ECOTOURISM

Since 1995 the tourism has turned out to be the fastest developing part of the Bulgarian economy. Along with that we become witnesses of a great number of local and regional initiatives for ecotourism, emerged as a consequence of nature protecting activities or simply advertising the local traditions, customs and culture. Giving more publicity to the movement for protecting the nature as well as developing the ecotourism is something natural in the very process of turning to the market economy. Both tendencies are result of the real concern about protecting the environment and the cultural-historic heritage. Protecting the environment and the cultural-historic heritage and ecotourism are bound together for the need of achieving their goals. The essence of our Bulgarian pride – our nature, traditions, customs, history and way of living – is extremely valuable not only for our own country, but for the whole world. We should start to take care of these values and look at them as an advantage over the other countries, which already have lost some of them. During the first national forum ‘’Ecotourism, mountains and protected areas – partners for prosperity’’ The Ministry of Economy, The Ministry of Environment and Water and The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry signed ‘’A protocol for cooperation in the field of ecotourism’’. In this protocol these institutions give the following explanation of ecotourism: “Our institutions accept the common interpretation of the term ‘’ecotourism’’ as a trip to relatively preserved areas where tourists enjoy the nature, see all the cultural landmarks in that area and are stimulated to protect the nature and avoid human impact over the preserved areas. The ecotourism is also a possibility to start a business with all the appropriate services, as priority is given to the small local business contractors. It is supposed to bring social-economic activity to the certain region and justly share the responsibilities and benefits among the local population. The ecotourism itself contains elements of education on matters of protecting the environment, integration of natural and cultural heritage and corresponds to all kind of sustainable tourism.’’ The strong orientation of ecotourism towards the principles, guiding directions and certification, based on the standards of stability, gives it a special position in the tourism as a whole. Through the years, after the term ‘’ecotourism” was initially determined, in Bulgaria people come to an agreement that the main assets of ecotourism are:
- Helps in protecting the bio diversity
- Brings prosperity to the local people
- Requires responsible attitude on behalf of the tourists
- Requires the least possible consumption of not restorable resources
- The services are carried out by small enterprises to small tourist groups
- Put an accent on the local presence, personal property and business possibilities, especially for the people living out of the towns
- Includes interpretative / cognitive element
The tendency for dynamic growth of the potential market for ecotourism products gives Bulgaria real chance to become regional and European leader in this field. Bulgaria is the first European country to develop and accept its own National strategy for preserving bio diversity (1995). Now Bulgaria is another pace ahead as we accepted National strategy and plan for developing the ecotourism.