Ecotourism in Traditional Cultural Landscapes: A Regenerative Lens on Stakeholder Perspectives in Vama Buzăului, Romania

Traditional Multifunctional Cultural Landscapes (TMCLs) are coupled socio-ecological systems in which cultural heritage, land-use practices, and ecological functions co-exist and are co-produced. Ecotourism has increasingly been promoted as a tool for sustainable development in TMCLs, yet little empirical evidence exists on how local stakeholders perceive its impacts. This study explores stakeholder perspectives on ecotourism development in Vama Buzăului, Romania an eco-certified destination, and explores its implications through regenerative tourism lens. Semi-structured interviews with twelve diverse stakeholders provided insights into socio-cultural, economic, environmental, youth outmigration and governance-related impacts. The findings reveal that stakeholders associated ecotourism with socio-cultural revitalization (community pride, festivals, gastrolocal identity) but also raised concerns regarding crowding and cultural commodification. Economic perceptions emphasized new livelihood opportunities, indirect value-chain benefits for non-tourism actors, and improved infrastructure, alongside concerns about unequal benefit distribution and rising land prices. Environmental perceptions were ambivalent: stakeholders noted improved waste management and conservation initiatives (e.g., the bison reserve) while also highlighting litter, traffic congestion, and reduced communal grazing areas. Respondents further linked ecotourism to youth retention and land re-use, though outsider investment was perceived as a potential pressure on traditional land-use patterns. Finally, local government was viewed as a key enabler through administrative support and small-scale infrastructure development, while direct financial support was considered insufficient and future needs included diversified attractions, micro-loans, and capacity building. Interpreted through a regenerative lens, these outcomes demonstrate how ecotourism in TMCLs can move beyond sustaining existing systems to actively enhancing cultural vitality, community resilience, and ecosystem health. The study highlights the pivotal role of participatory governance and local government in enabling regenerative pathways, emphasizing inclusive planning, equitable benefit-sharing, and long-term policy support. Overall, Vama Buzăului provides an illustrative case of how TMCLs can serve as real life laboratories for regenerative rural development, offering lessons for destinations seeking to align ecotourism with holistic development while avoiding unidimensional growth-driven, unsustainable ecotourism models.