PERSPECTIVE SOCIOLOGICE ÎN DINAMICA TURISMULUI ROMÂNESC. CALITATEA VIEȚII LOCALNICILOR ȘI TURIȘTILOR DIN SUDUL LITORALULUI. Editura Pro Universitaria, București, 2025. Georgiana Oprescu

Abstract

The review analyzes the contribution of the work to the development of a sociological perspective on tourism, understood as a multidimensional social phenomenon with a direct impact on quality of life. The volume, grounded in empirical research conducted on the southern Romanian seaside, is situated at the intersection of the sociology of tourism, sociology of development, and quality of life studies, moving beyond strictly economic approaches and highlighting the social, cultural, and institutional implications of tourism. A relevant conceptual contribution is the metaphor of “phoenix tourism,” used to describe the capacity of destinations to regenerate in the face of crises and structural discontinuities. The empirical results reveal the complex relationship between tourism and quality of life, emphasizing, on the one hand, the benefits of tourism development and, on the other hand, structural vulnerabilities such as seasonality and insufficiently developed infrastructure. The review highlights the originality of the approach and the relevance of the work both for the academic environment and for the development of public policies oriented toward sustainable development and the balance between economic progress and social well-being.