Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Background
The tourist industry constitutes the past, the present and the future of the museum town of Koprivstitsa. The local traditions and the new economic policy of Bulgaria are sound foundations for the further development of tourism and the creation of a new image and competitive products. The Local Tourism Council is a not-for-profit association registered on 15 April 1998 in Sofia, with a membership of 24 representatives of local tourist businesses in the town. Their partnership is founded on the common desire for Korpivshtitsa to become one of the leading tourist places in Bulgaria.
The tourist industry constitutes the past, the present and the future of the museum town of Koprivstitsa. The local traditions and the new economic policy of Bulgaria are sound foundations for the further development of tourism and the creation of a new image and competitive products. The Local Tourism Council is a not-for-profit association registered on 15 April 1998 in Sofia, with a membership of 24 representatives of local tourist businesses in the town. Their partnership is founded on the common desire for Korpivshtitsa to become one of the leading tourist places in Bulgaria.
Practice
The Local Tourism Council develops a unified program for tourism development in Koprivshtitsa, the first step being the opening of a Tourist Information Center (TIC) of the Local Tourism Council on 27 September 1998. In this way a new tourist service is created, filling the market niche with information very much needed by tourists. The TIC building is located in the centre of the town and is equipped with modern technology, obtained with the support of the Ministry of Trade and Tourism within the Phare Program. The Municiplity of Koprivshtitsa makes an in-kind contribution of the building for the needs of the LTC and the whole town. This opens the way to quality and up-to-date provision of services.
LTC is supported by membership fees, donations and implementation of NGO projects. It develops annual programs for its activity, approved by the Municipal Council, to whom the Center reports on the results achieved at the end of the program period.
The LTC specific activity encomapsses:
- description of the tourist sites;
- outlining a strategy for action;
- advertising (including production of printed materials);
- participation in tourist exhibitions;
- preparation of projects for funding tourism in Koprivshtitsa;
- consultation services;
- coordinated activity with other local NGOs, the Ministry of Economy and the rest of the information network in the country;
- provision of information about the entire tourism product on the territory of the town.
Within its present activity LTC has produced a map of Koprivshittsa in a print run of 5000 copies. The implementation of this long term idea was possible owing to the participation in the project Tourism Development in Koprivshtitsa through which Korpivshtitsa obtained the necessary funds for turning the idea into reality. The Peace Corps volunteer Marcia Herman, working as a teacher of English in the L.Karavelov school worked for two years in support of LTC and significantly assisted the development of this project.
LTC has also worked in cooperation with the German consultancy firm Dr. Gugg & Dr. Hank-Haase . Withtin this Bulgaria - German project a number of seminars have been conducted in Koprivshtitsa focused on successful tourist business, including individual consultations to all owners of private tourist businesses.
The work of the TIC covers a diversity of areas: a survey has been conducted, a database for the state of tourism in the town developed, additional tourist services introduced, and a catalogue of Koprivshtitsa printed in Bulgarian, English and German in a print run of 5000 copies. The luxurious printed publication reflects the latest trends in contemporary advertising.
In March 1999 LTC took part in the International Toursit Fair in Berlin. In the year 2000 it will take part for the second time in this significant international forum. LTC has developed a project entitled Recovery of the old Koprvshtitsa crafts , to be funded by Phare Program. The activity of this project is connected with the setting up of a Street of Crafts in the town. Joint work will be undertaken with Swiss consultants from the Trans-Alpine Union with the aim of developing the winter tourism product.
The Local Tourism Council develops a unified program for tourism development in Koprivshtitsa, the first step being the opening of a Tourist Information Center (TIC) of the Local Tourism Council on 27 September 1998. In this way a new tourist service is created, filling the market niche with information very much needed by tourists. The TIC building is located in the centre of the town and is equipped with modern technology, obtained with the support of the Ministry of Trade and Tourism within the Phare Program. The Municiplity of Koprivshtitsa makes an in-kind contribution of the building for the needs of the LTC and the whole town. This opens the way to quality and up-to-date provision of services.
LTC is supported by membership fees, donations and implementation of NGO projects. It develops annual programs for its activity, approved by the Municipal Council, to whom the Center reports on the results achieved at the end of the program period.
The LTC specific activity encomapsses:
- description of the tourist sites;
- outlining a strategy for action;
- advertising (including production of printed materials);
- participation in tourist exhibitions;
- preparation of projects for funding tourism in Koprivshtitsa;
- consultation services;
- coordinated activity with other local NGOs, the Ministry of Economy and the rest of the information network in the country;
- provision of information about the entire tourism product on the territory of the town.
Within its present activity LTC has produced a map of Koprivshittsa in a print run of 5000 copies. The implementation of this long term idea was possible owing to the participation in the project Tourism Development in Koprivshtitsa through which Korpivshtitsa obtained the necessary funds for turning the idea into reality. The Peace Corps volunteer Marcia Herman, working as a teacher of English in the L.Karavelov school worked for two years in support of LTC and significantly assisted the development of this project.
LTC has also worked in cooperation with the German consultancy firm Dr. Gugg & Dr. Hank-Haase . Withtin this Bulgaria - German project a number of seminars have been conducted in Koprivshtitsa focused on successful tourist business, including individual consultations to all owners of private tourist businesses.
The work of the TIC covers a diversity of areas: a survey has been conducted, a database for the state of tourism in the town developed, additional tourist services introduced, and a catalogue of Koprivshtitsa printed in Bulgarian, English and German in a print run of 5000 copies. The luxurious printed publication reflects the latest trends in contemporary advertising.
In March 1999 LTC took part in the International Toursit Fair in Berlin. In the year 2000 it will take part for the second time in this significant international forum. LTC has developed a project entitled Recovery of the old Koprvshtitsa crafts , to be funded by Phare Program. The activity of this project is connected with the setting up of a Street of Crafts in the town. Joint work will be undertaken with Swiss consultants from the Trans-Alpine Union with the aim of developing the winter tourism product.
Results
Active Tourist Information Center;
Enlargement and setting up of partnership relations with local NGOs;
Active advertising and publication of a significant number of promotional material;
Yearly participation in tourism exhibitions in Sofia and Varna;
Participation in the International Tourism Fair in Berlin;
Clearly outlined strategy for the tourism in Koprivshtitsa;
Award granted by the Ministry of Economy for overall activity in the area of tourism.
Active Tourist Information Center;
Enlargement and setting up of partnership relations with local NGOs;
Active advertising and publication of a significant number of promotional material;
Yearly participation in tourism exhibitions in Sofia and Varna;
Participation in the International Tourism Fair in Berlin;
Clearly outlined strategy for the tourism in Koprivshtitsa;
Award granted by the Ministry of Economy for overall activity in the area of tourism.
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