Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism - BAAT Mission: to make possible the sustainable development of the tourist sector and this way turn Bulgaria.

Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism - BAAT

Mission: to make possible the sustainable development of the tourist sector and this way turn Bulgaria into a leading destination for special interest and alternative tourism, while helping the conservation of its unique environment and culture and improving its people’s lives.

We established the concept of local hospitality in Bulgaria We established the concept of local hospitality in Bulgaria We introduced the guest houses and the mountain guides in the law We introduced the guest houses and the mountain guides in the law We made the first Green certificate for small-scale accommodationsWe made the first Green certificate for small-scale accommodationsWe provide training ofWe provide training of B&B B&B owners, entrepreneurs and municipalitiesowners, entrepreneurs and municipalitiesWe edited 18 700 posters devoted to Bulgarian mountains and protected We edited 18 700 posters devoted to Bulgarian mountains and protected areas and 5 issues of the “areas and 5 issues of the “B&B and adventure guide of BulgariaB&B and adventure guide of Bulgaria””We support emerging local destinations via press trips and publicationsWe support emerging local destinations via press trips and publications

Recommended by Recommended by Guide Vert Michelin, Rough Guide, Lonely Planet, Insight Guides, Reise Know HowGuide Vert Michelin, Rough Guide, Lonely Planet, Insight Guides, Reise Know How … …

Member of ECEAT and EurogitesMember of ECEAT and Eurogites

Green Lodge CertificateGreen Lodge Certificate• Selection of charming and authentic B&B, small hotels, guesthouses and

campsites in the countryside which have espoused responsible hospitality.

• 35 issued certificates (since 2008) • ECEAT quality criteria based on:

– environmental issues– traditional agriculture– traditional lifestyle preservation– outdoor activities

• Certificate is updated every three years stimulating innovation• Advertising via internet, media, printed materials• Membership cart for discounts

The Manualon Sustainable and RTУстойчив туризъм представлява

“всяка форма на развитие, устройство или туристическа дейност, която уважава и опазва дългосрочно природните, културните и социалните ресурси и допринася по положителен и балансиран начин за икономическото развитие и за благоденствието на хората, които живеят, работят или пребивават в тези територии”.

Major topics:-sustainable tourism management, -responsible skiing, SWOT and analyzes, -horseback, adventure, gourmet, wine

tourism- Green Lodge certification-5 good practices from France+ 40 good practices in Bulgaria.

Sofia, 2010Based on Gestion du toursime durable, and

inputs from Bulgarian and UK expertsEdited by Odysseia-in Travel supported by

ICFBAAT and Mountains and people Association

Finding the balance between tourism development Finding the balance between tourism development and sustainable use of nature resources in Bulgariaand sustainable use of nature resources in Bulgaria

• Development of tourism entrepreneurship particularly in harmony with the care andDevelopment of tourism entrepreneurship particularly in harmony with the care and protection of the nature and the landscape in Bulgarian;protection of the nature and the landscape in Bulgarian;

• Minimizing the carbon footprint of tourismMinimizing the carbon footprint of tourism• Focusing on tours Focusing on tours which develop the capacity and bring growing prosperity of the which develop the capacity and bring growing prosperity of the

local communitieslocal communities• Introduction of environment friendly technologies and achieving a breakthrough inIntroduction of environment friendly technologies and achieving a breakthrough in

the treatment of all natural resourcesthe treatment of all natural resources • Adequately address the water, a key resource of the 21st centuryAdequately address the water, a key resource of the 21st century • Corporate pressure on institutions to comply with laws and extension of protected Corporate pressure on institutions to comply with laws and extension of protected

areas (today only 4.3%)areas (today only 4.3%) • Zero tolerance for illegal constructionZero tolerance for illegal construction • SupportingSupporting information campaigns of the NGO sector stressing the importance of  information campaigns of the NGO sector stressing the importance of

biodiversity for the quality of lifebiodiversity for the quality of life • Generating financial resources Generating financial resources from the business for from the business for “the Nature of Bulgaria"“the Nature of Bulgaria" • Tax incentives for certain businesses (Tax incentives for certain businesses (VAT VAT tax holidays, tax holidays, community/ tourism taxcommunity/ tourism tax...)...)

Commitments to sustainability Commitments to sustainability and green tourism and green tourism of TO / 1of TO / 1

• Making Bulgaria a major tourist destination is above Making Bulgaria a major tourist destination is above all a commitment of the Bulgarian tour operatorsall a commitment of the Bulgarian tour operators

• Development of tourism programming exclusively Development of tourism programming exclusively in line with the in line with the interestsof localhost communities, preservation of the interestsof localhost communities, preservation of the landscape and the Bulgarian naturelandscape and the Bulgarian nature

• Minimizing the carbon footprint within Travels:Minimizing the carbon footprint within Travels: - Use more modern and environment - Use more modern and environment friendly motor vehiclesfriendly motor vehicles- Use the maximum capacity of local communities to - Use the maximum capacity of local communities to provide food and accommodation for tourists and provide food and accommodation for tourists and thus limiting the supply of goods and servicesthus limiting the supply of goods and services from afarfrom afar

• Offset the carbon footprint through campaigns to Offset the carbon footprint through campaigns to restore the landscape, restore the landscape, reforestationreforestation, training of local , training of local communitiescommunities

• Information campaigns for market-oriented Information campaigns for market-oriented good good business business practicespractices

• TPATPA of trips of trips, which enhance the capacity , which enhance the capacity and and bring growing prosperity of the local bring growing prosperity of the local community - through the use of local guides, visitcommunity - through the use of local guides, visit the the smallsmall handicraft businesses,consumption of products handicraft businesses,consumption of products and services provided localand services provided localyy

Commitments to sustainability Commitments to sustainability and green tourism and green tourism of TO of TO / 2/ 2

• Investing in human resources - creating real Investing in human resources - creating real opportunities for career developmentopportunities for career development in the in the country through better pacountry through better pay and delegation y and delegation

• Designing trip packages with new spirit Designing trip packages with new spirit outside outside the the resorts and resorts and traditional touristtraditional tourist destinations destinations

• Limit the all-inclusive holidays and travelLimit the all-inclusive holidays and travelss• Raising awareness among tourists Raising awareness among tourists

about contemporary understandings of ethical about contemporary understandings of ethical conduct in the nature and opportunities to travel in a conduct in the nature and opportunities to travel in a responsible mannerresponsible manner

• Zero Tolerance to commit illegal construction Zero Tolerance to commit illegal construction and chain businesses (hotels andand chain businesses (hotels and carriers carriers and Tand TOO), whose activities threaten the future ), whose activities threaten the future of natural resourceof natural resources

• Offering trips for low carbonOffering trips for low carbon footprint by usingfootprint by using public public transprot - train transprot - train or other kind of transportation or other kind of transportation with zero footprint - bike riding, riverwith zero footprint - bike riding, river descent descent, walking, walking

• Corporate pressure on institutions to protect and Corporate pressure on institutions to protect and expand protected areasexpand protected areas

• Binding the financial results of the Binding the financial results of the tour operators with tour operators with campaign campaign in favorin favor of natural and cultural heritage  of natural and cultural heritage through the set inthrough the set in the margin amounts to activelythe margin amounts to actively and and turn it into a selling point and turn it into a selling point and inform theinform the customers customers

How big (and brave) are the dreams in the Bulgarian tourism?

VISION, MISSION & DREAMS

TRAVEL WITH LESS/ LOW CO2 impact: ADVENTURE TOURISM

Directions of the product developmentin the globalizing Sea

HOME MADE, ORGANIC

TASTY

Peche a la ligne pres de la ville de Rousse

PRESERVATION OF TRADITIONAL LIFESTYLES

2012’ Tourism Cluster2012’ Tourism Cluster ““The Green BulgariaThe Green Bulgaria””

Mission: synergy and support of the product positioning and marketing for businesses based on their respect for the natural and cultural heritage and the interests of local communities: wineries, tour operators, guest houses, family hotels, protected areas, universitiesObjective: to achieve the business interests of cluster members in Bulgaria, the Balkans and Europe and to increase their competitivenessIndirect results:- Improving the image of "made in Bulgaria"- Building a new culture of consumption in tourism- Bigger choice for the end usersMeans: "Program Competitiveness" of the EU and own meansSteps:- Stage of the coordination of mission, vision and objectives- Promoting the mission and goals to new members- Project proposal for financing activities- First Results: Summer 2012

The threats for tourism... The balance to be found by the administration

THE NEW FOREST LOW TO BE VOTEDThe Council of ministers' Role

Wild beauty of Pirin could not bear the new ski facilities

Danube and the Black Sea: Challenges and Opportunities

• Freeze any new construction that does not fit the local landscape and architecture

• Demolition of idle factories and illegal hotels to open new useful green spaces and playgrounds

• Promoting the introduction of green technologies in the hotel business

•Limitation of All inclusive packages

• Binding of taxes by creating their own treatment facilities• Supporting of home stays and accommodations with

charm: GH and guest rooms and family hotels• Special schema for investors in modern campsites• Linking education with green technology in construction

and management of large urban centers and the urban planning as whole

• Total modernization of urban and public transport in cities on the Danube andBlack Sea

• Complete replacement of piers and modernization of port

facilities related totourism and travel of passengers • using electric cars, improving access by public

transport (train, ship), developing the network of cycling alleys and trails along the river/ the coast

•Expanding the network of protected areas

The Sustainable Tourism concept is the only issue for development

We have to go further and:- Introduce the concept of the passive architecture in the holiday industry- Modernize and develop the public and transport (use of electric cars and shuttles)- Save all resources, important for our lives (water and air, energy efficiency) - Implement modern technologies while using traditional materials- Preserve the landscape and the nature biodiversity as vital resources- Respect the local people and their traditional lifestyle and culture- Strenghten on the domestic market and the local products and brand them- Promote stronger the best practices - Create new opportunities for business, respecting the environment- Develop the networks between all those people and businesses- Fair debate about the strategic frame of the Bulgarian tourism development

and BE INNOVATIVE and RESPONSIBLE...

Actually, the overall idea is „what do we leave behindus? Let this be only our footprints!

THANK YOU!

Lubomir PopiordanovCeo Odysseia-in Travel Ltd, touroperatorChair of DCC

Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism

www.odysseia-in.com