02239nas a2200337   4500000000100000000000100001000000100002008004100003260000800044653001200052653002800064653002100092653002400113653001700137653001500154653002700169653001300196653001800209653001000227653001800237653001200255653001100267653002400278100001800302700002100320245008900341856014300430490000700573520130100580022002001881       2020                            d  cjun10amapping10aSustainable development10aheritage tourism10aintangible heritage10aTransylvania10arural area10aperformance assessment10abuilding10aGroup of lads10aniche10aNiche tourism10aRomania10awinter10aWinter celebrations1 aDaniela Sorea1 aCodrina Csesznek00aThe groups of caroling lads from făgăras, land (Romania) as niche tourism resource  uhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85085913472&doi=10.3390%2fsu12114577&partnerID=40&md5=f9554798ef1ed29ebfe93def873066ea0 v123 aContemporary tourism favors niche offers and heritage tourism is successful niche tourism. The cultural mapping of Fagaras, Land (Romania), accomplished during a project conducted by Transilvania University of Bras, ov, highlights the groups of caroling lads as a main local resource of intangible cultural heritage. The field research indicates that during winter, celebrations of the life of rural communities are organized around the group of lads. Currently, the group only performs a ritual role, but in the past the group had community work attributes, which could be resumed. Additionally, a sustainable heritage tourism can be developed around the groups of lads from Fagaras, Land. That is a form of niche tourism based on the aforementioned concept of foster Christmas relatives. The concept was outlined during the field research carried out as part of the project and refers to host families providing tourists access to the performance of group of lads within the community during the winter celebrations. Resuming the old attributes of the group of lads along with niche tourism could contribute to the sustainable development of rural communities and building local cultural identity. Additionally, they would also consolidate the status held by group members within the community.  a20711050 (ISSN)