Dracula Tourism and Romania

Madeline Charles

Dr. Francis

Approaches to Literature 

6 April 2020

Dracula Tourism and Romania

Vlad Dracula (3)

Bram Stoker's Dracula is a world-wide renowned horror novel showcasing  the dark and scary tales of vampires into one dark, beloved antagonist, Count Dracula. Dracula tourism is fueled by Stoker's Dracula, as well as more than 200 films illustrating the nineteenth century story of the undead, has since then taken over Romanian tourism since the 1970s (2). Romania has now become a popular travel destination due to being the home of the both the infamous fictional and historic Draculas, as well as the ancient home of the tales of the supernatural and the undead. 

Targoviste - Princely Court (3)

Stoker's Count Dracula is modeled after the historical Romanian Vlad Dracula, otherwise known as Vlad Tepes, or Vlad the Impaler after he impaled disloyal court members after inviting them to a celebratory feast at Targoviste, or the Princely Court (3). Dracula, in a translation from Gaelic, quite literally means bad blood (3). Stoker's Dracula features Romanian destinations closely related to Vlad Dracula, such as Sighisoara, Snagov Monastery, Poenari Fortress, the village of Arefu, Brasov, and Bran Castle (3). To the Romanians, Vlad Dracula is remembered as a murderous tyrant who inflicted horrors on his enemies and his own people, but also a hero who stoped the Ottoman Empire from conquering today's Romania (1).

Bran Castle (3)

Romania experienced an uptick in tourism in the 1970s but it wasn't until the 2000s when the newly appointed ambassador decided to endorse Dracula Tourism in order for tourists to experience the beautiful country and people Romania has to offer, and to try and diminish the country's dark past (1). Romania was still emerging from a past government of communism, and was trying to heal from a struggling economy, poverty, and a poor standing internationally (1). Dracula Tourism eventually created 200,000 jobs, yet in 2013, Romania was reported to be the second poorest country in the European Union (1). Although tourism has caused an uprise in the economy, it should be noted that many attractions and visual elements are purely Dracula attractions, and reflect no part of Romanian history

An Movie Adaptation of Castle Dracula (4)

A Comedic Movie Depiction of Dracula (5)

There are many reasons why tourists flock to Romania to get their dose of the undead. The Romanian National Tourism Authority (RNTA) conducted a study between 2003 and 2005, and found that British Tourists were mostly interested in tourism related to medieval Transylvania, while American Tourists preferred Transylvanian attractions and Dracula tours (2). Yet some destinations have become famous purely because of Stoker's novel and films captivating Dracula, 

such as The Golden Crown in Bistrita, where tourists can eat the same meal Jonathan Harker ate, as well as guests can sleep in the Castle Dracula Hotel, which is said to have been built on the approximate sight of the fictional castle located in the Borgo Pass (3). Some seek Romania as a travel destination in order to fulfill literary tourism of Dracula, others seek Romania as a destination to explore film tourism, while some seek Romania seeking supernatural roots of vampires and Dracula, while other seek the historical Dracula known as Vlad the Impaler (2). It's safe to say they get their Dracula-Vampire fix. 

Work Cited

(1) “Blessing or a Curse? Dracula Tourism in Romania.” Balkanium Blog, 25 Feb. 2017,

balkaniumblog.wordpress.com/2016/10/13/blessing-or-a-curse-dracula-tourism-in-romania/.

(2) Candrea, Adina Nicoleta, et al. "Marketing the Count's Way: How Dracula's Myth can Revive

Romanian Tourism." Bulletin of the Transilvania University of Brasov.Economic  Sciences.Series V 9.1 (2016): 83-90. ProQuest. Web. 5 Apr. 2020.

(3) “Dracula Legend.” Count Dracula's Legend and the History of Vlad the Impaler,

romaniatourism.com/dracula-legend.html.

(4) Giphy. “Roger Corman Horror GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY.” GIPHY, GIPHY, 25 Jan. 2017,

gph.is/1hCDk1E.

(5) Giphy. “Dracula Dead And Loving It GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY.” GIPHY, GIPHY, 13 Sept.

2019, gph.is/2baOXCW.