The Socio-Economic Value of Protected Areas. The Bucegi Natural Park

Natural ecosystems are extremely exposed to the ever-increasing changes in population growth and the expanded need for resources. The economic capitalization of their constituent elements makes their degradation and conversion more profitable than conserving them. Nevertheless, mankind is mindful of nature’s value, and over time has developed its policy and means of protection and conservation to help it integrate its actions so that they respect the paradigm of sustainable development. Most of the ecosystem’s functions are, also, economic. The process of determining the economic value of an ecosystem is a laborious approach that involves specific instruments that depend on many variables. These variables are induced by the innate/ natural transformations of the biogeographical environment or by particular situations generated by extreme phenomena. This study addresses the economic value of natural areas (with the example of the Bucegi Natural Park –B.N.P.) in a methodological context focused on international studies, with results in certain protected areas in Romania. The established report managed to provide an economic value obtained both from the revenues generated from the costs for visitors and jobs and through the capitalization of the non-commercial benefits. As an important element in our investigation, we took into consideration the pressures and menaces identified in protected areas. Natural activities (geological and geomorphological events, climate changes) and anthropogenic events (e.g. development of residential and commercial spaces, transport corridors and services, tourism activities) associated with negative elements (pollution, hunting and overfishing, degradation) involve costs. Dedicated by ever-changing legislation, inadequate financial support, and a faulty management approach, they tend to balance the scale against the benefits. The economic valorization of the components defining a protected natural area serves as an advantage for all involved parts. This must be performed within the limits of the actual legal framework but in the spirit of protection and respect for nature in all its’ forms

Mapping post crises the European job growth in travel agencies and tour operator reservation services

World Tourism Organisation, declares the Tour Operators as tourism engine of strategically importance to support jobs and inclusive growth in all regions. Tour operators emerges following the 2008 crises, as a global job engine. Its atypical profile of highest human capital concentrator in tourism, attract and retain talents, works digital with a high-intensity information use. Is a rapid adopter of technological innovation, generate high value added in highly competitive global markets. We look in this paper to understand why employment is growing or declining in a regional tourism tour operator sector during 2008–2018, in some EU28 regions? We use Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis to map the indicator ‘tour operator’s employment growth’ components decomposed by the Shift Share Analysis Method. Analysed Eurostat data for 266 regions (281 regions) indicates that for the average regional tour operators employment growth heterogeneity is driven almost at half by region-specific factors. The main contributions are: identifying this indicator as appropriate to be a core one in OECD (2013) tourism competitiveness framework & redefine tour operator sector as a core sector of tourism in the Global model of tourism of Harrison

Polymeric Micro- and Nanosystems for Wood Artifacts Preservation

The complex methods of diagnosis investigation of the wood artifacts state and proper materials for their protection against decay are very important goals in cultural heritage. This chapter focuses on the recent trends in micro- and nanostructured polymer systems for application in cultural heritage and on wood preservation, especially. The synthesis, properties, and applications, as well as the relevant analysis techniques to reveal the structures and properties of polymer systems, are discussed, too. To overcome the specific problems that exist for wood artifacts, some aspects should be treated: effects of the environmental factors, as moisture and pollutant absorption into the wood fibers, over-exposure effect of sun or artificial light sources, biological attack of different microorganisms, and the effects of the protective and decorative coatings

The Impact of Turkey's Socio-Political and Natural Context on Tourism Between 2010 and 2018

Tourism represents, for many states, an important part of the economy. Socio-political and economic, local or regional crises affect the upward trend of the sector through its specific nature,role and content. Turkey is a world-renowned tourist destination due to its particular natural conditions, historical and cultural monuments, and traditions combining European modernism with Oriental refinement. The moments of socio-political tension and the negative effects of natural phenomena and processes, in relation to the time and place where they occurred, led to significant fluctuations in its choice as a tourist destination over the last decade. The presentation is a study that highlights, from the perspective provided by the analysis of the flow of Romanian tourists who chose this destination during 2010-2018, the effect of the socio-political and natural context on the tourist phenomena in Turkey

Poly(3-HydroxyButyrate-co-3-HydroxyValerate) based Inorganic Consolidate for Firwood Preservation

The aim of this study was to address one of the major challenges of the conservation state of wooden artifacts or artworks namely, the preservation and restoration of wood surfaces. The factors involved in the deterioration of wood are mainly the external factors such as fire, low temperature and microbiological agents, which induce some degradation processes in wood, identified by discoloration, fragility and unsightly appearance. In this study, biodegradable materials based on poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBHV) and composites based on PHBHV and particles (zinc oxide (ZnO), carbonated hydroxyapatite (CHAp) and its metallic derivatives with silver (AgCHAp) and strontium (SrCHAp) were applied on firwood specimens in order to investigate their consolidation capacity. Colorimetric measurements have confirmed that the chosen treatments did not change the colour of the natural wood. The hardness test revealed that the consolidation system increases the mechanical properties of the samples. The used treatments confer a strong hydrophobic character which prevents exfoliation of the wood samples, as confirmed by the performed water absorption test

Innovation and product management – The direction of the 21st century luxury market

Today, most of the so-called luxury streets are covered with advertisements and stores of the mass fashion brands. On Champs Elysées, next to Louis Vuitton and Cartier are brands like Zara and Naf-Naf. The implication of such a picture triggers much needed changes in the general strategy of the luxury brands in product management and innovation management. Constructing their whole core marketing and branding strategy on appealing to human emotions and psychology, the luxury market focuses on symbolism, rarity, extraordinariness, and, of course, aesthetics. Nevertheless, trying to opt out for the same textbook management is not an option for these businesses. Stepping up the pace in the innovation sector, starting with technology, and going all the way to the rapidly evolving consumer profile, the 21st century luxury market can truly support a long history by giving back to the community, with strong brand equity and long-term strategic and financial business innovation and product management. The paper represents a theoretical research aiming at identifying the main strategic direction of the luxury market in terms scientifically proved innovation and product management, with the scope of understanding the new trends in management, and the impact of the latter on bettering the market results of the businesses involved under the form of a model. The results of the research are consistent for both the practical and theoretical sphere of the subject, as they underline the extent to which the influence of consumer psychology and brand management affects the innovation process within the luxury goods market. The limitations of the paper are consistent with the lack of primary data, although the results were condensed in a model that could represent the basis for further research on the topic

An empirical review of public policies on the sector of SMEs in the European Union

The paper aims to provide with a close picture of the SME public policies in one of the most prominent capitalist economies of the world, that of the European Union. In order to do this, a qualitative analysis has been undergone, on the basis of the following indicators: access to financial resources for SMEs, regulatory and legal frameworks for SMEs, and public assistance on information and knowledge about markets. Since there is no prior research on the subject, the implications of this paper have impact on the theory, practice and policy making. The results of the content analysis suggest that there is a contemporary structure to the European SBA, with a focus on a persistent business approach, based on the results of scientific research and market studies involving the problems raised by the now compact European SME industry. In the end, it must be acknowledged that the present research is only preliminary, and to better understand the mechanisms behind the European policy, further studies on the subject are necessary. Nevertheless, the paper has managed to point out that public policy in the SME industry represents one of the most important aspects of the EU-28 new economic direction

An empirical review of public policies on the sector of SMEs in the European Union

The paper aims to provide with a close picture of the SME public policies in one of the most prominent capitalist economies of the world, that of the European Union. In order to do this, a qualitative analysis has been undergone, on the basis of the following indicators: access to financial resources for SMEs, regulatory and legal frameworks for SMEs, and public assistance on information and knowledge about markets. Since there is no prior research on the subject, the implications of this paper have impact on the theory, practice and policy making. The results of the content analysis suggest that there is a contemporary structure to the European SBA, with a focus on a persistent business approach, based on the results of scientific research and market studies involving the problems raised by the now compact European SME industry. In the end, it must be acknowledged that the present research is only preliminary, and to better understand the mechanisms behind the European policy, further studies on the subject are necessary. Nevertheless, the paper has managed to point out that public policy in the SME industry represents one of the most important aspects of the EU-28 new economic direction

Elemental and Corrosion Investigations Performed on Coins from 20th Century

Corrosion represents the transformation process of metallic surfaces, caused by the influence of the contact medium. Coins are not exempt from the undesired effect of corrosion. [...