After years of debates and joint efforts on the part of experts the strategic plan for the development of cultural tourism in Bulgaria is now a fact. The document the government endorsed envisages the division of the country into tourist zones and improvement of infrastructure.

The strategy implies the division of Bulgaria into 13 cultural and historic areas. Tourists’ attention would be drawn to some 300 archeological and historic sites spreading all over the country. The document envisages also the improvement of infrastructure as roads in many parts are in very bad condition and difficult access drives tourists away from interesting sites. By 2013 some EUR 200 million would be spent on the improvement of the environs of these tourist sites and historic monuments. The means would be granted by European funds. This strategy for developing cultural tourism has been worked out with the financial support of the Italian government. In the course of three years leading Bulgarian and Italian experts from that branch have toiled on the strategy. “In fact Bulgaria and Italy are two of the countries that make up a substantial part of Europe’s colossal historic heritage”, said Bulgarian Deputy-Minister of Culture Todor Chobanov. Unlike us, however, the Italians have very long experience in the management of their cultural monuments for making out of them attractive tourist destinations. That has been possible thanks to the successful public-private partnership. That is why Bulgaria would use the Italian model for developing cultural tourism, which lays an emphasis on the link between the state and private business.

“We have to define the different tourist zones of Bulgaria and put through the so-called diversification of the tourist product so that each zone offers an identified, unique and marketable product, Todor Chobanov explains. That is why Bulgaria has been divided into 13 tourist zones. Each one of them is unique in combining natural with historic specifics. We have revival period towns, heritage of the Roman Empire, the Danubean bank or the Black Sea coast; Bulgaria’s ancient capital etc. The plan of action accentuates on infrastructure. And we mean not only the improvement of roads but also the repair of the water and sewerage grid and the construction of purification stations. For the purpose municipalities would be able to rely on European funds. The strategy also maps out the zones of natural sites because when we talk of cultural tourism we should not omit the natural heritage of Bulgaria and its preservation.”

According to experts foreign tourists interested in exploring the cultural and historic heritage of this country usually spend 5-7 times more than average vacationers. Unfortunately cultural tourism accounts for only 15% of the overall tourist industry in Bulgaria.

“One volume of the strategy deals with sites of special importance for cultural tourism, Todor Chobanov goes on to say. Bulgaria has over 40 thousand historic, ethnographic and archeological sites. But we have concentrated on those that are most attractive and would bring guests to this country. Each one of these sites now has a dossier providing detailed information on its location, characteristics, accessibility and under whose charge the site is. All these sites are placed under the separate zones. That would help tour operators and people engaged in this sphere wishing to develop a successful business along this line.”

English version: Iva Letnikova