Co-creating Value and the Socio-Economic Impact of a UNESCO Global Geopark: Case Study of the Buzău Land UNESCO Global Geopark (Romania)

The paper examines Buzău Land UNESCO Global Geopark from the perspective of the relationship between community involvement in the geopark and local socio-economic dynamics over the period 2006 - 2024. The analysis combines statistical indicators (CAEN codes, number of employees, tourist arrivals, accommodation structures) with a set of data on the geopark's activities in eleven of its component municipalities, in order to observe possible correlations between the intensity of interventions and economic or tourist developments in the territory. The results show that the communities where the geopark has been constantly active—such as Bozioru, Scorțoasa, Colți, Mânzălești, and Berca—have registered a moderate increase in tourism indicators, including the number of overnight stays and the emergence of new accommodations after 2021, when the territory received UNESCO recognition as a geopark. This evolution illustrates a process of responsible and organic growth that doesn’t generate mass tourism and doesn’t affect community cohesion, authenticity, or cultural heritage—the elements that constituted the region's initial attractiveness. These trends suggest an indirect link between geopark’s activities and local economic activation, but not yet a proportional increase in turnover or employment. The conclusions highlight that the main impact of the geopark is the co-creation of value, social mobilization, development of partnerships, and strengthening of local identity, rather than direct economic performance. The study dicusses both the transformative potential and the structural limitations of social innovation in rural areas, contributing to the knowledge on how heritage-based territorial models can generate socio-economic engagement and offer the foundation for future sustainable development.