Tourism – a Viable Alternative of Re-Structuring Mining Industry in the Jiu Valley

The beginning, in 1990, of an ample process of transition to the market economy, consisted, first of all, in economically re-structuring Romanian industry, in general, and mining industry, in particular. One of Romania’s mostly affected regions has been and still is the Jiu Valley, a zone that produces the largest amount of pitcoal in the country. The above mentioned process determined the diminishing of activities within certain mines, the complete closing of others and, of course, unemployment for numberless individuals. The economic and social effects are quite evident, at a national level as well as at a local level; we also witnessed attempts of re-habilitating the region which implicitly could determine an economic growth that may be attained in the future due to tourism as we take into account the human, natural and anthropic ressources the Jiu Valley displays.