Kalofer:
Is Ecotourism Natural to Bulgaria?

I. Identification

1. The Issue

Background Information

Bulgaria is a South-Eastern European country situated on the Balkan Peninsula. It has a territory of 111 sq. km and a population of around 8 Million. The country borders Greece and Turkey on the South, Romania on the North (Danube River forms the border between Bulgaria and Romania before flowing into the Black Sea), Macedonia and Serbia on the West and the Black Sea on the East. On its relatively small territory Bulgaria has valuable wetlands, coastal and other ecosystems protected by UNESCO, rich biodiversity, important bird breeding areas (80% of European birds could be seen in Bulgaria), and breath-taking combinations of mountain and lowland landscapes. There are more than 40,000 cultural and heritage sites in the country that have been recognized as nationally and internationally significant. (For more information on Bulgaria: http://www.bulgariatravel.org/)

One of the country’s greatest assets - referred to as the “Green Gold” of Bulgaria - is its well preserved nature. There are three National Parks in the country: Central Balkan National Park, Rila National Park and Pirin National Park. All of them are considered among the largest and most valuable protected areas in Europe . The Protected Areas in the country cover about 5% of its territory . Bulgaria was the first European country to develop (1992-1994) and implement (1995) a National Biological Diversity Conservation Strategy, and one of the first countries in the world to adopt and apply the Guidelines for Activities Related to Sustainable Tourism and Biological Diversity (produced by the Convention on Biological Diversity)

Tourism in Bulgaria

The history of Bulgarian tourism dates back to the late 19th century. Tourism has always been one of the significant economic sectors in the country. In 2003 Bulgaria received 6,241,000 foreign tourists and the tourism industry contributed 10.6% of the GDP and 66.6% of the export of services . The predominant share of tourism profits comes from mass tourism resorts mainly along the Black Sea coast and from winter sport resorts. In the last years Bulgaria has been attempting to diversify its tourism product by focusing on tourism niche markets. Preserving and promoting the beauty of its nature and the richness of the country’s heritage are seen as important factors that could help Bulgaria stand out on the tourism map in a more competitive way.
In 2004 Bulgaria was again the first in Europe to complete and launch a National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan (NESAP), which was the outcome of a 2-year process initiated by the Government, supported by the United Stats Agency for International Development (USAID) and involving a very broad circle of stakeholders. The motto of the National Ecotourism Strategy is “Ecotourism-Naturally Bulgaria.”

The Main Issue – Is Ecotourism Natural to Bulgaria?

The main issue that this case study will analyze is why ecotourism seems natural to Bulgaria and what are the factors that have made it possible and successful so far. The case study focuses on Kalofer – a small town in the foothill of one of the national parks – which has been successful in developing itself as an ecotourism destination. The reader will learn about the process that the Kalofer community has been part of in order to become an ecotourism destination and will understand the factors that have been key to Kalofer’s success to the moment. The Conclusion section will summarize the author’s opinion as to what characterizes the sustainable success of an ecotourism destination and what are the policies, socio-economic conditions and other factors that facilitate the process.

2. Description

Central Balkan National Park (CBNP)

Central Balkan National Park is one of the three national parks in Bulgaria. It is home to rare and endangered wildlife species and communities, rich and self-sustained ecosystems of biological diversity and many historical sites of global cultural and scientific significance . The Park was established to preserve the unique nature of the Central Stara Planina Mountains as well as to facilitate the preservation of local cultures and customs. Covering an area of 716 square kilometers in the central parts of Kodzha Balkan, the Park includes centuries-old beech forests, breath-taking waterfalls and deep canyons, vast meadows with lush grasses and herbs, and imposing peaks. The highest of the Stara Planina peaks, Botev, is also found in the Park.

After CBNP and the other two national parks in the country were established, and the proper legislation securing their protection was in place, there was a need to identify a mechanism for the long-term protection of the parks. It was important that this mechanism did not only secure the long-term preservation of the parks’ resources, but also created opportunities for economic profits from their management and use. The best fitting this description mechanism identified by experts and stakeholders was the development of sustainable nature-based tourism in the park and the surrounding areas. The adoption of the 10-year CBNP Management Plan in 2001 and the National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan (2003) established a favorable environment for development of sustainable nature-based tourism.

Kalofer

The town of Kalofer is situated along Tundja River, between the Balkan and the Sredna Gora Mountains. It has a population of almost 4,000 and is one of the entrance points to Central Balkan National Park.

In the past during socialist years (until early 1990’s), the main sources of employment for the local population were two production facilities for light military equipment and uniforms. One of them was closed down and the production of the second one (for military uniforms) has been significantly downsized. This has lead to high levels of unemployment, significant migration of local residents to larger cities and an extremely weak local economy leading to physical deterioration of the town.

Given this situation the community of Kalofer needed to identify a new vehicle for economic development that would help sustain the beauty and culture of this small town and provide a better living for the local population. Becoming an ecotourism destination proved to be an excellent opportunity.

In 2001, the CBNP management with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Biodiversity Conservation and Economic Growth (BCEG) Project engaged local entrepreneurs, local authorities, NGO’s and the general population in the establishment of a multi-stakeholder ecotourism initiative group. By creating a new vision for local economic development, this group turned into a mechanism for development of an ecotourism model and for fueling a broad public interest in the philosophy and practice of ecotourism . The goal of the initiative was to start the development of sustainable, environmentally friendly tourism and create local economic growth while preserving the park and community resources.

After over an year of cooperative work, in June 2002 the initiative group formally became the Central Balkan Ecotourism Association - Kalofer, a registered non-governmental organization. Its formal objectives are:
- to develop sustainable ecotourism
- to create employment for the local population in activities related to ecotourism and conservation of nature
- and to coordinate local interests and actions towards ecotourism.

In November 2002, the Ecotourism Association officially opened the Central Balkan- Kalofer Information Center. The successful establishment of the information center is a result of cooperation between the Karlovo Municipality, the local authorities in Kalofer, the National Park, distinguished community members, private businesses, and the Ecotourism Association. The Center serves as a Destination Management Organization (DMO) and provides services as a tourist information center, small souvenir shop, educational and conference center, office space for the Ecotourism Association and the Kalofer National Park Section. Since then the Association has been very successful in expanding its services and utilizing different partnership opportunities, which have contributed to the development and enrichment of the tourism product. The organization has been more than successful in inspiring members of the community to volunteer and contribute in projects and activities. Some of the key projects that the Ecotourism Association has supported the Park in are:
- development of a camping area with visitor infrastructure and visitor services
- development of a concession model for maintenance and management of the camping area (local entrepreneurs were attracted to bid for the concession and the winner has been very successful in the sustainable management of the site and in turning this in a profitable family business)
- design and constriction of an eco adventure trail with different routes, interpretation tools and nature observation points
- construction of a children camp with educational center and facilities for sport activities, etc.

Picture. The adventure trail – one of the bridges leading to an observation point.

3. Related Cases

There are many cases similar to the case of Kalofer throughout Bulgaria and in many other countries. Many regions and countries are rich in valuable natural resources needing preservation. At the same time their governments and people struggle with economic and political issues that put nature preservation on a low priority.

There are many small community settlements around all three national parks in Bulgaria, which struggle with economic problems. Finding a way to use the benefit of being close to rich protected areas and turning it into a source of economic development is an opportunity for many of them. The launching of the National Ecotourism Strategy establishes a favorable environment of using sustainable forms of tourism as a way to preserve the Bulgarian “Green Gold” and to create opportunities for growth. Significant EU grant programs offer additional opportunities and incentives for development of sustainable tourism products.

Without going into further details, it is worth mentioning that there are many towns and regions throughout South-eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, central and South America that need sources for economic growth and have rich natural resources. Realizing that the development of sustainable tourism could serve as a mechanism for both helping regions preserve their natural wealth and creating sources of income, international donors have moved sustainable tourism up on their priority list.

4. Author and Date:

Milena Nikolova, April 18, 2005
Doctoral Student in Marketing and Sustainable Tourism
The George Washington University
Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management
E-mail: (milena_n@gwu.edu)

Picture. The author enjoying the experience of the adventure trail.

II. Policy Impacts

5. Social:

The changing political and economic situation associated with the transition process in the country has had a very significant impact on the region. The main production facilities providing employment for the residents of Kalofer have been closed down, which has had a severe social impact on the local population.

The mentioned in Section I examples of national-level policies (National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy, National Ecotourism Strategy, etc.) prioritized nature preservation and established an overall environment of valuing and protecting natural resources. Specific regional documents like the CBNP Management Plan and the Central Balkan-South Action Plan for Ecotourism Destination (part of the NESAP), as well as the assistance provided by USAID and the BCEG Project have effectively contributed to the overall policies of supporting the balance between nature conservation and economic growth. These favorable conditions for ecotourism development have significantly changed the social situation in Kalofer in many ways.

They have:
1) Created opportunities for local economic prosperity – the development of ecotourism has served as an economic driver for the revitalization of the region.
2) Established a feeling of ownership – the initiation and development of the ecotourism initiative group has stimulated a broad participatory planning and implementation process, which involved a wide variety of stakeholders. The equal involvement and participation of all stakeholders has allowed them to instill a sense of ownership for the process, the ecotourism product and the natural resources.
3) Built a strong personal motivation – even though the process was supported by USAID, local entrepreneurs were not financially supported in their endeavors. The BCEG team of experts, consultants and trainers provided technical and methodological assistance to the initiative group, but did not fund the improvement or renovation of any private homes or businesses. This is very important, because it eliminated the risk of people joining the initiative for personal material interests. Even though most of the local people were in difficult economic situations and did not have any disposable income to invest in upgrading their houses to meet tourists’ needs, some of them eventually began doing that. This proved that they had embraced the values of nature protection and the belief that they can prosper by offering a unique tourist experience.
4) Educated and increased the capacity – the variety of trainings and the contact with experts and researchers have contributed to the overall increase of the awareness of the local community on issues like nature protection, tourism and hospitality, sustainable tourism development, economic and regional development, etc. One of the initiatives of the group is the enrichment of the curricula of the local school with environmental education programs, which will have a significant impact on the education and environmental awareness of the future generations as well.

Picture. Children in the local school working on nature-related projects

5) Promoted local traditions and spirit – by creating opportunities for tourism development and by encouraging local communities to promote all their assets, the initiative has revived many local traditions and celebrations promoting the patriotic spirit of the local population. The new way the local community values nature has further inspired a feeling of local pride and a common goal shared among local residents.

Picture. Celebration of a local holiday involving traditional dance in the river.

6) Encouraged revival of crafts and customs - by establishing a small area for sale of local eco-products in its visitor center, the ecotourism initiative group fueled the interest of locals in preserving and reviving some of the typical crafts and traditions.

Picture. A local woman knitting a traditional Kalofer lace. The Kalofer lace is very specific and delicate and is often compared to the Brussels lace.

7) Improved the overall look and spirit of Kalofer – the belief that ecotourism can revive Kalofer and the understanding on what has to be done to make that happen, has made local residents and entrepreneurs very active in improving the overall appearance of their town. The increase of available services and products developed for tourists is also a secondary benefit for the local community.

Picture. The Information center and office of the Ecotourism Association in Kalofer.

6. Environmental:

Even though there has been some light industry in the past, the environment in Kalofer and the region is very clean and preserved. The adoption of national and regional policies prioritizing environmental protection offers opportunities to maintain the environment clean. The development of ecotourism will motivate the visitors and the residents of Kalofer to keep the environment clean, because it is one of the major tourism assets of the area.

Picture. The author and her sister in front of an astounding view of Central Balkan NP.

7. Economic:

There are national-level, regional-level and municipal-level plans and policies for encouragement of the economic development of the region. They all have different impact on the economic growth in Kalofer. Based on the fact that the region is close to the Central Balkan National Park and is located in an area with rich cultural heritage, tourism is quoted as a priority sector in almost all policy documents discussing regional economic development.

The ecotourism development initiative has had a significant economic impact on the region in three main ways:
- Active visits of experts, consultants and trainers from interested and supporting organizations – CBNP, USAID, BCEG, etc. which have generated some additional economic income.
- Increased flow of tourists generating economic profits and bringing in additional resources into the local economy by using local services and products.
- Increased economic growth in Kalofer as a result of ecotourism development.

Between 2001 and 2003 the number of registered accommodation facilities increased from 3 to 14 and the number of available rooms increased from 10 to 50. The number of beds offered to tourists in Kalofer increased from 20 to 100. Approximately 70,000 BG Leva (approximately $40,000) were invested in tourist sites and facilities in Kalofer between 2001 and 2002. Local entrepreneur opened restaurants, a horse-back riding farm, a new hotel, a new Internet center and other service providing businesses. A new tourist information center was opened in late 2002 creating two new jobs and welcoming 4,000 visitors in 2003 .

Latest data from the Association revealed that only for the last year another 45 beds became available. Private investments are rapidly growing – 4 accommodation facilities have significantly expanded (unfortunately there is no formal data on total investments, economic indicators, tourist spending, etc.) . An investment from PAN Parks is expected to contribute to the development of a new camping site and an eco-lodge.

8. Other:

Picture. Girls in traditional Bulgarian clothes during a holiday celebration.

As a result of the established environment facilitating the process of ecotourism development and the initiative of the association, nature is now a “main theme” within the community. The town of Kalofer has been revived and its people are living with different spirit - more proud of their heritage and more optimistic.

It is important to note that the increased awareness of the local community on nature protection values and the principles of sustainable tourism have strengthened the partnership between the local people and CBNP management. Because they view nature as their heritage and as a source of their prosperity, the people of Kalofer are now active partners in the protection of the park. They happily volunteer in cleaning and preservation activities, regularly communicate with park rangers and management, report any suspicious activities, and provide support to infrastructure development and visitor management . This is a very important impact of the process, because it is integral to achieving and sustaining the balance between nature preservation and local economic growth.

Picture. Tourists on a horse back riding Tour in the Park.

9. Suggested Interventions:

As mentioned in previous sections, an important role in the ecotourism initiative in Kalofer was played by USAID’s Biodiversity Conservation and Economic Growth Project (BCEG) launched in May 2000. The project is a result of a Memorandum of Understanding between the government of Bulgaria and the US government, and is a natural continuation of the almost 10-year efforts to sustain and institutionalize biodiversity conservation in Bulgaria.

Based on the analysis of the overall intervention processes, the opinions of sociologists, psychologists and group-dynamic specialists working with CBNP management and BCEG Project team, the author of this case study identified the following intervention elements, which seem to have been crucial for the success of the initiative:

1) Preserving the nature as a starting point – This initiative was started as a mechanism for self-sustaining nature preservation in CBNP and adjacent areas. The fact that the starting point of the process was nature (not economic profits, popularization or anything else) along with the need to identify a self-sustaining mechanism for its preservation, secured that nature preservation will remain the main value that will guide all stakeholders in their strategic planning.

2) Spirit of partnership at every step – the entire process from the establishment of the initiative group to the actual implementation steps is based on partnership between CBNP, local authorities, BCEG experts and consultants, and the local community. ? professional facilitator provided support to the process of building relationships and partnerships within the community and between the community and other stakeholders. The resulting process of achieving consensus among different interests and establishment of a collaborative working environment has led to the development of a strong vision and important strategic plans. The approach of broad participation and spirit of partnership from the very start of the process led to the building of strong motivation, growing interest and mutual respect among all participants .

3) Creation of business opportunities – Through its Management Plan, CBNP leads a policy of strong support for local communities by offering incentives for nature-friendly business opportunities. The Protected Area Act states that parks and protected areas should encourage local communities’ involvement in business initiatives but it is the willingness and understanding of the CBNP management that translates into real business opportunities. The Park management encourages the involvement of local entrepreneurs and craftsmen in the development of the visitor infrastructure, offers concessions for the management and maintenance of camping areas, partners with local entrepreneurs offering guiding, training and interpretation services .

4) Training and capacity building – A very important factor facilitating the success of the intervention was the active training and capacity building for the members of the local community. The group received training and education in two main areas: nature preservation, and tourism and hospitality management. Besides formal trainings the group built capacity through “learning by doing” by closely working with all BCEG consultants involved in the process.

5) Exact identification of target market and its needs – ? very important step in the process of ecotourism development in Kalofer was timely research. A detailed market study focusing on the domestic market provided very specific insights on the needs of potential visitors . This helped local entrepreneurs “match” their services to the expectations of their future customers.

III. Legal Clusters

10. Discourse and Status/Policy Issue:

The opportunities for development of sustainable nature-based forms of tourism are promoted through existing legislation and through the policies of relevant institutions. The key policy documents promoting development of sustainable forms of tourism as a mechanism for nature and biodiversity preservation are provided below in the Existing Policy Framework section, subsection National.

11. Forum and Scope/Existing Policy Framework:

International
Bulgaria’s overall commitment to nature conservation is demonstrated by the fact that it has signed and ratified various international conventions in the area of conservation and preservation. Below is a list of all international convention and other relevant policy documents related to this case:
- Convention on Biological Diversity (Guidelines for Activities Related to Sustainable Tourism and Biological Diversity) (ratified 1996)
- Bern Convention (ratified 1991)
- EU Directive on the Protection of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC)
- EU Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of the Wild Flora and Fauna (92/43/EEC)
- Pan-European Biodiversity and Landscape Conservation Strategy (1995).

National
Relevant national level policy and legal documents promoting the development of sustainable forms of nature-friendly tourism are:
- Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria (Article 18)
- National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan (adopted 2003)
- Action Plan for Ecotourism, Central Balkan-South Ecotourism Destination (2003)
- Protected Areas Act (amended 1991)
- Biodiversity Conservation Act (adopted2002)
- National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy (adopted 1994)
- Tourism Act (amended 2004)
- CBNP Management Plan (2001)

Regional
Because tourism is considered a priority sector for Bulgaria, regional authorities in general lead policies supporting its priority. Kalofer is in the Southern central region of Bulgaria. The most current and relevant regional policy document promoting sustainable development throughout the entire Southern Central region is the Regional Innovation Strategy for Southern Central Region.

Local
Since, the local authorities in Kalofer are a key stakeholder and vital partner in the process of ecotourism development, their local policies have been in tune with the strategic vision of the initiative group. This is a very important factor for the overall success of the initiative.

12. Decision Breadth/Stakeholders/Policy Actors:

Central Balkan Ecotourism Association-Kalofer initiative group unites local entrepreneurs (hotel and restaurant owners, craftsmen, mountain guides, etc.), local authorities, CBNP representatives, local educational institutions, and members of the community. In its initiatives and activities the organization always attracts an even larger circle of stakeholders.

On a greater scale, the initiative group partners with the Central Balkan National Park, the United States Agency for International Development, Ministry of Environment and Waters, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Bulgarian Academy of Science, Sofia University, local and national media, etc.

13. Legal Standing/Legal Regulatory Framework/Suggested Policy Intervention:

Legal liability and Risk Management

In general, visitor safety is an important issue for any tourism destination. Even though, the initiative group in Kalofer itself does not have a specific policy document on visitor security and safety, there are extensive provisions in CBNP Management Plan providing detailed guidance on the issue . The association partners with the nationwide Mountain Rescue Services and encourages visitors to buy mountain insurance.

IV. Trade Clusters

14. Type of Measure:

The ecotourism development initiative in Kalofer is a result of the application of the cluster approach. The approach aims at linking ecotourism and related supply chain businesses in the local community to the National Park by organizing them into a competitive cluster focused on the identification and promotion of their comparative advantages and uniqueness.

15. Relation of Trade Measure to Environmental/Tourism Impact:

a. Directly Related to Product:
The establishment of a favorable environment through the adoption of relevant policies and the initiated process has a direct impact on Kalofer and its product. It allowed for the creation and development of an ecotourism product in the town.

b. Indirectly Related to Product:
The parallel development of visitor infrastructure in the park has contributed to the improvement of the tourism product of Kalofer and the enrichment of the visitor experience.

c. Not Related to Product:
The improvement of the roads in the region and especially around Kalofer has a beneficial impact on its ecotourism development efforts. The accessibility of the destination has significantly improved.

d. Related to Process:
The involvement of very well-prepared experts and consultants in the initiative and the support provided by USAID, have been integral to the process of ecotourism development in Kalofer.

16. Trade Product Identification/Trade and Services:

The product offered by Kalofer is a combination of natural assets and attractions in the National Park uniquely combined with local cultural and historical heritage, fascinating traditions and typical lifestyle.

Visitors:
Experience Nature - The Park offers many great opportunities for camping at different well developed camping sites; observing breath-taking natural sites rich in animal and plant species; experiencing nature on the two kilometer interactive Byala Reka Eco-Trail and entertainment combined with natural education for children at the children camp “Djendema Eco-Center”.

Picture. A group of tourists in Central Balkan NP

Adventure and Sport Activities – In order to experience the real Balkan and learn the history of the area visitor are offered a variety of experiences involving members of the local community. The Association organizes a variety of locally guided tours and hikes – walking routes (with different level of difficulty) through the Park, horseback routes, guided tours through the culture and history of Kalofer, active climbing and long mountain tours for advanced mountaineers, etc.

Picture. A horse back riding trail.

Experiencing Local Hospitality – In order to allow the visitor to fully experience the warmth of the people of Kalofer, they are accommodated in traditional Kalofer homes where the hosts welcome them as part of the family and prepare local food.

Experiencing Culture and Traditions – Kalofer is still a home of many craftsmen who bring to live traditions and crafts which have been practiced for centuries. Tourists have the opportunity to interact with different craftsmen and see how traditions are practiced in every day life. One of the unique to Kalofer crafts is the sewing of Kalofer lace, which is compared to complexity and delicacy to the famous Brussels lace. Kalofer visitors very often have the chance to take part or observe the celebration of local traditions, festivals and holidays. Many old traditions and celebrations are practiced to this day. Special holidays in Kalofer include: Yordanovden (January 6), Kookeri Festival (Forty days before Easter), Georgiovden (May 6), Saint Kirik’s Day (the last Saturday of July), Kalofer Lace Festival (mid August), Christmas (December 25).

Picture. The people of Kalofer celebrating a Spring holiday.

17. Economic Data

Unfortunately, one of the weaknesses of this case study is the lack of economic data. Even though the CB Ecotourism Association-Kalofer members are aware of the importance of economic indicators, they have not yet started to collect data on tourism income and spending, arrivals, tourist profiles, economic growth, economic investments, etc.

18. Impact of Trade Restriction:

There are no trade restrictions that would impede visitors from visiting Kalofer and the parks.

19. Industry Sector:

The industry sector reviewed in this case is tourism and specifically ecotourism.

20. Exporters and Importers:

In the context of Kalofer’s case, exporters are all foreign visitors to Kalofer. Importers of the services are the local community of Kalofer and the businesses that supply these services to tourists.

V. Macro/Environment Clusters/Tourism Policy Clusters

21. Environmental Problem Type/ Environmental Aspects:

Currently, Kalofer is not facing an environmental problem. One of the objectives of the ecotourism development initiative is to preserve the quality of the environment as it is. This is important, because the pristine quality of the environment in Kalofer is an important ingredient of their ecotourism product.

22. Resource Impact and Effect:

The main resource in this case study is the well-preserved natural assets that surround the community of Kalofer. One of the key principles of ecotourism is to limit the impact on nature and the environment to the minimum. Therefore, in the case of Kalofer, ecotourism will have a beneficial impact on the main resource, because it will generate income for its protection while having minimal negative impacts on it.

23. Urgency and Lifetime/Urgency and Policy Review:

In the case of Kalofer, the development of favorable policies and the provision of USAID assistance were very timely. The current policies create serve as a sufficient framework for the successful implementation of sustainable ecotourism models. Therefore, they do not need immediate review or improvement.

24. Substitutes/Alternative Policies:

In this case all available policies –international, national, regional and local (see Section III/11) have been crucial to the success of the initiative. Therefore, it is difficult to suggest alternatives for such.

VI. Other Factors

25. Culture:

Kalofer is one of Bulgaria’s towns with a very rich history. It is the birthplace of Hristo Botev - one of the greatest Bulgarian heroes – a fighter for freedom during the Ottoman occupation and a great poet.

Picture. Celebration of Bulgarian National Holiday (March 3rd) at Hristo Botev’s monument in Kalofer.

The pride that local communities have in their heritage and the level of preservation of the traditional local culture have been integral to the success of the ecotourism development initiative. The development of Kalofer as a tourism destination offers an opportunity for the local community to share and demonstrate its customs and traditional celebrations, as well as its living crafts. This cultural aspect of the Kalofer tourist product, at the same time, enriches the experience for visitors and is often a reason for them to come back many times . Traditional cuisine, which is also an important component of the local culture, is another very important aspect of the tourism product, which is highly favored among regular visitors.

26. Trans-Boundary Issues:

Currently, there are no direct trans-boundary issues in the case of Kalofer. The only trans-boundary impact that may occur as a result of the success of ecotourism in Kalofer, is the migration of residents from adjacent towns in search for economic opportunities. This could impact Kalofer’s capacity to maintain high quality of the product and services offered to tourists and residents.

27. Rights:

There are no issues involving rights in the case of Kalofer

28. Relevant Literature

CBNP (2001) Management Plan for “Central Balkan” National Park

CBNP (2003) Strategy for Sustainable Tourism Development in “Central Balkan” National Park

Georgieva, Kamelia (Feb, 2003), National Eco-tourism Meeting, Sofia, 11-12 February, 2003, REPORT - ARD-BCEG Project

Georgieva, Kamelia (Oct. 2002), The First National Forum Ecotourism, Mountains and Protected Areas: Partners in Prosperity, October 2-5, Sofia Bulgaria, Report - ARD-BCEG Project

Georgieva, Nelly (Feb.2003), Report on Institutional Development of the Ecotourism Initiative Groups in the Pilot Regions of the BCEG Project, prepared for BCBG-ARD project in Bulgaria, sponsored by USAID

GWU Technical Team (June 2001), Ecotourism & Gateway Communities. Rila and Central Balkan National Parks, prepared for BCBG-ARD project in Bulgaria, sponsored by USAID.

GWU Technical Team (June 2001), Ecotourism & Gateway Communities. Rila and Central Balkan National Parks, prepared for BCBG-ARD project in Bulgaria, sponsored by USAID

Hawkins, Donald and Lamoureux, Kristin (June 2001), Development of Competitive Ecotourism Products for Rila and Central Balkan Pilot Sites – Manual for Entrepreneurs and Small Business Operators, prepared for BCBG-ARD project in Bulgaria, sponsored by USAID

Hawkins, Donald E. (2004), “A Protected Areas Ecotourism Competitive Cluster Approach to Catalyse Biodiversity Conservation and Economic Growth in Bulgaria”, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Vol. 12 (3), p.219-244.

Hawkins, Donald E. and Georgieva, Kamelia (June 2001), Concept for Community-Based Ecotourism Around Protected Areas in Bulgaria, prepared for BCBG-ARD project in Bulgaria, sponsored by USAID

Ivanov, Nikolay (Dec. 2002), Destination Management Business Concept for the Central Balkan Ecotourism Association – Kalofer, prepared for BCBG-ARD project in Bulgaria, sponsored by USAID

PHARE (2004) Regional Plan for the Development of Ecotourism, Central Balkan-South Eco-Region

Popova, Nikolina (June 2003), Ecotourism Impact / Success Indicators. Baseline Data 2002. Kalofer Pilot Region of Central Balkan National Park, prepared for BCBG-ARD project in Bulgaria, sponsored by USAID

USAID ( June 2003), Ecotourism and Bulgaria – an Overview

USAID ( June 2003), Situation Analysis – Ecotourism and Bulgaria

USAID (2004), National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan for Bulgaria.

USAID (2004), Report on the Regional Action Planning Process, prepared for BCBG-ARD project in Bulgaria, sponsored by USAID.

USAID (June 2003), The Central Balkan – South Ecotourism Destination: Action Plan for Ecotourism Destination.

Vodenska, Maria (Dec. 2002), A Guidebook for Monitoring Ecotourism Impacts on Protected Areas and Surrounding Communities. Guidebook and Data Collection Tools, ARD-BCEG Project

Vulchev, Plamen (Dec.2002), Bulgarian Ecotourism Development Outlook. Survey of the Domestic Market, prepared for BCBG-ARD project in Bulgaria, sponsored by USAID

WTO (2001), “The Canadian Ecotourism Market”, Special Report, Number 15, Market Intelligence and Promotion Section - Sustainable Development of Tourism Section.

WTO (2004), Indicators of Sustainable Development of Tourism Destinations.

Websites:
Bulgarian Ministry of Economy - http://www.mi.government.bg/Bulgarian Ministry of Environment and Waters - http://www.mi.government.bg/Bulgarian National Parks- http://www.bulgariannationalparks.org/Central Balkan National Park - http://www.centralbalkannationalpark.org/ Ecotourism, Mountains and Protected Areas - http://ecotourism.bulgariatravel.org/ Kalofer - http://www.kalofer.com The United Nations Environmental Program - http://www.unep.org/ US Agency for International Development - http://www.usaid.gov/policy/ World Tourism Organization - http://www.worldtourism.org/

Interviews and personal e-mail communication:
Alica Staicheva – visitor
Apostol Apostolov - visitor
Dimitar Marinov - Secretary, CB Ecotourism Association-Kalofer
Dobrin Shishkov – visitor
Gergana Nikolova - visitor
Kamelia Georgieva – Ecotourism Program Coordinator, BCEG; editor National Ecotourism Strategy

VII. Conclusion

29. Policy Implications:

Based on the review of the Kalofer case study and its analysis, the main conclusion is that ecotourism seems to be the natural choice for Bulgaria for several reasons:

1) Bulgaria has instituted the needed international, national, regional and local policy framework, which establishes a favorable environment for the development of ecotourism in areas surrounding national parks and other protected areas. This means that the successful model developed and applied in Kalofer could be replicated and applied in other parts of the country.

2) When nature preservation is the starting point of a process of sustainable tourism development, it becomes an integral value for stakeholders and remains a guiding principle throughout the process.

3) When developing sustainable nature-based tourism in an area close to an institutionalized protected area, it is important to initiate a participatory approach in planning and implementation. The process should engage representatives of the protected area management, local entrepreneurs, local authorities, relevant experts and other interested parties. The process should be founded on common values, mutual respect and motivation for partnership. The involvement of a professional facilitator to assist the group dynamic during the first stages of partnership building could be key to the success.

4) It is important to involve and consult experts from different subject areas and to carry out relevant research before developing the final tourism product. Drawing on the experience of experts helps fine-tune development strategies. Detailed market research reveals useful information about the needs and expectations of the potential visitor and allows service providers to “match” their product and service.

5) Local culture and traditions enrich the nature-based tourism product and add to the tourist experience in a way that captures tourists’ hearts and makes them come back. Their revival strengthens the pride and spirit of the destination and the local communities.

6) The lack of economic and other success indicators makes it difficult to measure the success of initiatives as the one in Kalofer. If in place, this data could help plan better in the future.

30. Recommendations:

Based on the main conclusions, it could be recommended that communities throughout Bulgaria adopt the philosophy that “ecotourism is natural to Bulgaria” and focus on developing sustainable forms of nature-based tourism. Relying on international, national and regional policies, communities interested in developing ecotourism should attract local authorities as partners and thus secure relevance of the local policies. It is important that nature and its preservation are the starting values, on which tourism in the area is initiated. Preserving nature and other heritage should remain to be the “guiding light” subsequently.

The attraction and involvement of experts from different relevant fields is of key importance, because they add to the knowledge involved in the strategizing and implementation processes, as well as to the capacity building of the local stakeholders. If possible, communities should involve a professional facilitator to help organize and sustain the group processes at their beginning.

Communities willing to develop nature-based tourism should also integrate their culture into the offered tourism experience. Genuine foods and traditions win the hearts of tourists while at the same time increase the pride and strengthen the feeling of belonging among locals.

It is important that communities come up with a set of indicators that will help them measure their success in future. The lack of indicators and measurements prevents communities from identifying the scope of their success or unsuccess.
As a conclusion, it is important to note that even if all recommendations above are strictly followed by communities, the main ingredient for the success of initiatives like the one in Kalofer is willingness to protect nature and help provide joy to people. Unless all stakeholders understand the need to work together for a common good, the “spirit” of the tourism destination will never be as capturing and powerful as it is in Kalofer.

Picture. The town of Kalofer – in the foothill of Central Balkan NP

Kalofer: Is Ecotourism Natural to Bulgaria?