Information Resources Information Resources for Cultural Tourismfor Cultural Tourism

Chief. Assist. Prof. Dr. Chief. Assist. Prof. Dr. Mariela NankovaMariela Nankova,,SULSITSULSIT

IP IP LibCMASS, Contract LibCMASS, Contract № 2011-№ 2011-ERAERA--IP-IP-77

Bulgaria- old European country, member of European Union.

The main advantages of The main advantages of Bulgarian tourism are: Bulgarian tourism are:

picturesque and varied landscape;picturesque and varied landscape; proximity to major markets;proximity to major markets; safety;safety; climate conducive to health;climate conducive to health; rich cultural heritage;rich cultural heritage; preserved traditions, customs and preserved traditions, customs and

folklore;folklore; hospitable people. hospitable people.

Located at important crossroads between Europe Located at important crossroads between Europe and Asia present Bulgarian lands were inhabited and Asia present Bulgarian lands were inhabited since ancient times. All peoples who lived in since ancient times. All peoples who lived in these lands - Thracians, Bulgarians, Slavs - left these lands - Thracians, Bulgarians, Slavs - left their mark on the world cultural heritage. In their mark on the world cultural heritage. In Thracian tombs and hundreds of monuments left Thracian tombs and hundreds of monuments left their unique highly models of material and their unique highly models of material and spiritual culture. Known worldwide Varna spiritual culture. Known worldwide Varna Necropolis dated 4000 BC., Keeps the oldest Necropolis dated 4000 BC., Keeps the oldest processed gold in the world, Thracian tombs and processed gold in the world, Thracian tombs and sanctuaries in Kazanlak Sveshtari Starosel sanctuaries in Kazanlak Sveshtari Starosel Alexandrovo numerous valued worldwide Alexandrovo numerous valued worldwide Thracian gold treasures.Thracian gold treasures.

There are numerous Greek, Roman and Byzantine There are numerous Greek, Roman and Byzantine monuments of antiquity and the early Middle monuments of antiquity and the early Middle Ages. Bulgarians inherit this high culture, Ages. Bulgarians inherit this high culture, enriching it with their millennial experience, keep enriching it with their millennial experience, keep it and developed it until today. They give the it and developed it until today. They give the world its calendar, the first Slavic alphabet, world its calendar, the first Slavic alphabet, created by Cyril and Methodius, declared the created by Cyril and Methodius, declared the church to patrons of Europe, Slavic-Bulgarian church to patrons of Europe, Slavic-Bulgarian translation of the sacred books, the Madara translation of the sacred books, the Madara Horseman. Folklore preserved to this day Horseman. Folklore preserved to this day freshness of folk customs and songs of traditional freshness of folk customs and songs of traditional crafts. In more recent times the Bulgarian culture crafts. In more recent times the Bulgarian culture is proud of its achievements in literature, art, is proud of its achievements in literature, art, music and architecture.music and architecture.

Along the sea coast (378 km) are Along the sea coast (378 km) are nearly 70 beach areas. The nearly 70 beach areas. The mountains occupy half of the mountains occupy half of the country. The high relief (over 1600 country. The high relief (over 1600 m) accounts for 5% of the total area. m) accounts for 5% of the total area. At an altitude of 0 to 2925 meters At an altitude of 0 to 2925 meters above sea above sea levellevel may occur extremely may occur extremely beautiful stone reliefs, ice, abrasion, beautiful stone reliefs, ice, abrasion, erosion and karsterosion and karst and and 4300 caves. 4300 caves.

The average annual temperature is 10.5 C.The average annual temperature is 10.5 C.The average temperature of the flat belt varies in The average temperature of the flat belt varies in the range of +20 to +25 C and the high - 2.5 - 6.5 the range of +20 to +25 C and the high - 2.5 - 6.5 C. The favorable recovery of health of the air C. The favorable recovery of health of the air temperature regime and sea water, its low temperature regime and sea water, its low salinity, absence of health hazards wildlife and salinity, absence of health hazards wildlife and widewide beaches, determine the popularity of the beaches, determine the popularity of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, making it the perfect Bulgarian Black Sea coast, making it the perfect place to relax. In the mountains snow 120 days a place to relax. In the mountains snow 120 days a year, and in high mountain areas (altitude of year, and in high mountain areas (altitude of more than 2000 m more than 2000 m over the seaover the sea) - up to 7-8 ) - up to 7-8 months. months.

TTypes of tourismypes of tourism Sea TourismSea Tourism Mountain, skiingMountain, skiing BBalneology tourismalneology tourism RRural Tourismural Tourism CCultural Tourismultural Tourism RouteRoute Eco-tourismEco-tourism HuntingHunting WineWine Extreme tourismExtreme tourism Archeological tourismArcheological tourism

CCultural Tourismultural Tourism

Cultural tourism allows you to go back in Cultural tourism allows you to go back in history of Bulgaria, to touch the monuments history of Bulgaria, to touch the monuments dating from Neolithic times to learn more about dating from Neolithic times to learn more about the cultural history left by the various tribes the cultural history left by the various tribes (Bulga(Bulgarianrians, Thracians, Slavs) and the peoples s, Thracians, Slavs) and the peoples who inhabited the beautiful and Bulgarian fertile who inhabited the beautiful and Bulgarian fertile land. land. TheThe historyhistory of our lands testify preserved of our lands testify preserved monuments of national, regional and local monuments of national, regional and local importance. Seven of them are included in the importance. Seven of them are included in the List of World Heritage by UNESCO. These are the List of World Heritage by UNESCO. These are the Boyana Church, Rila Monastery, Kazanlak Tomb, Boyana Church, Rila Monastery, Kazanlak Tomb, the Madarathe Madara horseman horseman, Thracian tomb Sveshtari, , Thracian tomb Sveshtari, Old Nessebar, Ivanovo rock monasteries. They Old Nessebar, Ivanovo rock monasteries. They are unique in nature and are unique in Europe are unique in nature and are unique in Europe and the world. and the world.

Hotnitsa treasureHotnitsa treasure Golden Treasure of Varna necropolisGolden Treasure of Varna necropolis Vulchitrun treasureVulchitrun treasure Kralevo treasureKralevo treasure Rogozen TreasureRogozen Treasure Vratsa treasureVratsa treasure Panagyurishte TreasurePanagyurishte Treasure Treasure of BorovoTreasure of Borovo Letnitsa treasureLetnitsa treasure Varna treasureVarna treasure Treasure of Pereshtepina - the tomb of Han KubratTreasure of Pereshtepina - the tomb of Han Kubrat Preslav treasurePreslav treasure Nikopol treasureNikopol treasure Kazanlak TombKazanlak Tomb Boyana ChurchBoyana Church

Some examples:Some examples:

KoprivshtitsaKoprivshtitsa SShiphipkaka Plovdiv- Plovdiv- old Townold Town St. George in Bulgarian CultureSt. George in Bulgarian Culture Bulgarian monasteriesBulgarian monasteries monastery in Rilamonastery in Rila monasteries in Pirinmonasteries in Pirin monasteries in the Rhodopesmonasteries in the Rhodopes monasteries in the Balkan Mountainsmonasteries in the Balkan Mountains Monasteries in VitoshaMonasteries in Vitosha rock monasteries rock monasteries

Some examplesSome examples

AAdvantages:dvantages: WWealth of heritage:ealth of heritage: about 40 000 monuments from various historical periods;about 40 000 monuments from various historical periods; 7 cultural and 2 natural sites inscribed on UNESCO's World 7 cultural and 2 natural sites inscribed on UNESCO's World

Heritage List;Heritage List; 43 Reserve;43 Reserve; 160 Eastern Orthodox monasteries, many churches and 160 Eastern Orthodox monasteries, many churches and

religious monuments of other religions;religious monuments of other religions; over 330 museums and galleries;over 330 museums and galleries; rich festival tradition;rich festival tradition; ethnographic heritage preserved;ethnographic heritage preserved; Economic viability - visitors in cultural tourism site spent Economic viability - visitors in cultural tourism site spent

significantly more money from tourists for holidays. significantly more money from tourists for holidays.

DDisadvantages:isadvantages: cultural tourism in our country is not a high cultural tourism in our country is not a high

priority of state policy on tourism;priority of state policy on tourism; no program for development of cultural tourism;no program for development of cultural tourism; current lack of adequate statistical and current lack of adequate statistical and

operational information;operational information; insufficient and underdeveloped infrastructure, insufficient and underdeveloped infrastructure,

ensuring access to cultural and historical ensuring access to cultural and historical heritage;heritage;

insufficient number of qualified tourism insufficient number of qualified tourism personnel;personnel;

lack of interpretational boards and signs in lack of interpretational boards and signs in foreign languages in most museums in the foreign languages in most museums in the country;country;

legislation that is relevant to this type of tourism legislation that is relevant to this type of tourism is insufficient, while the existing one needs is insufficient, while the existing one needs refinement and updating;refinement and updating;

insufficient funds for advertising and information insufficient funds for advertising and information campaign for the development of cultural tourism campaign for the development of cultural tourism in Bulgariain Bulgaria;;

lack of tax incentives in the field of cultural lack of tax incentives in the field of cultural tourism;tourism;

lack of linkages between tourism revenues and lack of linkages between tourism revenues and financing activities related to conservation and financing activities related to conservation and the socialization of cultural heritage;the socialization of cultural heritage;

strong centralization of funding, inability to direct strong centralization of funding, inability to direct regional activity. regional activity.

MMeasures:easures: Elaboration of Programme and Action Plan for the Elaboration of Programme and Action Plan for the

development of cultural tourism in Bulgaria;development of cultural tourism in Bulgaria; introduction of regional and local best practices introduction of regional and local best practices

for cultural tourism;for cultural tourism; development program for tourism development development program for tourism development

and modern adaptation of museums and and modern adaptation of museums and galleries;galleries;

legal regulation of so-called development. legal regulation of so-called development. "Thematic tourism" (theme parks, museums and "Thematic tourism" (theme parks, museums and ethnographic complexes outdoor parks Thracians, ethnographic complexes outdoor parks Thracians, Slavs, Asparuhova Bulgaria);Slavs, Asparuhova Bulgaria);

creation of legal prerequisites for classifying and creation of legal prerequisites for classifying and concession of cultural and religious monuments;concession of cultural and religious monuments;

organizing training and retraining of staff to work in the field of cultural organizing training and retraining of staff to work in the field of cultural tourism promoters, entertainers, managers, curators, etc..;tourism promoters, entertainers, managers, curators, etc..;

encourage employers to invest in tourism in the formation of new encourage employers to invest in tourism in the formation of new professional skills, training and qualifications of personnel in the field of professional skills, training and qualifications of personnel in the field of cultural tourism in coordination with University’s curriculums;cultural tourism in coordination with University’s curriculums;

attract the creative potential of scientists and experts to create a modern attract the creative potential of scientists and experts to create a modern system of promotion motivated historical "legends" for Bulgaria, as part of system of promotion motivated historical "legends" for Bulgaria, as part of a pan-European and world history in order to stimulate development a pan-European and world history in order to stimulate development activities of advertising and communication strategies;activities of advertising and communication strategies;

encourage the issuance of specialized tourist literature and adapted encourage the issuance of specialized tourist literature and adapted translation to cultural and value capacity of the main target groups of translation to cultural and value capacity of the main target groups of tourists;tourists;

binding local plans for infrastructure projects, financing of small and binding local plans for infrastructure projects, financing of small and medium businesses, retraining, etc. specifically formulated with medium businesses, retraining, etc. specifically formulated with development projects of cultural tourism;development projects of cultural tourism;

establishing links between separate regions of the country and comparable establishing links between separate regions of the country and comparable in scope to other areas of the region or in Europe in general and cultural in scope to other areas of the region or in Europe in general and cultural tourism projects, known as cultural routes;tourism projects, known as cultural routes;creating programs to support relationships and exchange of information creating programs to support relationships and exchange of information and experience with European institutions;and experience with European institutions;

participation in international programs for the integration of participation in international programs for the integration of Bulgarian culture in the pan-cultural processes;Bulgarian culture in the pan-cultural processes;

create a national network of cultural tourist routes and create a national network of cultural tourist routes and corridors and their integration into the European network of corridors and their integration into the European network of cultural corridors and cultural routes, the country's cultural corridors and cultural routes, the country's participation in international cultural corridors in participation in international cultural corridors in Southeastern Europe - The way the water heritage of the Southeastern Europe - The way the water heritage of the Thracians, the legacy of Byzantium. Through cultural Thracians, the legacy of Byzantium. Through cultural corridors Balkan countries to offer joint tourist product and corridors Balkan countries to offer joint tourist product and to impose on the market with new tourist image;to impose on the market with new tourist image;

promote and support the formation of associations such as promote and support the formation of associations such as the cluster "ancient road of wine", "The Way of Orpheus," the cluster "ancient road of wine", "The Way of Orpheus," "The Road of Dionysus";"The Road of Dionysus";

worldwide promotion of the Bulgarian cultural heritage and worldwide promotion of the Bulgarian cultural heritage and current culture as part of the image of Bulgaria by actively current culture as part of the image of Bulgaria by actively exploiting the potential of the Bulgarian cultural institutes exploiting the potential of the Bulgarian cultural institutes and creating new cultural centers in the countries and creating new cultural centers in the countries constitute a promising tourist markets for Bulgaria; constitute a promising tourist markets for Bulgaria;

conducting regular market research of tourists and tourist conducting regular market research of tourists and tourist specific interests and needs when visiting cultural specific interests and needs when visiting cultural institutions and objects of cultural heritage;institutions and objects of cultural heritage;

establishment of national registers of historic and cultural establishment of national registers of historic and cultural monuments, listed as owners of the electronic catalog monuments, listed as owners of the electronic catalog database for natural, historical, religious and architectural database for natural, historical, religious and architectural monuments of Bulgaria;monuments of Bulgaria;creating a national network of electronic (digital) tourist creating a national network of electronic (digital) tourist routes;routes;

use of forms of public-private partnership in the restoration use of forms of public-private partnership in the restoration of houses and development of reserves and historical of houses and development of reserves and historical arhitekterno;arhitekterno;

improving mechanisms of interaction between institutions improving mechanisms of interaction between institutions having expertise in the field of culture and tourism related having expertise in the field of culture and tourism related issues. issues.

promote the introduction of modern promote the introduction of modern information technology on production and information technology on production and marketing of cultural heritage;marketing of cultural heritage;

organize international tourist exhibition organize international tourist exhibition "Cultural tourism" - each year;"Cultural tourism" - each year;

improve accessibility to cultural heritage;improve accessibility to cultural heritage;development and dissemination of development and dissemination of information and promotional materials, information and promotional materials, organization of and participation in organization of and participation in seminars, roundtables, conferences, seminars, roundtables, conferences, exhibitions and other tourist PR, exhibitions and other tourist PR, advertising and marketing campaigns and advertising and marketing campaigns and more. initiatives on the development of more. initiatives on the development of cultural tourism.cultural tourism.

Essence of the locEssence of the locusesuses

Bulgaria has a high cultural and tourist Bulgaria has a high cultural and tourist potential that has not yet been fully potential that has not yet been fully realized. This is recorded in the strategic realized. This is recorded in the strategic plan for the development of cultural plan for the development of cultural tourism in Bulgaria. The document was tourism in Bulgaria. The document was prepared after three years of study by prepared after three years of study by Italian experts under the protocol signed Italian experts under the protocol signed with the Ministry of Culture. Strategic Plan with the Ministry of Culture. Strategic Plan divides Bulgaria on 13 areas of cultural divides Bulgaria on 13 areas of cultural tourism, called loctourism, called locusus (short for local (short for local cultural system). cultural system).

These are: These are: "Great Sofia“"Great Sofia“ "Valley of the Kings“"Valley of the Kings“ "Renaissance town“"Renaissance town“ "The banks of the Danube“"The banks of the Danube“ "Stone Heart“"Stone Heart“ "Old Capital“"Old Capital“ "In the Black Sea coast“"In the Black Sea coast“ "Strandzha Mountain“"Strandzha Mountain“ "The Sword and the Cross“"The Sword and the Cross“ "Plovdiv Roman Empire“"Plovdiv Roman Empire“ "Gate of the Rhodopes“"Gate of the Rhodopes“ "Big Mountain" and"Big Mountain" and ““Stone’s Forest".Stone’s Forest".

Emphasized that these are areas of Emphasized that these are areas of different composition, resources and different composition, resources and potential of tourism development, potential of tourism development, and their borders should not be and their borders should not be considered strict. For each locus is an considered strict. For each locus is an analysis of cultural resources, analysis of cultural resources, infrastructure, availability of hotels, infrastructure, availability of hotels, the ability to attract visitors.the ability to attract visitors.

Cultural and historical sites, routes, Cultural and historical sites, routes, tourism offerstourism offers

/Information Resources//Information Resources/::

http://www.mi.government.bghttp://www.mi.government.bg http://100nto.org/- http://100nto.org/- 100 National Tourist Objects100 National Tourist Objects;; httphttp://www.bg-tourism.com/bg/history-categories.php://www.bg-tourism.com/bg/history-categories.php;; http://bgzabelejitelnosti.start.bghttp://bgzabelejitelnosti.start.bg http://elektrika.pgea.net/bul/turop.phphttp://elektrika.pgea.net/bul/turop.php http://bgglobe.net/bg/pages/read/nachalohttp://bgglobe.net/bg/pages/read/nachalo http://www.letovnik.com/MARSHRUTIhttp://www.letovnik.com/MARSHRUTI http://www.tourism-bg.net/http://www.tourism-bg.net/ http://www.bgtour.org/Index1.htmlhttp://www.bgtour.org/Index1.html http://bgglobe.net/bg/pages/read/nachalohttp://bgglobe.net/bg/pages/read/nachalo http://www.madaraomaya.com/index.php?page_id=3&language_id=2http://www.madaraomaya.com/index.php?page_id=3&language_id=2 http://butiktravel.euhttp://butiktravel.eu http://tourismbulgaria.com/bulgaria/bulgaria.php?guide=733http://tourismbulgaria.com/bulgaria/bulgaria.php?guide=733 http://www.bg-parks.net/main.php?act=parks&park=zpqsuci&file=6.htmlhttp://www.bg-parks.net/main.php?act=parks&park=zpqsuci&file=6.html http://varnenche.com/index.php/bg/http://varnenche.com/index.php/bg/

THANK YOU FOR YOUR THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!ATTENTION!