Background

Etropole is a small mountain municipality that has available wonderful nature and resources for development of tourism in the region. Before the beginning of purposive activities this potential was not used, at least not rationally, and the city and its nature were crumbling down. The idea for starting alternative tourism with concern about environment was generated spontaneously among young people and found support from representatives of the Municipality.

Practice

From the beginning of 2002 The Youth Association for Development of Municipality of Etropole has been working together with the Municipality of Etropole under the project Young People and Alternative Tourism factor for sustainable local development . The project is financed by Time Ecoprojects Foundation under the program Democracy Network II of the Institute for Sustainable Communities with resources of USAID.

A priority purpose of the project is to give start by sustainable practices of the development of alternative tourism with concern about environment in the area Etropolska Ribaritza through the usage of the rich local natural, historical, cultural, ethnographical, human and other resources. The project prepares the pilot part of a tourist informational package; composes a Route of Handicrafts with a demonstration of 6 traditional crafts in Etropole; creates an attraction spot Zaslona which is also an initial point for 4 pedestrian mountain routes in Etropole Balkan; starts partnership in the form of Council of Tourism together with local businessmen, owners of places for rest, media, Tourist Bureau Joral , local government.

The attracting of visitors and turning Etropole into inviting tourist center in Middle Stara Planina mountain requires appropriate organization, large scale advertisement, improvement and marking of pedestrian mountain routes, preparing a comprehensive datebase of the municipal resources, popularizing the natural resources available, and preparing a long term marketing strategy. As a part of the project a few pedestrian routes in Etropole Balkan were marked for which a qualified guide was offered. The routes are connected with local sights and protected natural places and for those who are more courageous a route is offered to the mountain peaks. The Route of Handicrafts offers exciting experience with the demonstration of different crafts and the possibility to try the traditional local cuisine. For those who are willing to move in 18 or 19 century it is offered to spend the night in authentic rooms.

Etropole is famous with its folk holidays and customs connected with the mountain and clean nature. There are two-day offers about them that tour-operators were very interested in. The marking of the routes was made according to the requirements of Bulgarian State Standard. The tourist product was presented during the International Exposition Tourism in Bulgarreklama and during the tourist exchange for Stara Planina mountain Teteven 2001 . The Council for Tourism established in connection with the project became a member of Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism (BAAT). The partnership started and the mobilizing of local resources for offering tourist services alternative to usual tourist product were rewarded after the wonderful impressions of the 16 journalists from central media who took part in the second advertising journalist tour together with representatives of Ministry of Economy and BAAT.

Results

As a result of the hard work there is a confirmation for a visit of French groups in Etropolska Ribaritza in summer 2002. The following products have been launched: color brochures and a web-side (http://www.etrotur.etropole.cjb.net); strategy for sustainable development of tourism in the region; program for widening the tourist services offered with Extreme Paths and rock-climbing and with other initiatives aiming at attracting tourists for a long time. These products are directed to the Bulgarian consumer too. Etropole region with its clean environment and the organization set up due to the work of young people under the project is attractive with its closeness to the capital and is looking forward to future success.