NEW APPROACHES CONCERNING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ECOTOURISM IN ROMANIA

The hereby study undertakes to introduce the certification procedure in ecological tourism, as well as the criteria that must be fulfilled by the lodging units that wish to voluntarily adhere to this modern form of tourism. In our country, the Certifying System in the Ecotourism is used by the Romanian Association of Ecotourism (AER) and this adjusts the international experience to the Romanian context. This has been developed in conformity with the Accreditation Program in Nature and Ecotourism promoted by the Australian Association of Ecotourism (NEAP being the first accreditation system in ecological tourism) and in conformity with Nature’s Best of the Swedish Association of Ecotourism (the first accreditation system in Ecotourism in the northern hemisphere). A key element in the certification procedure consists of drawing up a plan of sustained development which should answer the entirety of certification requirements. The hereby study shows a model of sustained development plan that can be used by managers and owners of lodging units that wish to acquire the certification in tourism.