To be or not to be seen: an incursion into traditional Romanian villages through tourist signage.

Any tourist experience is shaped by a series of factors that leave their mark on the destination, including elements of accessibility and visibility. If a destination benefits from additional recognition by being included on specific official cultural routes, tourist signage becomes mandatory. This article aimed to investigate the impact of tourist signage on traditional villages, focusing on Poiana Negrii, in the context of their inclusion on thematic cultural routes such as the Via Transilvanica. The survey conducted in November 2025 in the selected case-study area revealed 26 tourist signage elements, a density indicating the presence of the Via Transilvanica route in the territory, as well as references to tourist attractions that support various forms of tourism (spa tourism, ecotourism). On the other hand, the analysis of reviews on the Google Maps platform (n=3339) associated with locations within Poiana Negrii shows tourists’ interest in Țara Dornelor and, implicitly, in Poiana Negrii, which they associate with specific architectural landmarks, etc. Tourists perceive Poiana Negrii as an emblematic place of Bucovina’s ethnographic identity, where natural, architectural, gastronomic, and social heritage blend harmoniously. Nevertheless, the evaluation of tourist signage in Poiana Negrii reveals significant discrepancies in quality and positioning, highlighting a lack of visibility and maintenance, which points to the need for a clear strategy to improve tourist information and overall visitor experience.