Closely Watched Tourism: The Securitate as Warden of Transnational Encounters, 1967-69 (original) (raw)
Contemporary European History
The role of market-oriented tourist policies in the planned economies of socialist Eastern Europe has been long overlooked. This article examines how the socialist regime in Romania moved from sheer ideological rhetoric to commercialism and market-driven strategies when promoting Romania as a tourist destination in the ‘West’ between the 1960s and the 1980s. It argues that there was a continual shifting between using tourism as an ideological tool and a certain pragmatism that was needed to turn socialist Romania into a desirable tourist destination.
Vacationing in the Cold War: Foreign Tourists to Socialist Romania and Franco's Spain, 1960s-1970s
2016
My dissertation examines the politics and effects of international tourism in socialist Romania and Francoist Spain in the postwar era. Despite the sharp economic and political differences between the two dictatorial regimes at the time of the Cold War, I argue that significant similarities existed in the way that they aimed to take advantage of international tourism in order to improve their image abroad and to acquire hard currencies, which were sorely needed as both states wanted to pursue a process of economic modernization. This dissertation also attempts to provide an explanation for why, by the end of the 1970s, the two countries achieved rather different results in terms of tourism development, despite the fact that both shared many features in the 1940s and 1950s. Most English-language scholarly literature examines relations between and transfers from western to eastern Europe, but pays little attention to the relationships between southern or eastern parts of the continent...
The Proceedings of the International Conference Globalization, Intercultural Dialogue and National Identity, vol. 10, IDENTITIES IN THE SPOTLIGHT. DIALOGUE IN A GLOBAL WORLD, Arhipelag XXI Press, Târgu Mureș// IULIAN BOLDEA CORNEL SIGMIREAN (EDITORS), 2023
The founding fathers of communism did not consider tourism a source of income, yet both domestic and international tourism were part of communist countries effort to create a positive image on the outside and to offer small satisfactions to citizens. It is difficult to say if the ideological goals of mass tourism were achieved, but in the long run, it can be seen as a source of relaxation for workers. Inquiries on Romania pitorească magazine reveal the propaganda apparatus merging with the tourism policy in Romania. Over time, working-class access to leisure activities, excursions, and free or low-cost vacations resulted in the development of new recreational centers and a flourishing hotel industry. Tourist campaigns with a political purpose (political tourism) can be interpreted as educational campaigns designed to cultivate desirable moral values in the new man's socialist consciousness. The practice of the propaganda apparatus to deepen the disparity between the benefits of socialism and the shortcomings of capitalism is also noticeable in the discourses regarding tourism. The Party, through propaganda techniques, pointed out people's well-being and healthy lifestyles by having access to flourishing tourism and did not fail to remember the critical role played by Ceaușescu.
International Journal for History, Culture And Modernity
The article examines the transfer of postcards across the Iron Curtain against the backdrop of international tourism in socialist Romania. In the 1960s, socialist Romania began to develop international tourism, especially with the capitalist West, because it wanted to acquire hard currencies and to improve its external image. Although the success of international tourism was short-lived, it sparked a movement of people, ideas and images across the Iron Curtain. As photos were more difficult to be carried out across the border – the law in socialist Romania required that films be developed in the country – postcards provided a means to personalize vacations in Romania, especially in the 1980s when restrictions became tighter. When sent from the capitalist West to Romania, postcards embodied the very image of the ‘West’, which the majority of socialist Romania’s citizens could not easily visit.
NEW PERSPECTIVES ON MULTICULTURALITY: LITERATURE AND DIALOGUE , 2023
Despite the political constraints imposed upon their citizens, the countries of the Communist Bloc displayed an unexpected openness to international tourism during the Cold War era. By establishing favorable conditions for foreign visitors to explore diverse attractions, including sunny beaches, winter sports resorts, natural wonders, rich traditions, and spiritual sanctuaries, these countries crafted an inviting environment for international tourism. This reciprocal arrangement proved mutually beneficial, as foreign tourists gained access to spectacular destinations that preserved their cultural heritage and natural beauty at minimal cost. Concurrently, the socialist states capitalized on international economic trends and the influx of foreign currency generated by tourism. Romania, in particular, strategically leveraged international tourism to enhance its global standing, promote the virtues of socialism, project an idealized societal image, and secure significant economic gains. However, the tension between the demands of the international tourism market and the ideological reservations of Communist leaders, compounded by a lack of urgency in updating tourism offerings, ultimately led to Romania's marginalization within the global tourism landscape. Consequently, the tourism industry in Romania remains relatively underdeveloped in the international context. This study, utilizing the foreign-language tourism magazine 'Holidays in Romania' as a case study, aims to illuminate Romania's efforts to attract foreign tourists and to examine the interplay between Communist ideology and economic imperatives in shaping tourism propaganda.
THE GEOPOLITICS OF TOURISM IN ROMANIA Mihai COPETCHI -KOPECKY
While we can debate about the geopolitics of a country, region, problem or situation, etc., then why not discuss about tourism in a particular country, which is at some point amid internal or external ''rivalries''. There are numerous examples, but why not also talking about Romania as a ''tourist destination'' on the same terms or parameters!? .... The historical, economic and political features of Romania as well as its positioning in a ,, geopolitical tectonically active'' area confirms its status of European country with geopolitical and geostrategic importance, but also with an inefficient using of tourism potential. We are in the middle of regional ''stakes'', we have internal and external ''rivalries'' with the neighboring countries, but also lack of good economic or political relations with a negative impact on the increasingly uncertain context! The concept of '' Geopolitics of Tourism'', dated from the 1980's, is a global geopolitical trend of thought from which we can draw a number of factors that make correct use of tools and methods of the geopolitical analysis in specific cases from a country, for a national or regional issue with impact on tourism as a stake in the future. The subject should be treated as the geopolitics of the ''mass tourism of the middle class'', which is fundamentally different from a classical geopolitical analysis. Tourism is no longer just a leisure activity or a dynamic social phenomenon in expansion, but it has become an axis of credibility and also a geopolitical stake, which cannot be underestimated. The used parameters of geopolitical analysis are based on: country, land surface, relief, population, settlements, economy, politics, influence factors and last but not least, national tourism (as a priority economic branch), but generally, they are moved towards internal geopolitical issues, specific to the country. The ultimate goal of the geopolitical and safety analysis is to identify the vulnerabilities and measures to counter potential risks, actually the development of specific safety standards and also creating new skills in tourism. A safe environment for investments, staff or infrastructure ensures the performance of national tourism, but also a good image of the country. The Geopolitics of Tourism in Romania, as a first approach, aims at the implementation of an analysis of geopolitical situations, adapted and grafted to the existing national tourism heritage, without being considered, necessarily, a ''reference work'', but only a start in the field.
2021
During the last 30 years we have witnessed major changes in tourism worldwide due to a lot of factors. Changes in political situation in Eastern Europe open a lot of countries to international tourism. Changes in air transport made more accessible some overseas or island destination. The increase of general welfare boosted the demand for tourism and the stability of the socio-political environment sustains a steady upward trend in international tourism arrivals. Looking back at Romania’s tourism we see a period with major structural changes and some major turning points. A brief evolution of the sector is presented with an emphasis on the most important years. The most important regulations are presented in this paper together with their impact on Romania’s tourism sector. To show a more accurate image we include main statistical information about this topic demonstrating that tourism is an important part of Romanian economy.
From a Communist Heritage to an Unwanted Past: The Case of Romania
Science Insights, 2021
Communist ideologies and political regimes have had their specific models of tourism. These models reflect on the way former communist countries view tourism today. Despite the long communist period, Romania refuses to accept Communism as an integral part of its historical culture and society, being perceived as a dark period of its history. Several campaigns which were broadcasted as a way to show the cultural and natural beauty of the country, promote rural tourism and the ancient Romanian History, eluding themes and subjects related with that recent past. Even though there has been a growing touristic interest in Romania’s communist heritage, the country’s strategies express the difficulty in accepting Communism as part of the Romanian cultural identity and history. Thus, what communication strategies does Romania use to promote its culture, in order to avoid its communist heritage? What are the reasons behind the country’s vehement silence about its past? This article aims to di...