EVOLVING ASPECTS OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES: A PLANNING VISION FOR ORADEA MUNICIPALITY (ROMANIA)

Abstract

Tourism represents a strategic sector for the economic development of major urban centres in Romania, which compete to attract both domestic and international visitors while strengthening their regional image as successful tourist destinations. This paper represents a second part of a more comprehensive study and analyses the evolution of tourism development strategies in the context of contemporary strategic planning goals, using a comparative perspective on the strategic documents regarding tourism development for Oradea municipality. The theoretical framework addresses key concepts related to tourism destination management, sustainable development, and the role of stakeholder cooperation in tourism development. The analysis focuses on the development strategies of Oradea for the periods 2017–2023 and 2021–2027, emphasizing the main strategic directions and priority objectives established at the local level for the development of this economic sector. The results underline the importance of capitalizing on cultural and architectural heritage, modernizing tourism infrastructure, and promoting the destination on international markets. This research highlights the importance of strategic planning for strengthening the competitiveness of urban destinations.