It turns out that more and more tourists on global scale, including such ones visiting Bulgaria, expect to be offered the kind of tourism which is responsible to the environment, consumers and locals alike. It is not really difficult to determine how socially responsible Bulgarian tourism is. It suffices to go to the seaside or to some of our highly promoted ski-resorts to get an idea of what is actually going on.
The uncontrolled construction of hotels, recreational centers, pubs; the total pollution of the environment in apparent contradiction to existing legislation; the careless consumption of resources – all of these can be seen in Bulgarian resorts. This is despite the fact that people working in the tourism branch have been trying for years to reach a degree of sustainable development for those resorts. The results are unconvincing. This of course does not mean that tourists won’t find good examples of tourism in accord with European standards. Velingrad, in southwestern Bulgaria, is one of those examples. Despite the upsurge in building luxury hotels and recreational centers, this Rhodopi spa center has succeeded in preserving its nature and hence its charm of a mountainous town as well. Across the country, there are other examples of the so-called ethical tourism. For instance, mainly in mountainous villages whose population offers accommodation in their houses, an environmentally friendly way of life as well as a chance to taste the local cuisine.
Nothing can replace the comfort and the warmth of a rural house.
Visitors also get acquainted with local folklore and crafts. In most cases, the people involved in this type of rural tourism pay their taxes and do not harm the environment. Sadly, however, they are the exception because most people who get involved in tourism in Bulgaria seek quick and easy returns of their investments, taking full advantage of the grey economy in the country. The global financial crisis cooled down the voracious appetites of investors and as a result the massive and uncontrolled building of large hotels nearly died away. A new tendency has emerged though – reducing prices and improving services which means comply with the European standards for ethical tourism. Data released by the Center for Social and Environmental Responsibility shows that nearly half of the hotels in Bulgaria have already implemented some measures to cut back on water consumption. 70% of the hotels have already found a way to improve their energy efficiency. At the same time, only 17% of Bulgarian hotels have a system to recycle solid waste and this significantly harms the environment. A nice observation is that most municipalities realize that tourism does not only translate to available beds in concrete hotels. Here is the opinion of Zdravko Vasilev, mayor of Devin municipality in southern Bulgaria:
“It should be clear from the outset that even the most luxury hotel, the most comfortable room and the richest choice of satellite programs in it cannot replace the chance to observe a sunrise or sunset in the mountain or to enjoy its wild-life inhabitants roaming around undisturbed! Sadly, very few people who visit our mountainous resorts really enjoy the true spirit of nature. This is why we need to work in that direction and make tourism an unforgettable adventure, which will make people come back.”
Local municipalities offer their guests the opportunity to learn about the distinctive traditions and folklore.
In the past, local municipalities readily approved all projects for the building of hotels, golf courses, and spa centers with the hope of earning more revenues. Now, the truth is that their enthusiasm has waned. Many people realize the potential of alternative and environmentally friendly tourism which can turn into a healthily profitable business. A good sign to boost such activities is the ‘Green House’ certificate. It is given by the Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism to guest houses and family hotels which have covered all European standards for accommodation with a minimal negative impact on the environment. This means cutting back on natural resources and respecting the environment.
English version: Delian Zahariev
