31.05.2007 176 MILLION EUR ARE THE EU FUNDS FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN BULGARIA

Yana Dikova, VisitBulgaria.NET

After entering the European Union and now being a full member of the European community, Bulgaria is about to receive 11 milliard EUR for regional development for the period 2007 – 2013.

The largest part of the European funds will be allocated by the Bulgarian Ministry of the Regional Development. The allocating of the money, the choosing of appropriate projects and their implementation will be controlled by the Direction for “Programming and Regional Developments”.

The State Tourism Agency will receive only 15 % of the sum and it will be for national tourism marketing. Nearly 177 million EUR (which equals to 13 % of 1, 4 milliard EUR granted for regional development) are allotted for the Bulgarian tourism development. Together with another 15 % co-financiering by the budget, the total amount of the funds for tourism development till 2013 will reach 208 million EUR.

85 % of the sum will be invested in the improvement of tourism infrastructure and attractions, and in regional tourist products and destination marketing.
The funds, however, will not be put into the regions with high-developed tourism already, such as the Black Sea coast, and the big ski resorts.

More specifically the stress will be put on new eco route projects, ecological, cultural and rural tourism and balneology, spa and wellness. Thus the territory concentration of the tourism industry will be reduced to a minimum level and the tourism all over the country will be popularized all year round.

The infrastructure and the attraction improvements will include construction of eco-paths, and healthy paths, climbing routes, planting yards for horse riding and bicycle routes; also setting up indicative signs, information centres, children and sport facilities, parking lots, sidewalks, green areas, public restrooms, garbage bins and facilities for elder people and disabled persons.

Part of the EU funds will be invested in the organizing of tourism events, including fairs, festivals, open air sport contests, folklore music fests, exhibitions of traditional crafts, traditions and regional cuisine.
Amongst the financed activities will also be national and international expos and information forums.

In addition, the State Agency of Tourism will receive 26 million EUR for advertising Bulgarian tourism on national and international level. These activities will include organizing of information campaigns, introducing national product quality systems and conducting annual Tourism Awards Event.
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