The Tourist Potential and Sustainable Development – New Trends and Opportunities for Galati Located in Romania´S South-East Development Region

Galati, danubian harbor city from the South Eastern Development Area of Romania, in not found on the UNESCO patrimony list of tourist attractions but disposes of a huge tourist potential that can be capitalized. Along with the neighbouring danubian harbour city – Braila – it forms one of the unique urban groups in the country through its geographical position, number of inhabitants, history and culture and both towns are regarded as poles of urban development. For the time being, the lack of the abilities/ competences of comprehensible formulation of efficient capitalization of the tourist potential generated by the natural environment and cultural inheritance of Galati Town, through the cosmopolitan character of great Danube harbour and fair (with agricultural products- cereals, honey and wax and so on) close to the Black Sea and everything that belongs to it restrains and detains the manifestation of its tourist identity and competitiveness and identity. Thus, the identification of novelty elements as opportunities on which the paper focuses and which can ensure the promotion and development of the real needs of the town through tourism comes from an integrated correlation of the aspects that belong to the whole potential of Galatzi area, from the impact arising out of the geographical, geopolitical, political and economical position of Galati,the level of implication various actors can have, the policies and contemporary local / regional / European strategies, etc. The development of ideas in an integrated and partial way can constitute even the support of a proeminent consulting base (work groups formed of spokesmen with high qualification from academic, economic and business fields and who know the real needs of development ; consultation and public debates, including the local population) and the formulation of a direction of short, medium or long term strategic action and their transposition through a portfolio of projects. Only through a legitimization of the distinct features of Galati, as a mark / brand sprung from the cultural patrimony will this town acquire a different position and visibility in the national and European tourism and at the same time will be able to provide the tourists the maximum quarantee of getting to know its historical background and roots which are the most important conditions for a successful patimony market.