Tourist Valorisation of the Cultural Identity of Galați County, Romania

The concept of cultural identity encompasses a sense of belonging to a human group with cultural traits such as customs, values, traditions, and beliefs mutually shared. Identity is not a truly fixed concept; it is analytical, ambiguous, and filled with many contradictory meanings. According to Cooper and Brubaker (2000), the concept is fluid and constantly renegotiated, being recreated individually and collectively through continuous external influences. Identity is directly linked to history and cultural heritage. According to anthropological, ethnographic, and sociological studies, identity emerges in opposition and as a reaffirmation of the other. Although the concept of identity transcends borders (as in the case of migrants or refugees), the origin of this concept is often linked to a territory. In an anthropological sense, territory is considered a “living environment, of action, and of thought of a community, associated with processes of identity construction” (Tizon, 1995). From a methodological perspective, the study employed a quantitative approach, involving direct engagement with residents of both the municipality and the county of Galați. The aim was to assess their perceptions of cultural life, the development of the hospitality sector at the local and regional levels, and the anticipated benefits of repositioning the area as a destination of national and international tourist interest. This would be achieved through the valorization of cultural tourism resources—particularly ethnographic and folkloric heritage—thereby contributing to the strengthening of the region’s cultural identity.