Purpose

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, sustainable tourism is a form of tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and host regions, while protecting and enhancing the opportunity for the future. It aims at having a low impact upon the environment and local culture; generating income and employment; and ensuring the conservation of local ecosystems. This paper aims to examine the ways in which the development and promotion of a new tourism product based on unique rural heritage and traditions contribute to the development of sustainable tourism by relating the practices to the sustainable development goals (SDGs) 1, 8, 10, 11, 12 and 17.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on a literature review on the topic of sustainable rural tourism, this paper uses a case-study methodological approach and provides an example of a sustainable rural tourism destination from the North Western development region of Romania (Cluj County, Transylvania) to depict specific sustainable tourism practices. The study uses a comprehensive desk-research based on secondary data from key industry and academic sources.

Findings

The research findings show that sustainable rural tourism can greatly support the development of rural destination and makes a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the Romanian tourism industry, in general, and rural economies in particular, as shown in the case examined in the paper. Sâncraiu represents an example of sustainable tourism practices that contribute to poverty reduction (SDG1 – Target 1.A), provide decent work and ensure economic growth (SDG8 – Target 8.9), help reducing inequalities (SDG10 – Target 10.3), protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage (SDG 11 – Target 11.4), promote responsible consumption and production (SDG 21 – Target 12.b) and last but not least this destination demonstrates that development is only possible when partnerships are forged (SDG 17).

Social implications

This paper illustrates that fostering unique rural heritage and traditions can contribute to the sustainable development of destinations. Sustainable tourism practices contribute not only financially to a destination but also to its social infrastructures, jobs, nature conservation, adoption of new working practices and the revitalisation of passive and poor rural areas.

Originality/value

This paper examines and depicts sustainable rural tourism development as a transformative strategy contributing to the long-term viability of a rural destination. The research findings can be viewed as an example of good practice, which may be applicable to other geographic regions with similar contexts.

中文翻译：

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变革性乡村旅游战略作为罗马尼亚特兰西瓦尼亚可持续发展的工具：Sâncraiu 的案例研究

目的

根据联合国世界旅游组织的定义，可持续旅游是一种满足当前游客和东道地区需求，同时保护和增加未来机会的旅游形式。它旨在对环境和当地文化的影响较小；创造收入和就业；并确保保护当地生态系统。本文旨在通过将实践与可持续发展目标 (SDG) 1、8、10、 11、12 和 17。

设计/方法/方法

本文借鉴可持续乡村旅游主题的文献综述，采用案例研究方法，并提供罗马尼亚西北开发区（特兰西瓦尼亚克卢日县）可持续乡村旅游目的地的示例，以描述具体的可持续乡村旅游。旅游实践。该研究使用基于关键行业和学术来源的二手数据的综合案头研究。

发现

研究结果表明，可持续乡村旅游可以极大地支持乡村目的地的发展，并为罗马尼亚旅游业，特别是乡村经济的可持续发展做出重大贡献，如本文所研究的案例所示。Sâncraiu 是可持续旅游实践的一个例子，有助于减少贫困（可持续发展目标 1 – 目标 1.A）、提供体面工作和确保经济增长（可持续发展目标 8 – 目标 8.9）、帮助减少不平等（可持续发展目标 10 – 目标 10.3）、保护和保障世界文化和自然遗产（可持续发展目标 11 – 目标 11.4）、促进负责任的消费和生产（可持续发展目标 21 – 目标 12.b），最后但并非最不重要的一点是，这个目的地表明只有建立伙伴关系才有可能发展（可持续发展目标 17）。

社会影响

本文说明，培育独特的乡村遗产和传统有助于目的地的可持续发展。可持续的旅游实践不仅对目的地有经济贡献，而且有助于其社会基础设施、就业、自然保护、新工作实践的采用以及被动和贫困农村地区的振兴。

原创性/价值

本文研究并描述了可持续乡村旅游发展作为有助于乡村目的地长期生存能力的转型战略。研究结果可以被视为良好实践的一个例子，它可能适用于具有类似背景的其他地理区域。