Innovative practices in Bulgaria
Sharing innovations for improving local self-government
Background
The idea of the project was born in the summer of 2001, after the implementation of another project called White Rocks (December 2000 June 2001) by the Mayday Foundation and Byala Municipality. The goal of that project was to promote the tourist site of Belite Skali (White Rocks). The partnerships established in the course of the project and the experience gained during its implementation by the Friends of Byala Association gave its members the opportunity to provide for a follow up through the opening of the White Rocks International Demonstration Center in Byala and the development of local NGO community potential.
The current project was the first initiative of the Friends of Byala Association. The White Rocks International Demonstration Center had the task to promote and preserve the unique nature phenomenon of White Rocks, and attract groups of students, pupils and tourists to Byala, thus providing conditions for the utilization of local tourist resources accommodation, places to eat, etc. Municipality of Byala and the local Tourism Council were the project partners.
The idea of the project was born in the summer of 2001, after the implementation of another project called White Rocks (December 2000 June 2001) by the Mayday Foundation and Byala Municipality. The goal of that project was to promote the tourist site of Belite Skali (White Rocks). The partnerships established in the course of the project and the experience gained during its implementation by the Friends of Byala Association gave its members the opportunity to provide for a follow up through the opening of the White Rocks International Demonstration Center in Byala and the development of local NGO community potential.
The current project was the first initiative of the Friends of Byala Association. The White Rocks International Demonstration Center had the task to promote and preserve the unique nature phenomenon of White Rocks, and attract groups of students, pupils and tourists to Byala, thus providing conditions for the utilization of local tourist resources accommodation, places to eat, etc. Municipality of Byala and the local Tourism Council were the project partners.
Practice
The team of the Friends of Byala Association, the municipality of Byala and the Byala Tourism Council set the following goals of the project, supported by the Open Society Club in Varna under the Democracy Network Program of the ISC and USAID:
Main goal:
Create conditions for the utilization of local tourist resources.
Specific goals:
1. Open the White Rocks International Demonstration Center;
2. Promote the Demo-Center and the project;
3. Plan and implement mechanisms for Demo-Center self-sustainability (sale of tickets, souvenirs, etc.)
Long-term goals:
1. Designate the White Rocks locality as a Natural Site under the Protected Areas Law. Open a procedure for application to the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
2. Create conditions for the development of scientific tourism as a reply to the strong interest expressed by scientists from all over the world to the White Rocks site.
The main factors that would determine the long-term impact of project results and would contribute to the achievement of long-term goals, were:
Minimization of the resources needed to maintain the site and external fund raising.
Increased potential of local NGOs to prepare and run projects in favour of society.
Development of a scheme for investing part of the income raised through the sale of tickets and souvenirs in the organization of an attractive annual promotional campaign.
The team of the Friends of Byala Association, the municipality of Byala and the Byala Tourism Council set the following goals of the project, supported by the Open Society Club in Varna under the Democracy Network Program of the ISC and USAID:
Main goal:
Create conditions for the utilization of local tourist resources.
Specific goals:
1. Open the White Rocks International Demonstration Center;
2. Promote the Demo-Center and the project;
3. Plan and implement mechanisms for Demo-Center self-sustainability (sale of tickets, souvenirs, etc.)
Long-term goals:
1. Designate the White Rocks locality as a Natural Site under the Protected Areas Law. Open a procedure for application to the World Heritage List of UNESCO.
2. Create conditions for the development of scientific tourism as a reply to the strong interest expressed by scientists from all over the world to the White Rocks site.
The main factors that would determine the long-term impact of project results and would contribute to the achievement of long-term goals, were:
Minimization of the resources needed to maintain the site and external fund raising.
Increased potential of local NGOs to prepare and run projects in favour of society.
Development of a scheme for investing part of the income raised through the sale of tickets and souvenirs in the organization of an attractive annual promotional campaign.
Results
Opening of the White Rocks Demonstration Center in Byala;
Updating of the White Rocks Web page at http://www.whiterocks.hit.bg
Publication and dissemination of information and promotional materials;
Preparation, by the Minister of Environment and Waters, of a draft edict for the designation of the White Rocks locality as a Natural Site under the Protected Areas Law.
The opening of the White Rocks Demonstration Center will increase the number of student groups visiting the town in and out of the active season. The materials and information collected in the Center will attract the attention of specialists and teachers. The communication among interested academic circles will become easier and the quality of their work will be higher. The increased tourist flow will justify the investments needed for the development of additional tourist services.
The long-term exploitation of the site and hence the long-term impact of the project will depend solely on advertisement and the creation of a favourable investment environment in the area.
Opening of the White Rocks Demonstration Center in Byala;
Updating of the White Rocks Web page at http://www.whiterocks.hit.bg
Publication and dissemination of information and promotional materials;
Preparation, by the Minister of Environment and Waters, of a draft edict for the designation of the White Rocks locality as a Natural Site under the Protected Areas Law.
The opening of the White Rocks Demonstration Center will increase the number of student groups visiting the town in and out of the active season. The materials and information collected in the Center will attract the attention of specialists and teachers. The communication among interested academic circles will become easier and the quality of their work will be higher. The increased tourist flow will justify the investments needed for the development of additional tourist services.
The long-term exploitation of the site and hence the long-term impact of the project will depend solely on advertisement and the creation of a favourable investment environment in the area.
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