HISTORICAL RETROSPECTION AND STATISTICAL INTROSPECTION INTO ROMANIA'S CONVERGENCE TO THE EUROPEAN (MONETARY) UNION AND THE SEASONAL MOUNTAIN TOURISM'S IMPACT.

This article provides a retrospective and a summary of the convergence of Romanian economy to the model of the European economy, from the transition to a stable market economy, through the pre-accession period, and also the post-accession to the European Union since 1 January 2007, with the declared intention of eventually joining the euro space or area. The retrospective is accompanied by an instrumental-statistical or reasoned introspection based on key indicators. Tourism, and especially its seasonality, is analyzed from the angle of their present and future impact on the national economy. The conclusions highlight the need for programs and policies meant to promote tourism development and diminish the seasonal character of tourist activities, with a higher contribution of mountain and rural tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]