The aim of our research was to discover the position of Moldavia region on the internal and international tourism market and how his peripheral feature acts on its tourism development.We observed that research area is confronted with a three times peripheral feature, each one acting on a different spatial level: spatial periphery of European Union, economical and decision-making periphery of Romania, and finally, a frozen periphery which acts inside the region itself between the urban centers and the rural zones.We observed also that the region shows a bigger density of potential tourism resources in its western, mountainous part. The counties of Suceava, Neamț, Bacău and Vrancea take fully advantage of their position in a more attractive environment, the mountainous tourism being very popular and appreciate in Romania.In our days, Moldavia has a tourism delay compared with the national mean, delay translated in accommodation places, occupation rate, tourist arrivals or overnight stays. Nevertheless, the region knew an astonishing evolution of accommodation units in the last two decades. The rural boarding house become more and more visible, its development being based on the rural tourism’s popularization and its uncountable forms, The dynamic of tourism arrivals and overnight stays draws several distinct tourism zones in Moldavia. Suceava County is by far the most dynamic, its growth being based on some regional centers and mono-destination villages. Neamț County recorded a positive dynamic based on few local centers, each one with a different uniqueness, fact that put this county on the second step as tourism importance in Moldavia. Bacău County is noticed by its tourism fall, especially in the ancient resorts from communist era, Slănic Moldova and Târgu Ocna. After 1990 this destinations knew a decrease of their tourism weight because of the bad management.The investigation made among the visitors of the Moldavian rural area showed a changing profile for the usual Moldavian tourist, marked by several contrasts. These contrasts are a consequence of the communist era and the lack of implication (organizational, decision-making) from the tourist in its own trip planning.
