The Green Image Of Bulgaria

The PAN Parks Project Will Transform The Country Into An Attractive Destination For Eco-Tourism

Bulgaria is a country of incredible natural wealth – virgin forests, magnificent mountains, a wide variety of animal and vegetable species – some of them exceptionally rare and protected. How many supporters of the European natural heritage are aware of this fact?

In mid-November 2005 eight hotels from the ‘Central Balkan’ National Park were granted pilot certificates by the PAN Parks organization which is considered a trademark for high-quality tourist services.

With the certification of the hotels a 2-year process was finalized, whose 3rd (final) stage was called ‘Partners For Steady Tourism’. The ‘Central Balkan’ National Park is the fourth in Europe to have received the complete PAN Parks certificate in February 2005. Soon it will be joined by the ‘Rila’ National Park which already has a statute of PAN Park.

Why ‘steady tourism’?

In order to develop steady tourism the building of a discrete and environment-sparing infrastructure is needed. Steady tourism brings profit to the local people. A part of this money is used to preserve the cultural and historical traditions of a certain region.

Certification

The standards of certifying are based on the principles of steady tourism: focus on the natural environment, ecological stability, environmentalist efforts, contribution to the local people’s living conditions, respect for the traditional culture, care for the client, marketing efforts.

The Partner Hotels

The eight certified hotels offer high-quality service, attractions, unique atmosphere and reasonable prices:

The only town-located hotel is the 4-star ‘Sevliyevo Plaza’, winner of ‘The 2001 Hotel’ national prize. This modern hotel complex offers congress tourism comfort.

Also, the Sevliyevo municipality is represented by the ‘Dan Kolov’ guest house in the village of Sennik – the birthplace of the legendary wrestler, where tourists can visit his museum-house. Among the attractions, offered to the clients, are: mountain hiking trips, sport fishing, visits to the ‘Luggut’ horse base.

In the Apriltsi municipality there are two holiday destinations: the ‘Scandaloto-1896’ family hotel in the village of Scandaloto – a restored 1896 traditional style complex, and the ‘EcoArt’ guest house in the village of Drashkova Polyana. It has a swimming pool, a parking, and a fireplace corner of traditional design. As well as mountain trips, the hosts offer pottery training.

The ‘Tsutsovata Kashta’ in the centre of Kalofer is a 3-century-old family house, a cultural monument. Restored and renovated in 1990, it combines old-time Bulgarian atmosphere with the comfort of the modern house. One- and two days’ hiking trips, as well as horse riding trips are offered.

The ‘Sandevata Kashta’ is another centuries-old house in Kalofer, situated on the river Tundja. It is the starting point to the National Park.

The Trojan Balkan is one of the most picturesque sections of the Balkan Mountains. Tourists can enjoy its beauties if they choose to stay at the small, but comfortable ‘Villa Colour’ in the village of Gorno Trappe, or at the ‘RITZ-M’ family hotel in the village of Ribaritsa, on the river Vit. Ribaritsa is a key destination for this section of the Balkan Mountains. It is the starting point of numerous routes, leading to beautiful localities and alpine chalets.

The PAN Parks project in Bulgaria is open to partners who are ready to invest in the development of steady tourism and help transform Bulgaria into an attractive eco-destination.

More about PAN Parks

PAN (Protected Area Network) Parks is an ideal-purpose organization, established in 1997 by the environment- protection organization WWF, in partnership with the independent Dutch company Molecaten, and is by itself an European network of protected territories of highest standards of natural environment/tourism management. Its mission is to increase the efficiency of protected areas management by means of steady tourism, and to develop the image of Europe’s natural beauties. Also, PAN Parks is the world’s first 3-phase certifying system within the World Commission of Protected Areas.

Hotels & Restaurants Magazine
February 2006