Awarded projects synopses

1. Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park Directorate: Eco-Museum in the Open

The project, proposed by the Park administration, has an estimated budget of 11,610 leva. As a result of its implementation, the project is expected to help improve conditions for sustainable development of ecotourism, thereby providing increased possibilities for livelihood and income generation to the local community.
The project is about creating an ecotourism product based upon the existing attractions in the Park's territory.
The main activities planned include drawing up an inventory of the sites and attractions; adapting them for the purposes of inclusion in the respective thematic or territorial 'museum halls'; the design and issue of promotional materials, as well as providing assistance in the setting up of ecotourism associations for entrepreneurs in the gateway communities.

2. The Ecotourism Association, Rouse: Ecotourism in Rousesnski Lom Nature Park

The Ecotourism Association is a non-governmental organization assisting in the implementation of local policies in the tourism sphere. The proposed project, which has a budget of 3,950 leva, is planned to be implemented over a four-month period.
The expected benefits include improving the quality of locally available ecotourism products, coupled with providing local entrepreneurs with improved skills for their commercial marketing.
The main activities proposed under the project relate to training local entrepreneurs in the basics of hospitality and ecotourism; in ways and methods to promote and advertise the ecotourism product; as well as in developing hospitality programs.

3. The Rhodopes Youth Organization: Protected Areas and Sites: The Hidden Gems of the Rhodope Mountains

The author of the project is a non-governmental organization striving towards sustainable tourism development in the Central Rhodopes area. The proposed project is to be implemented within a two-year period at an estimated budget of 114,200 leva.
The main result from implementing the project is to be the creation of an all-new, comprehensive tourism product: a 'circular' route to familiarize visitors with protected areas and reserves in the Western Rhodope Mountains while enabling the generation of additional income for local businesses and nature protection.
The main activities include an inventory of natural attractions, a survey of the proposed route and the state of the existing infrastructure; the setting up of a database of tourism opportunities and hospitality facilities; the establishment of a tourism information infrastructure; printing of information and publicity materials; training of local entrepreneurs and product publicity activities.

4. The Bourgas Rural and Ecotourism Asssociation: From Ahtopol to Yabalkovo

A non-governmental organization whose declared goals are development of ecotourism and the creation of new opportunities for livelihood of the local population in the Bourgas area.
The proposed project has a duration of five months and an estimated budget of 16,000 leva.
As a result of its implementation, the expected benefits are to create ecotourism routes based upon the protected sites and areas in the southern Black Sea coastal region and Strandja Mountain.
The main activities include a survey and description of the proposed routes, the issue of publicity and promotional materials, the organizing of promotional trips, and the setting up of local ecotourism associations.

5. The Etropole Tourism Board: Protected Areas: A Source of Live Water for Tourists and the Community

The Etropole Tourism Board is an NGO striving towards the development of sustainable tourism in the Etropolska Ribaritza area. The proposed project has a planned duration of eight months and an estimated budget of 20,930 leva.
The project is aimed at creating an all-new ecotourism product for citizens with disabilities. As a result of its implementation, the authors expect to raise public awareness of ecotourism opportunities in the protected areas of Belikasha and Bachishte, while providing conditions for greater prosperity of the local population.
The project envisions the development of a tourism package in the protected territories, the setting up of routes for disabled citizens, the organizing of a promotional tour for the media as well as a regional educational tour for nature lovers; publicity and promotion of the routes; and the setting up of a regional ecotourism association.

6. The ICOMOS Bulgarian National Committee: Integrated Development of Ecological and Cultural Tourism in the Protected Area of Rousenski Lom Nature Park

The author is a non-governmental organization, branch of the largest international NGO operating in the sphere of cultural heritage, it cooperates with government and public administrations towards the conservation and proper use of the cultural and natural heritage.
The proposed project aims at improving the overall quality of the area as a unique "culture landscape" while creating a model for the development of sustainable cultural and ecotourism. Its implementation is envisioned to take 18 months at a cost of 260,000 leva.
The project envisions the setting up of an electronic database of the natural, cultural, tourist and other sites in the territory of Rousenski Lom Nature Park; the drawing up on an inventory for the purposes of conservation and interpretation of the territory; the development of a package of six programs, a model for cultural and ecotourism management in the territory; the development of multimedia products; and the organizing of training courses in interpretation of the cultural and historical heritage.
Another part of the proposed activities are aimed at setting up a local cultural and ecotourism association and providing support to partnerships engaged in this sphere; as well as to organizing special events.

7. The Strandja Nature Park Directorate: The Greenery Festival

Strandja Nature Park is the only one in Bulgaria that has populated communities in its territory. The proposed project was developed by the Park administration. Its envisioned duration is five months at an estimated budget of 10,012 leva.

The project is designed in support of the sustainable economic development of the area encompassed in Strandja Nature Park, towards providing conditions for ecotourism based on the Park's attractions.
The project envisions the organizing of a special event: the Greenery Festival, greenery being the symbol of Strandja Mountain. The idea is for the festival to become a focal point for experts, students and tour operators to draw information about the region's natural resources and attractions, and the possibilities for ecotourism. Steering committees are to be set up at all communities within the Park's territory; this will take place in parallel with a public awareness and marketing campaign. In addition to printing promotional and publicity materials, the organizers will hold and exhibition within the framework of the festival.

8. The Central Balkan Ecotourism Association, Kalofer: Ecology and Survival in the Wild Skills Training Center

The Association is a non-governmental organization between private entrepreneurs, local administration officials and representatives of Central Balkan National Park, with the goal of promoting ecotourism in the Park region.
The proposed project has a duration of seven months and an estimated budget of 38,800 leva.
Its expected result is an ecotourism product based upon the informational and instructional capacity of the Park, as well as possibilities to generate additional income for the local community.
The project envisions the setting up of a training camp in the territory of Central Balkan National Park, fitted out with an open-air 'lecture hall'; also, the design and production of teaching aids and promotional materials; training courses for instructors as well as mock-training a test group of volunteers to run through the survival skills program.

9. The Sapareva Banya Tourism Board: Eco-Trail to the Goritza Waterfall and Sokolov Izged

The Tourism Board of the township of Sapareva Banya is a non-governmental organization established to help improve tourism services in the territory of the municipality. Sapareva Banya is a gateway community to Rila National Park.
The Eco-Trail project is to be implemented over a period of 5 months with an estimated budget of 4,300 leva.
The expected results relate to improved marketing of natural attractions based upon the rich biodiversity in Rila National Park and the development of an educational route.
Planned activities include a survey of the route and provision of safety precautions; the setting up of information and interpretation billboards and the printing of a promotional flyer.

10. The Zlatni Piassatsi Nature Park Directorate: Nature for All

The Directorate of Zlatni Piassatsi Nature Park performs park management, conservation and research activities; engages in development of educational programs and PR.
The proposed Nature for All project was developed by the Park administration. It is to be implemented over an eight-month period at an estimated cost of 5,820 leva.

As a result of its implementation, individuals with disabilities (vision impaired and/or wheelchair users) are to receive new opportunities to enjoy tourism product on an equal footing by taking advantage of a specially developed tourist route.
The activities planned pursuant to the project include development of the route, safety measures design, production and putting up of signs and marking; publicity and promotion of the route.

11. The Rila Ecotourism Association: In Peace with Nature, to Improve Our Contacts with It

The association is an NGO established by private entrepreneurs, representatives of the local authorities and of the Park Office with the goal of promoting ecotourism development in Samokov Municipality and the surrounding communities.
The proposed project is planned for a period of one year, with an estimated budget of
48,800 leva.
It is expected to result in the development of an eco-product specifically targeted at mountain bikers. The idea is to set up an ecological bicycle course as an alternative form of ecotourism, while seeking to channel the influx and control the random access of cyclists to other parts of the territory of Rila NP.
The project envisions the following activities: survey of the terrain; planning and development of a specialized bicycle course; security and safety measures; development and setting up of specialized infrastructure; organizing of a National Mountain Biking Competition; development and distribution of publicity and promotional materials.The project also envisions to lay the foundations of a Friends of Nature and the Park Fund.

12. The Pirin Tourism Forum: Eco - Trails in Pirin Mountain

A non-governmental organization established by representatives of municipalities within Blagoevgrad Region, NGOs and Pirin National Park with the purpose of supporting the sustainable development of tourism in the Pirin area.
The Eco - Trails in Pirin Mountain project is envisioned to take eighteen months with an estimated budget of 112,312 leva.
As a result short (radial) hiking routes are to be set up around each of, and between 10 gateway communities in the zone adjoining Pirin National Park. In parallel with this, a series of ecotourism packages are to be developed and launched.
The main activities pertinent to the project are visits to populated areas, selection and marking of routes and additional attractions, consultancy services to local people; packaging of products; marking and safety along tourism routes, issue of publicity and information materials; trial runs of the routes with tour-operators and the media.