineral water resources from the Eastern Carpathians using stable isotopes

The Eastern Carpathians contain many mineral water springs that feed famous Romanian health resorts such as Borsec, Biborteni and Vatra Dornei. These waters have been used for their different therapeutic effects. In this work, mineral and spring waters from these Romanian regions were investigated by means of chemical and isotopic (deltaD and delta(18)O) analyses in order to understand the recharge mechanisms and also to determine their origins. Most of the investigated springs are of meteoric origin, having the average deuterium content of the local meteoric water. The higher (18)O content with respect to the Meteoric Water Line (MWL) indicated an exchange reaction with crystalline igneous rocks at depth and with other rocks that the water encounters on its journey back to the surface.