Definition and Ecotourism Principles
TIES defines ecotourism as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." This means that those who implement and participate in ecotourism activities should follow the following principles:
Minimize impact
Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect
Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts
Provide direct financial benefits for conservation
Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people
Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate
Support international human rights and labor agreements.
Bulgaria and Ecotourism
The tourism development in Bulgaria is rapidly growing during the last five years. The number of local and regional initiatives associated with marketing Bulgaria’s nature conservation programs, local traditions and culture is growing as well.
The growth of biodiversity conservation and ecotourism is key during this period of transition to a market economy, addressing concerns for the protection of Bulgaria’s environmental and cultural heritage. Biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage and ecotourism are interdependent, as each requires the other to realize their individual goals.
The country’s natural environment, traditions and customs, history, and rural way of life are valuable not just to Bulgaria, but to the rest of the world. Bulgaria can begin to capitalize on these cornerstones as a competitive advantage in a world that is rapidly losing these qualities.
At the First National Forum ‘Ecotourism, Mountains, and Protected Areas – Partners in Prosperity,’ (2002), the Ministry of Economy (MOE), the Ministry of Environment and Waters (MOEW), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MOAF) signed a Protocol for Cooperation for the field of ecotourism. In this document, the three ministries provided the following national definition of ecotourism:
“The Ministries endorse the common understanding of ecotourism as travel to relatively undamaged natural areas, aimed at providing visitors with opportunities to view and enjoy nature and all accompanying cultural attractions, while at the same time encouraging their preservation and allowing the lowest possible impact. Ecotourism is also a form of small and medium enterprise development, which ensures the social and economic vitality of the local population, and the just allocation of responsibilities and benefits. Ecotourism comprises important elements of nature protection, conservation education, interpretation of the natural and cultural heritage, and it complies with all forms of sustainable tourism.”
The strong orientation of ecotourism toward the principles, guidelines, and certification based on sustainability gives it an unusual position in the tourism field. In the years since the concept was first defined, a consensus has formed in Bulgaria on the basic elements of ecotourism:
• It contributes to biodiversity conservation;
• It sustains the well being of local residents;
• It promotes responsible actions on the part of tourists and the tourism industry;
• It requires the lowest possible consumption of nonrenewable resources;
• It is delivered primarily to small groups by small-scale businesses;
• It stresses local participation, ownership and business opportunities, particularly for the rural population; and
• It includes an interpretative/learning experience.
The Bulgarian ecotourism market is in a period of dynamic growth. There is a real opportunity for Bulgaria to become a regional and European leader in this emerging market.
Bulgaria is the first European country to develop and implement (1995) a National Biological Diversity Conservation Strategy (NBDCS). Bulgaria has recently become again a leader in Europe by developing and adopting its National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan (NETSAP).
Bulgaria was one of the first countries in the world to adopt and apply the Guidelines for Activities Related to Sustainable Tourism and Biological Diversity. These guidelines are produced by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and have been used to guide the process of developing and planning the National Ecotourism Strategy.
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