THE THE COMMUNITY OF FRENCH AND FRENCH-SPEAKING STUDENTS IN IASI AND ITS IMPACT ON DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TOURISM

Emmanuel Andrei DUMAS

doi:10.4316/rdt.41.3101

Authors

Emmanuel Andrei DUMAS University „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” of Iasi https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6371-1115

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4316/rdt.41.3101

Keywords:

French and French-speaking students, impact on tourism, local tourism, domestic tourism, international tourism

Abstract

In this article, we examine the impact on local, national and international tourism of the French and Francophone community that has been present in Iași for the past fifteen years or so. This community consists mainly of French medical students, who now represent the second-largest group of foreign nationals residing in Iași after Moldovan citizens. The impact on the tourism economy is evident in terms of airport traffic (to and from France), accommodation (hotels and private lodgings), restaurants, cafés, clubs, shopping centers and various shops. This community consists of young people who go out a lot and enjoy visiting Iasi’s tourist and leisure spots. They also travel within the country (Bucharest, Transylvania, Bukovina…) mainly by train, and abroad by plane, particularly to return to their home countries (France, Morocco, Tunisia, Belgium) but also to other countries. These French and French-speaking students also influence their families and friends who visit them in Romania, thereby becoming ambassadors for tourism in Iasi upon their return to France.

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