Rural and urban spaces in Romania: Statistical analysis of cultural and artistic units, cultural consumption (during and after the COVID-19 pandemic) and the current degree of digitization

We live and work in an increasingly technologically connected society, where the cultural consumption has changed. Some of the most obvious consequences of this digitization could be seen in terms of new forms of presentation and promotion of cultural heritage. Despite all the damage it has created, the COVID-19 pandemic has also produced a boost in the digitization of the tourism and cultural industry. The pandemic has demonstrated how important digital tools are for tourism and culture, alongside basic digital skills. Therefore, analyzing the digital transformations in cultural tourism by residence environments (urban and rural) is a must-do activity given the constant expansion of digital tools. This article investigates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rural and urban areas of Romania, from a statistical perspective. In order to identify cultural trends, carried out both in the rural and urban environments, we will use the statistical information at the national level to analyze these phenomena, through comparative analyses, which will highlight the differences registered in the two residential environments, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The article will also include an analysis of the current degree of digitization by residential environment, in order to comparatively research the digital inequalities between urban and rural environments in Romania, the main results showing that rural areas had lower internet connectivity compared to urban areas during the analyzed period, a smaller number of cultural units, as well as a lower cultural consumption (but only in libraries, not in museums and at concerts)