The great opportunities of the region of Kotel for development of different types of tourism are not well enough worked out. The Municipality took a decision that by attracting investments from different donor programs a budget and possibilities for working out the natural and cultural resources in the framework of a long-term integral project would be assured.

Educational Center-Kotel

The project was financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Greece. The implementation of the project started in September 2001 and finishes in October 2006. The project goals are: Studying the management of natural resources; Plans for developing the tourist potential; Establishing and operating an Educational center in Kotel where employed and unemployed will be trained against no fee. The project was implemented by the Municipality of Kotel in cooperation with the following non-political organizations: NATURA 21 (Bulgaria), INARE (Greece) and KEDE (Greece). The Educational center was inaugurated on July 30, 2002. The Educational Center organizes courses for computer skills, English and Greek language. From the beginning of 2005 the Educational Center has a license from the Center of Greek language in Thessalonica in order to carry out exams of Greek language and issue international certificates.

Eco tourism in the mountain of Kotel

The project is financed by the Phare Program Development of the Bulgarian eco tourism in 2004. It s being implemented jointly by the Fund for Wild Flora and Fauna, NATURA 21 and the European Quality Center. The project goal is the achievement of sustainable growth of the tourist sector in the economy of the Municipality of Kotel through renovation of the packet of tourist services and their improvement. The project activities are: the building of the Museum of Nature and Science-Kotel would be reconstructed in Tourist Educational Center; creating of modern infrastructure along three eco paths: Kotel- Chorba tash, Kotel- Vida and Kotel the Prikazna cave; development and popularization of a new complex tourist product and training of potential employees in this sector. The duration of the project s implementation is 20 months, and the end would be in 2006.

Reconstruction of road IV Katunishte Neykovo

The project is financed by the SAPARD program and aims at reconstructing the road Katunishte Neykovo, which leads to the village of Jeravna, in order to facilitate the access to the villages of Katunishte and Jeravna, which are declared for architectural parks, rich of cultural and historical heritage. The project will end in July 2006.

Restoration and conservation of the Kiorpeeva house- Kotel

The project is financed by Fund for supporting initiatives within the Ministry of International Development in Great Britain. The project was implemented by the Municipality of Kotel in cooperation with the Tourist Association Kotel and Business-Informational Center Kotel.

The access to the village architectural parks is now easier. The basis of development of eco tourism is set up. Restored and conserved is the Kiopeeva house, the Ethnographic Museum, showing the life style of Kotel during the Renaissance period in Bulgaria is open. The exposition territory is expanded and the exponents are presented in an attractive way. A brochure "Kiopeeva house", which popularizes the refreshed museum and its exhibitions, has been published.