FINAL REPORT Study of rural communities

FINAL REPORT Study of rural communities with tourism potential under the project “Sustaining Rural Tourism in the Ruse Area Through its Cultural Heritage”, project code ROBG-502, financed under the INTERREG Program VA RomaniaBulgaria”

Implemented by: Revansh 22 ltd.

March, 2019

The content of this study does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union.

The initiators of the study are the sole responsible for the information provided through the site.

This study has been conducted for the purpose of implementing a contract with the subject "Joint study of rural communities with tourism potential" under the project “Sustaining Rural Tourism in the Ruse Area Through its Cultural Heritage�, project code ROBG-502, financed under the INTERREG Program VA Romania-Bulgaria. The project is aimed at developing an integrated approach to the promotion of the cultural and intangible heritage of rural communities from both Giurgiu and Ruse in order to support local economic development and the development of rural tourism.

The study was conducted according to a joint methodology which was set up to help analyze and assess the information gathered on the tourist potential of Ruse and its surrounding regions and to select the 10 villages with the greatest potential for attracting tourists and develop cross-border tourist products in the region Ruse- Giurgiu.

During the period 28.11.2018 – 27.03.2019 the following activities were implemented:

N

Description

End date

Results/Outputs

1

Development of a research

18.11.2018

1.1. Developed and approved

.

methodology and a set of evaluation 20.12.2018

and evaluation grid for documenting natural

parameters in line with academic

and anthropogenic sites to explore tourism

literature and international expertise

potential in each of the 10 villages in Bulgaria;

in the field of sustainable tourism

questionnaires

o

for

methodology

exploring

tourists'

expectations, tour operators and for exploring the readiness of local communities to develop tourism

2

Inventory

.

assessment of villages in the

and

target

specified

20.12.2018-

2.1 Elaboprated Description / inventory of the

20.02.2019

available resources in the villages in Ruse

regions by

district

the

2.2 Coordination of results

Contracting Authority;

2.3 Defined 20 villages (The 10 villages in Bulgaria were discussed and agreed between the

two

experts

hired

by

the

Leading

Beneficiary and the Beneficiary) 2.4. Description of natural and anthropogenic heritages specific to each of the selected villages, their accessibility as destinations and the intent and openness of the community to adapt to accommodate tourists for each of the 20 villages 2.5. Interviewed tourists, tour operators 2.6. Local community surveys 2.7. Analysis of collected information 3

Identification

of

the

elements

.

which will be included in the presentations and analyzes of the

20.02.2019-

3.1 Discussion and coordination of the results

28.02.2019

of the study 3.2 Identification of the elements which will be

2

20 cases.

included in the presentations and analyzes of 20 cases.

4

Analysis and recommendations

1.03.2019-

In description of each of selected 10 villages

25.03.2019

are included: SWOT analysis and analysis of the difficulties and weaknesses identified locally.

Recommendations for village development in cross-border region

5

Final Reporting of the Project

.

25.03.2019-

Final report

27.03.2019

For the purpose of the present methodology, there were tourism resources indentifiyed in 74 villages in the Ruse dictrict according to the approved methodology. The subject of the present study are cultural, historical, natural, material, anthropogenic landmarks in the villages, atractions, routes, tourism infrastructure objects.

The potential of the cultural and historical tourism resources selected by the rural communities of Ruse according to the requirements of the task is evaluated through the following requirements, • Capacity (Potential, Capability) for development - tailored to the factors and conditions for resource development; • degree of impact - the level of attractiveness is assessed; • degree of change (as a result of tourism) - evaluation of the usefulness / value / importance of the tourist attraction; The selected evaluation criteria were applied not especiially for scientific purposes but took into account the position (viewpoint) of the particular tourist attraction and the possibilities for practical use of the research results.

3

Population (2015) VETOVO

Area (sq. km) Number of settlements

88

Villages

74

DVE MOGILI BOROVO

Overview In 2014, the district of Ruse is ranked sixth in terms of GDP per capita. Compared to 2010, Ruse had the second larg- est GDP growth (after Stara Zagora) in Bulgaria, both in absolute terms and relative to the population. Unemploy- ment has been declining while employment keeps rising. Nevertheless, investment, both domestic and foreign, and the utilization of EU funds by municipalities in the district have remained below the national levels. The quality of road surfaces remains far below the average levels, and keeps deteriorating. Local taxes and fees are relatively low.

Weak

Unsatisfactory Average

Good

During the last decade, the demographic situation in the district has been deteriorating faster than nationwide, mostly because of the low natural growth. The district’s students have traditionally received close to the national average grades at matriculation exams, and they had relatively few failing grades in 2016. Healthcare in the district suffers from lack of doctors and relatively few hospital beds. The clearance crime rate remains lower than the national average. A great part of the population is still living without access to public sewerage. The district has an intense cultural life.

Very good

Weak

Unsatisfactory Average

Income and Living Conditions

Demography

Labor Market

Education

Investment

Healthcare

Infrastructure

Security and Justice

Taxes and Fees

Environment

Administration

Culture

Good

Very good

4

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Income and Living Conditions

Infrastructure

In comparison to 2010, in 2014, the district of Ruse had the second largest increase in GDP in Bulgaria after Sta- ra Zagora, both in absolute size (30%) and per capita (41%). It ranked sixth in GDP per capita, having ranked tenth in 2010.

Regardless of this fact, GDP per capita in the district (9,675 BGN) was below the country average of 11,574 BGN.

Ruse is an important transport hub and the density of the road and railway networks is above the national average. The share of motorways and first class roads is also bigger: 21.5% in 2014 vs. the national average of 18.1%. Still, road quality is low in the district and the share of road surfaces in good condition kept shrinking to reach 26.0% in 2015 vs. the In 2013 and 2014 incomes in Ruse district were lower national average of 40.7%. than national average rates but in 2015 they grew by over Internet access and usage in the district are above national 16% (vs. the national rate of 3%) to reach 5,303 BGN per average levels. In 2015, 60.9% of households had internet household member, thus surpassing the average level in access (vs. 59.1% nationally) and 64.8% of people used it Bulgaria. However, salaries continued to lag behind in during the last year (vs. 60.3% nationally).

2014, though they grew at rates comparable with the country average.

Taxes and Fees Labor Market

Although the district of Ruse has a relatively well developed economy, most local taxes and fees in its municipalities were again lower than the average levels for the country in 2016. The only exception was the rate of the license tax for retailers, whose average rate was higher in the district. The reason is the relatively high rate in the municipality of Ruse: 17 BGN/sq. m, while the average rate of all other municipalities was 4 BGN/sq. m.

The key indicators for the labor market in Ruse are comparable with national average levels. Economic activity grew considerably in 2015 but was still unable to compensate for the slump in 2014. Unemployment continued to decline and reached 9% in 2015, remaining below average levels for the last three years. In 2014, employment grew after the decline to reach 60.0% in 2015, though still remaining be- low the In 2016, the municipality of Byala raised the rates of all five national average of 62.9%. monitored taxes and fees while in the other municipalities Ruse is still among the districts with relatively unfavorable they remained unchanged. demographic replacement ratio, which means that there are In 2016, the waste collection fee remained again lowest relatively few youngsters between 15 and 19 who could compared to country average figures. The municipality of replace the people aged between 60 and 64, who are about Ruse had the lowest rate, 4.20‰, while the average rates to retire. both in the district and in the country were almost double.

Investment Investment activity in the district remains below average in the country, judging by the number of non-financial enterprises relative to the population, and by foreign and domestic investment. By the end of 2014, FDI had reached almost 390 m euro or 1,701.8 euro per capita; the national average being 3,006.6 euro per capita.

Administration The ratings of the district’s municipalities for developing and providing electronic government and one-stop shop services were above the national average levels in 2016.

The transparency of the local administrations also received a better rating. The municipalities in Ruse district were rated at 62.0% for their transparency by the AIP Founda- tion (vs.

54.2% for the country as a whole). The Ruse mu- nicipality was distinguished as the most “transparent” one (70.0%), while that of Byala was the least “transparent” with 24.0% in 2016.

The district has been lagging in the utilization of EU funds by municipalities as beneficiaries of operational programs. As of 31 May 2016, sums paid to municipalities amounted to 472.6 BGN per capita (vs. 688.8 BGN per capita for the country). The municipality of Byala had absorbed most funds relative to the population: 3,124.9 The relatively low coverage by cadastral maps of the disBGN per capita, while Vetovo had absorbed least: trict’s territory remains a problematic issue in the district. In 57.4 BGN per capita.

2010, it was 10.2% and has not changed since, while in the country reached 19.8% in 2015.

5

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

treatment in the district rather than looking for medical services outside it.

Demography Negative demographic tendencies in the district have been more pronounced during the last decade than they have been in the country as a whole. In 2015, the age dependency ratio (the ratio of the population aged 65+ to that aged 0 to14) in the district was 181.1% vs. 146.4% in Bulgaria.

The main reason was the natural growth rate for that year, which worsened to –8.6‰ in Ruse vs. –6.2‰ in Bulgaria. At the same time, the number of people migrat- ing from the district was close to that of people migrating to it, so the population decreased mostly because of its natural growth and not as a result of the net migration rate.

Security and Justice The workload of courts in the district remains lower than the national average level, perhaps because of the traditionally lower crime rates. The result is a higher rate of cases closed within 3 months: 97.0% in Ruse vs. 88.1% in Bulgaria, and a lower rate of pending criminal cases: 6.3% in the district vs. 9.4% in the country.

Following national trends, crimes registered in the district dropped – in 2015, there were 10.1 crimes against the person and property per 1,000 people in Ruse district vs. 13.6 per 1,000 people in Bulgaria. Still, the clearance crime rate in A relatively large number of the population lives in urban the district was lower than that in the country: 36.1% vs. areas – 77.4% (vs. 73.1% for the country), while the popula- 39.2% for the country in 2015. tion density was above the national average in 2015.

Education In 2015, the share of children enrolled in 5th–8th grade in the district of Ruse dropped below the national average level: 77.8% in Ruse vs. 78.3% in the country. The share of high school repeaters, though, remained below aver- age, whereas that of dropouts in primary and secondary education was for the first time below the 2014 national level.

The performance at state matriculation exams of the district’s school leavers has traditionally been close to the national average figures; in 2016, the share of failing grades was considerably smaller.

The district’s decline in college and university students for the third successive year corresponded to the overall tendency in the whole country. Yet, in 2015, the number of students relative to the population remained close to the average – 37 per 1,000 people (vs. 36 per 1,000 people in Bulgaria).

Healthcare

Environment Though most of the population lives in urban areas, the share of people with access to public sewerage (68.0%) remained lower than that in Bulgaria (74.9%) in 2014. At the same time, the wastewater treatment plants built in the last few years (primarily in 2011) increased the number of people connected to WWTPs, reaching 64.5% (vs. 56.8% nationally).

The level of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere (208.3 t/sq. km) remained below the national average of 314.5 t/sq. km in 2014.

In 2014, generated household waste grew to reach 637 kg per capita (vs. 442 kg per capita nationally). The project for closing and rehabilitation of the existing municipal landfill site in the municipality of Ruse also began in 2014.

Culture In 2015, the district of Ruse once again performed better than average in almost all indicators in this category. Visits to cinemas rose to reach 816 per 1,000 people while they were 744 per 1,000 people in Bulgaria. Visits to theaters grew for the third successive year to reach 645 per 1,000 people, which is more than twice the national figure of 302 per 1,000 people. Visits to libraries also grew in the district; this indicator was again above the national average.

In 2015, the district of Ruse remained one of those with the highest deficiency of general practitioners. One GP was responsible for 2,119 people in the district (vs. 1,619 people per GP nationally). The relative number of specialist doctors Only museum visits (432 per 1,000 people) remained be- low was also lower than that in other districts.

Though the number of beds in general hospitals in the dis- the national average number (664 per 1,000 people) in spite trict increased (4.2 beds per 1,000 people in 2015), it re- of their annual increase in 2015. mained below the national average of 4.6 beds per 1,000 people. That trend concerns the increased number of hospitalizations, too. Probably, as the number of beds increased, a greater number of people preferred to receive

6

Indicators of economic development

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

GDP per capita (BGN, current prices)

6,872

8,125

8,595

8,903

9,675

n.a.

Average annual income per household member (BGN)

3,655

4,071

4,416

4,504

4,553

5,303

Average annual gross salary (BGN)

6,354

6,783

7,155

7,589

8,028

n.a.

Relative share of people living below the national poverty line (%)

13.1

17.0

14.6

16.3

n.a.

n.a.

Annual average economic activity rate of the population aged 15 to 64 (%)

66.9

65.6

66.4

66.0

63.5

65.9

Annual average employment rate of the population aged 15 to 64 (%)

62.6

58.0

57.8

57.7

56.6

60.0

6.8

11.6

12.9

12.5

10.8

9.0

20.4

22.0

22.1

23.6

23.6

24.4

47

47

47

47

48

n.a.

Expenditure on the acquisition of fixed tangible assets per capita (BGN)

1,403

1,647

1,813

1,907

2,039

n.a.

Cumulative FDI to non-financial enterprises per capita (EUR)

1,465

1,428

1,493

1,630

1,702

n.a.

Relative share of households with internet access (%)

34.8

43.2

51.4

57.6

64.6

60.9

Share of roads in good condition (%)

30.6

23.9

26.0

29.0

30.2

26.0

Share of territory included in cadastral maps (%)

10.2

10.2

10.2

10.2

10.2

10.2

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Rate of natural increase (‰)

–6.5

–8.1

–8.1

–8.0

–8.5

–8.6

Net migration rate (‰)

–3.5

0.8

–1.4

0.2

–0.7

–0.2

Average grades at state matriculation exams

4.3

4.4

4.1

4.3

4.2

4.2

Percent of failed students at state matriculation exams (“average” 3.00)

3.6

3.7

6.0

4.6

5.6

5.2

Net enrolment rate of the population in 5th–8th grade (%)

78.6

81.7

80.1

80.2

78.7

77.8

Health insured persons as share of the population (%)

86.0

89.4

88.2

86.6

87.1

88.3

Cases of hospitalization in general hospitals per 1,000 people

139

152

164

185

163

215

Registered crimes against the person and property per 1,000 people

12.9

11.9

12.3

13.5

12.0

10.1

Clearance rates for crimes against the person and property registered during the year (%)

46.1

33.7

29.9

27.0

30.8

36.1

Share of pending criminal cases (%)

3.2

4.4

3.9

3.1

11.7

6.3

Share of the population living in settlements with public sewerage systems, connected to WTTP (%)

0.0

63.7

63.9

64.2

64.5

n.a.

Annual average unemployment rate of the population aged 15 to 64 (%) Relative share of the population aged 25 to 64 with tertiary education (%) Number of non-financial enterprises per 1,000 people

Indicators of social development

The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

Page 7

Carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere (t/km2)

304.4

304.4

225.1

208.3

208.3

n.a.

Number of visits to cinemas per 1,000 people

139

1097

753

760

769

816

Number of visits to theatres per 1,000 people

389

474

444

515

569

645

ACTIVITY OF ACCOMMODATION LOCATIONS IN THE RUSE REGION IN JULY 20181 In recent years, the tourist flow has steadily increased, but it is mainly directed to the municipality of Ruse (97% of overnight stays and visitors) in the region. This growth corresponds to both the developing bed base and the growing interest in tourist sites. The structure of the tourist flow, which is realized in the tourist area of the region, is dominated by in-house tourism (88% of visitors and 85% of overnight stays), with no significant differences in the average stay of Bulgarian and foreign visitors. The bulk of Bulgarian tourists are usually student groups, pensioners, organized tourists from tours offered by tour operators in the country.

The seasonality of tourism in the Ruse region is low. The Bulgarian visitors are experiencing a weaker summer season typical of urban tourism. Peak season for foreign tourists is the summer, which accounts for 35% of their overnight stays. The average stay does not change significantly quarterly.

The main characteristics of the structure of tourism activities(tour operator, tourist agent and information) are: - The structure of the activities in Ruse municipality and more precisely in the city of Rousse, where 70% of the active companies in the sector are concentrated - In the other municipalities there is additional tourist activity, which is dependant on the cultural and economic center of Ruse - Family hotels (including eco and rural tourism guest houses) are still poorly developed, both in Ruse and in the other municipalities in the area.

In July 2018 there were 48 accommodation establishments on the territory of Ruse District with a total capacity of 1 979 beds, of which 20 are hotels with a total of 1 071 beds.

The total number of nights spent in all accommodation places registered in July 2018 was 18 281, of which 10 123 were Bulgarian citizens and 8 158 were from foreigners. Compared to July 2017, overnight stays increased by 24.9%. For foreign tourists the increase was by 39.1% and for domestic guests 15.4%. In July 2018, 52.6% of all overnight stays of Bulgarian citizens and 22.8% of those of foreigners were realized in the Ruse district in establishments categorized with 1 and 2 stars.

Of these accommodation places 16 are located in the rural areas of Ruse district, in the 10 villages selected, which is insufficient for the development of tourism, but compared to the other settlements in the region gives a good basis.

1

TERRITORIAL STATISTICAL OFFICE - NORTH, Department of Statistical Research - Ruse

The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

Page 8

Фиг. 1. Overnight stays in Ruse area by months 20 In thousands 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 I'13 IV VII

Total

X I'14 IV VII

Х I'15 IV VII

X I'16 IV VII

Bulgarians

Х I'17 IV VII

X I'18 IV VII

Foreigners

The relative share of nights spent by foreigners in the seventh month of 2018 is 44.6% and in comparison with July 2017 it has increased by 4.5 percentage points.

In July 2018, the largest share (46.4%) of the total number of nights spent by foreigners in all accommodation places on the territory of Ruse region were tourists from EU Member States. Compared to the same month of 2017, this share declined by 10.8 percentage points. Most nights were made by guests from Romania - 1,073, followed by German citizens - 594 and France - 356 nights. Among foreign guests from European countries outside the EU, tourists from Ukraine registered the highest number of nights - 810, who were there for an average of 1.1 nights.

The number of people arriving in all accommodation establishments in the area in July 2018 was 10 596 and, compared to the same month of the previous year, they increased by 31.5%. The relative share of overnight guests is 40.8%. The average number of overnights per guest in July is 1.7, the level of the indicator for Bulgarian citizens is 1.6 and for guests from abroad 1.9 nights.

Total bed occupancy in all accommodation establishments is 30.6% and has increased from the seventh month of 2017 (28.3%). Total bed occupancy is significantly lower than the country average, which in July 2018 was 61.8%.

In July 2018, the realized income from accommodation in Ruse region amounted to BGN 887.4 thousand, with BGN 454.5 thousand (51.2%) being Bulgarian citizens and BGN 432.9 thousand (48.8% ) foreigners.

The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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Фиг. 2. Revenue from accommodation in Ruse district by months Thsnd leva 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 I'13 IV VII X I'14 IV VII Х I'15 IV VII X I'16 IV VII Х I'17 IV VII X I'18 IV VII

Total

Bulgarians

Foreigners

In November 2018, 47 accommodation establishments with a total capacity of 1 942 beds functioned on the territory of Ruse District, of which 19 are hotels with a total of 1 030 beds.

The total number of nights spent in all accommodation establishments registered in November 2018 was 14 429, of which 11 074 were Bulgarian citizens and 3 355 were foreigners. Compared to November 2017, the number of overnight stays has increased by 8.2%, while the number of domestic visitors has increased by 21.1%, with the number of foreign tourists decreasing by 19.9%. In November 2018, the Ruse district establishments categorized with 1 and 2 stars had 57.9% of all the region's overnight stays by Bulgarian citizens and 19.1% of the stays of foreigners.

The other places for short-term accommodation are villa and tourist settlements, hostels, guest houses, bungalows, holiday homes, chalets, private lodgings and apartments and other places for short-term accommodation in Ruse and its surrounding settlements in the eight municipalities of Ruse district.

Inventory and assessment of villages in the target regions specified by the Contracting Authority

Despite the poor economic development and its unrecognizability as a tourist destination for both foreign and domestic tourists, the diverse natural and anthropogenic resources in the cross-border region of Ruse-Giurgiu are a prerequisite for popularization of the region and development of yearround tourism.

The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

Page 10

In terms of nature, the Ruse region has the characteristics of the typical Danubian hilly plain, and of the significantly higher in altitude and markedly hilly-plutonic nature of northeastern Bulgaria. Against the backdrop of this transient nature, there is an impressive presence of a large water artery that directly connects us with Europe - the Danube. The Danube River, together with the Ruse Lom river, which flows along Ruse, with its remarkable valley, are tourist sites, the impressions of which are difficult to forget. In the middle of the region is the city of Ruse, with its traditional architecture, combining past and present, which has a reputation as a remarkable cultural, scientific, economic, tourist and shopping center. Ruse is in itself a huge and important tourist attraction not only for the population from the nearby and more distant surroundings, but also for the whole country. Especially advantageous is the transport-geographic position of the city. Besides the busy harbor, it is also a crossing point on the road and railway connections of Bulgaria with all of Eastern Europe and parts of Central Europe. It is also an important national transport hub in the direction of Sofia - Varna and Western Dobrudzha with the eastern part of southern Bulgaria. For these reasons, there's a huge tourist flow through Ruse, including foreign tourists heading to our North and South Black Sea coasts, and an even larger number of transit travelers going to and from Turkey and the Middle East.

In view of these prerequisites, the purpose of this study is to reveal and systematize the most typical for this part of the country sites of natural and anthropogenic nature in rural areas around Ruse, which can serve as tourism resources for intensive tourism.

The cultural and historical heritage, as a major tourist resource in the region, is heavily concentrated mainly on the territory of the municipalities of Ruse and Ivanovo. In the Municipalities of Dve Mogili, Borovo, Slivo Pole, Byala and Vetovo it has smaller concentration points. The sites of cultural and historical heritage in the villages around the regional town of Ruse have tourist potential, although their current status (physical condition, exposure, mode of operation, accessibility, provision with accompanying tourist services) does not allow for optimal realization of this potential.

Of the anthropogenic tourist resources of northern Bulgaria, about 30 objects, which can be considered tourist resources and which are only partially close to monuments of culture, are situated on the territory of Ruse region. Among them the most popular and significant for the development of tourism in the villages are: IVANOVO ROCK-HEWN CHURCHES The “St. Archangel Michael” rock monastery-laura at the village of Ivanovo is located in the Ruse Lom river valley. It has been established in the 20’s of the 13th century by the monk Yoakim, who later became a Bulgarian Patriarch. Its donators are the Tzars Ivan Asen (1218-1241), Ivan Alexander (13311371) and other representatives of the Bulgarian Royal Court, with their ktitor’s portraits being preserved. The monastery has a complex structure and unites several complexes of rock-hewn premises. The frescoes are preserved in six of its temples, revealing typical characteristics of Bulgarian art during the 13th and 14th centuries. During the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (12th-14th century) the monastery strengthened as a major spiritual and literary center. Its activity is associated with the soThe content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

Page 11

called “Visarionov Paterik” (Visarion’s Paterikon). On the walls of the monastery’s premises are seen graffiti and inscriptions that contain important historical evidence.

The frescoes of “St. Virgin Mary” Church are world famous and are ranked among the most representative examples of Palaiologian Art in the Balkans. Their high artistic characteristics are the reason for them being listed as a World Cultural Heritage of UNESCO. In the 14th century the monastery became a center of Hesychasm. It existed during the early centuries of Ottoman rule, but gradually declined. In 1978 the monastery was declared a National Archaeological Reserve.

The Medieval town of Cherven is one of the largest military, administrative, economic, religious and cultural center of the Second Bulgarian kingdom (12th-14th century). Cherven is the successor of an Early Byzantine fortress from the 6th century. During the 14th century, when it reach a peak in its development, its territory included an Inner town, located on the high rock plateau at a curve of the Rousse Lom river, and an Outer town, located at its foot. Cherven has a complex fortification system, constructed by stages, a thick built up and a branched network of streets. The three storey guard tower on the western wall of the Citadel is completely preserved. The town grew up to be a large trading and craft's center with developed iron production, iron working, goldsmith's trade, construction, artistic, everyday life and other crafts. It is a junction of the roads from the Danube towards the interior of the country. After 1235 it became the seat of the bishop of Cherven. A large number of rock-hewn monasteries emerged in its surroundings. In 1388 the town is conquered and destroyed by the Ottoman Turks. In the initial period of the Ottoman rule, the town preserved its administrative functions, but gradually decayed. In the 17th century the town had a period of economic revival. The family of Grandmother Tonka (Baba Tonka) is descended from there.

Cherven is an archaeological site with significant contribution to the research on the Medieval Bulgarian culture. The beginning of the archaeological investigation is laid in 1910/1911, and since 1961 excavations are conducted annually. What is discovered so far is a castle, fortification walls, two underground water supply passages, 13 churches, public administrative buildings, many dwellings and significant archaeological findings. Distinguished among them are several hoards, adornments, epigraphic monuments, pottery, objects from the everyday life, craft instruments, armament, etc. It is a National archaeological reserve since 1965.

The Basarbovski Rock Monastery “St. Dimitrius Basarbovski” is situated in the valley of Rusenski Lom river, near the village of Basarbovo, 10 km from the town of Ruse.

The rock monastery was established during the existence of the Second Bulgarian Empire, but for the first time its name was mentioned in the Ottoman Tax Register of 1431. For some time during the 19th century the monastery was left uninhabited, but in 1937 the priest Hrisant of the Preobrazhenie Monastery settled here, and he set a new beginning of the existence of the religious settlement.

The most famous inhabitant of the monastery was St. Dimitrius Besarbovski who was born in 1685 in the village of Besarbovo, and spent his entire life in the holy monastery. After his death the monk was buried in the village church, but during the war between Russia and Turkey in 1768-1774 his relics were moved to Bucharest in the church St. Konstantin and St. Elena where they have been kept to the The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

Page 12

present day.

The Basarbovski Monastery is the only active rock monastery in Bulgaria.

The monastery Saint Marina in Karanvarbovka village.

The majority of the municipalities in the Rousse District have access to the Danube River and have other natural (Lomove) and artificial ponds. This creates the traditions of fishing, fish farming, fish and fishery products. The exotics of the environment and the lifestyle in the so-called "Fishing villages" in the village of Mechka, Ryahovo, Nikolovo (also existing as a possibility for future construction), combined with the opportunities for development of water sports represent a significant resource for enriching the offered tourist product. The preserved traditions of local crafts can be offered as a tourist attraction - barrel making, carpentry, extraction and processing of stone by traditional means, weaving, hand knitting and embroidery with traditional motifs. The utilization of the potential of this characteristic of small municipalities and settlements into a tourism product, however, is hampered by the low level of development and the lack of acceptable sanitary and hygienic conditions.

Economic activity and tourist potential Some parts of Ruse’s economy also have the potential to enrich the offered tourist package with additional attractions. Those are: • fish farming and fishing - opportunities for organizing sport fishing; • viticulture, wine-making and fruit-growing - opportunities for local wine tasting, participation in grape harvests, etc. attractive forms of agricultural work; • cultivation of mushrooms in artificial and natural caves and organization of tastings; • participation in hunting game breeding activities; hunting in hunting farms; • participation in riding, training and equestrian activities (village of Nikolovo) On the territory of the Rousse District as of 31.12.2008 there are 88 community center institutions, 16 of which are in towns and 72 in villages. They carry out a variety of cultural activities in the different spheres of art, science, culture, social services and tourism and help shape the cultural and educational aspect of the area. Their numerous ensembles find expression outside the region and the country and become true cultural ambassadors of Bulgaria in Europe and around the world.

Natural resources act as a recreational landscape as a whole and have a restorative and healing effect over a longer stay. They include only those components of the natural environment that are attractive to tourists: rock phenomena, canyon valleys, karst formations, water basins, unique ecosystems and attractive landscapes. A key role for their sustainable use for tourism purposes has their complex impact and, above all, the attractiveness of the landscape. Within the area are located the Rusenski Lom Nature Park, Lipnik Forest Park, as well as protected areas with a smaller area, ornithologically important sites covering the Danube coast and islands, riparian lakes, dams and micro dams, the floodplain forests of the Bulgarian Danube islands. On the territory of Rusenski Lom Nature Park there are thematic alleys and eco paths, as well as eco-trail "Living Water". However, there are not enough The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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attractions or infrastructure for sports and active recreation.

A visit to the islands of Batin and Doichov is possible to be combined with the examination of the remains of Thracian settlements and necropolises on the territory of Borovo Municipality, Ivanovo Rock Churches, a UNESCO site, the Medieval town of Cherven, and many other cultural attractions.

On the basis of the area's natural resources there are excellent prerequisites for the development of adventure and extreme tourism. The unique canyon in the Rusenski Lom Nature Park along with the rest of the territory is a destination for adventure, sports, cognitive and eco tourism. The E6 and E13 cycling routes, as well as the possibility to trace such routes between the monasteries Basarbovski, Ivanovski, St. Marina in Karanvanbovka, and the Danube are one of the guidelines for the development of the region as a destination for religious and cycling tourism. Walks along the Danube and the islands can be combined with various types of sports tourism targeted primarily at young people. There's a good rowing base in the "Lipnik" forest park in the village of Nikolovo. Sports clubs in Ruse and other Danube towns can also function as tourist sites. Encouraging youth tourism related to volunteering can make a serious contribution both towards promoting cultural exchanges and towards developing a responsible attitude towards nature. There are opportunities for campsites near dams and along the Danube.

The Danube Plain offers many surprises and attractions along the Rusenski Lom river, which borders the territory of Ivanovo and Ruse. Among the flat as a desert terrain emerge low hills, dotted with groves, agricultural crops and pastures. Even before adapting to the new view, a new surprise awaits!

The earth seems to suddenly drop tens of meters down at the foot of deep canyons, riddled with illustrious niches and caves. This unusual picture of different geographic latitudes is typical of the area of Polomie, also called "Mountain beneath the plain".

The valleys that have been sheltered from the winds have preserved incredible biodiversity. Therefore, on the initiative of local environmentalists, part of the territory of Polomie was declared a natural park back in 1970. Today, 40 years later, this picturesque piece of Bulgarian nature is still wild and unaffected by mass tourism - to the joy of ornithologists because Roussenski Lom Park is one of the 5 places in Bulgaria with the most birds nesting in its rocks. Over the canyons of the Polomie circle black storks, Egyptian vultures, little spotted eagles, etc ... There are also different types of owls. The caves and deep rock niches harbor a large population of 25 bat species. Walks in the surroundings offer unique landscapes of green dense deciduous forests and flower-lined lawns, among which the brilliant flowers of 16 orchids. "All this natural wealth is in itself a wonderful tourist attraction", says the director of the Rusenski Lom Nature Park. It is important to note that if uncontrolled turbulence is allowed, the fragile biological balance of the Polomie can be disturbed. An advantage is that the area is far away from big resorts, and the few people who come here are ornithologists, biologists or nature lovers. The last few years have seen some tourist revival in the Rusenski Lom Nature Park.

Ornithologists know the area well as a biologically important site of European significance, but in recent years in Rusenski Lom Nature Park there are also tourists who are simply fond of nature walks.

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The Park's Directorate is trying to manage the growing flow of visitors to the Park and to develop sustainable tourism. One of the new attractions is a canoe route along the Cherni Lom River - at the foot of the medieval fortress Cherven, after a series of beautiful views, you can reach the area of the Ivanovo Rock Monasteries. There is also an extreme eco path near the village of Nisovo. It leads to the big Nisovski Rock Monastery. For this purpose there are wooden and rope ladders on which tourists can climb 40-50 m up the rocks.

The Rocky niches of the Polomie, populated by a sophisticated bird choir, were used in the past as a holy abode by the monks who settled in the area. In the thirteenth century in the rocky limestone rocks they began to dig dozens of chapels, monasteries and cells of different heights. For centuries the area was one of the largest spiritual and cultural centers in our lands. Later the caves were abandoned by their inhabitants and left to the mercy of natural elements. However, in some of them magnificent frescoes and inscriptions have been preserved. Nowadays, this invaluable historical heritage is under the protection of UNESCO and is one of our most famous tourist attractions. However, most of the former rock monasteries are inaccessible due to poor infrastructure. Most of the tourists in the Rusenski Lom Nature Park appreciate the biodiversity and the virgin nature of the nature park. They combine the eco-routes with the so-called archaeological routes. During this time, tourists are acquainted with the flora and fauna of the Polomie. In the rocks near Nisovo are nesting black storks, rock eagles and others. In the vicinity of the village there are many reindeer boars. Close to the nature park is the Batakliata game-breeding farm.

A plus for the sector in the region is that in Ruse there is a specialized school for training staff in hotel and tourism - a vocational high school, which offers training in subjects related to tourism, hotels, catering and public catering.

Tourist infrastructure in the area is relatively well built, but this is mainly due to the city of Ruse, which has a very good hotel base and has been offering a significantly improved hotel product in the last few years. Most major hotels have been renovated, and several new ones have been put into operation, offering very good conditions. The hotels, mainly in the city of Ruse, have considerably expanded the supply of additional services. A significant factor in improving the hotel product is the increased competition and diversification of the sector.

In the area of high-value attractions such as the Cherven Fortress and the Ivanovo Rock Churches, the access to tourist sites was improved mainly by means of European programs, the construction of tourist infrastructure - parking lots, restaurants, sanitary units, information boards and services, power supply and water supply, which further enhances the attractiveness of the objects. Nonetheless, local authorities and residents still consider the built tourist infrastructure as inadequate or unsupported.

The resources in the 74 villages in the Ruse district have been assessed according to approved methodology.

Attacment: Resource assessment matrix of tourism resources in the villages in district Ruse for inventory of the available resources in the villages in Ruse district The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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Coordination of results The 10 villages in Bulgaria were discussed and agreed upon by the two experts hired by the Leading Beneficiary. The choice of 10 villages was approved by the project staff. The selected villages are as follows: Village 1.Ekzarh Yosif 2.Karan Varbovka 3.Pepelina 4.Ivanovo 5.Mechka 6.Nisovo 7.Cherven 8.Basarbovo 9.Nikolovo 10.Ryahovo

Municipality Borovo

Assesment result 496

Dve mogili Dve mogili Ivanovo Ivanovo Ivanovo Ivanovo Ruse Ruse Slivo pole

676 702 807 583 672 603 501 543 693

Descriptions of natural and anthropogenic heritages specific to each of the selected villages, their accessibility as destinations and the intent and openness of the community to adapt to accommodate tourists for each of the 10 villages, SWOT analysis, Analysis of the difficulties and weaknesses identified locally for each village.

Recommendations for village development were prepared and attached to the separate reports for each of villages.

Study results The study aims to establish which of the sites in Ruse are considered the most attractive, the level of awareness of the local population, youth, and tourists of the natural and cultural sights, protected areas in the Rousse District, the willingness of the local population to participate in activities and services in the region, opportunities and proposals for new tourist products.

The developed surveys were 2 types:

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1. Addressed to the local population, local organizations and authorities, businesses, local cultural and tourist organizations 2. Target tour operators, travel agents, experts and students incl. local

The developed questionnaires were distributed among representatives of the local population and stakeholders during the tour around the region, as well as among the tour operators and students in tourism majors. Out of the 100 questionnaires, a total of 49 were filled in, with 23 questionnaires of the first kind and 26 of the second kind of questionnaires. Polls were also sent electronically, but the on-line survey that was attempted failed.

It has been noticed that the most interested in tourism development in the region - local residents and local authorities - find it hard to agree to fill out surveys out of concern for their businesses such as accommodation or catering owners, or employees in local institutions who are worried to share basic problems and difficulties, mostly related to disruption of the infrastructure - sewerage, lack or poor state of the tourist infrastructure, lack of mechanisms for letting and managing objects, public owned businesses and others.

Tourists who were interviewed during the tour of the area were most receptive and willing to share their mostly positive impressions of the region and the sites visited 31%. The low category of accommodation is in many cases offset by the responsiveness and good attitude of the owners who personally serve their clients and leave the guests satisfied.

Interviews with accommodation and catering owners have been a good form of sharing problems and expectations. In general, the income from tourists in the accommodation and catering areas in Ruse region is extremely insufficient even for the support of a two-member family, which can provide a supplementary income rather than provide for their food. Therefore, private owners refrain from large investments, and their expectations towards local authorities are related to lack of, insufficiently built or poorly maintained tourist infrastructure in the area.

Of course, there are exceptions such as 7-generations Winery in the Mechka village, which is of a higher category, for more picky tourists, larger groups of tourists or individual tourists from the country and abroad who organize a short break with 1, 2 up to 3 nights.

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Among the objectives of the survey is to study the attitudes of the local population and their readiness for tourism development, their expectations and on the other hand the demand among tour operators and their assessment of the potential for development of different types of tourism in the villages. The results of the survey will contribute to the development of an integrated approach to promoting the cultural and intangible heritage of rural communities in the Giurgiu and Ruse districts in order to support local economic development and the development of rural tourism.

STRUCTURE OF THE SURVEYS The first questionnaire consists of a total of 8 questions specifically related to the development of tourism in the Rousse region and the assessment of the local people about the tourist resources and built tourist infrastructure in the region. The responses are intended to show how well the respondents have knowledge of how to assess these resources, identify key obstacles and opportunities for development, their willingness to engage in tourism development in the region and their expectations of livelihoods from tourism. The last question gives information about the profile of the survey participants. Overall, the survey was targeted at local communities including residents, local authorities, tour operators, cultural institutions, educational institutions, and tourists visiting sites in the area.

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SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS OF THE INFORMATION OBTAINED What do you think is the most attractive tourist site - cultural, historical, natural, tradition offering, route, package or attraction in the villages in the Ruse region?

In general, the majority of respondents indicated the same number of answers for Basarbovo monastery "St. Dimitar Basarbovski" in the village of Basarbovo, the Ivanovo rock monastery and churches located along the Rusenski Lom river, Rusenski Lom Nature Park. Most of the respondents have mentioned the Medieval town-fortress Cherven, located about 30 km south of Rousse, within the boundaries of Rusenski Lom Nature Park and Orlova Chuka cave, located on the territory of Dve Mogili Municipality. Two of the respondents believe that the most attractive site in the Ruse region is fOREST Park "Lipnik", which is located in the village of Nikolovo. Among the answers mentioned are the Rock Church near the village of Cherven, the Carranborovo Monastery "St. Marina", the Stalpishte school at the village of Mechka and the protected areas in the Rusenski Lom Nature Park and around the Danube, Danube Bridge and Belene Bridge, located in the northeastern part of the town Byala, Ruse Municipality. There are no objects mentioned on the territory of the Municipality of Vetovo.

2. Please share your ideas / vision for the development of tourism in Ruse region?

On this issue, the most ideas for the development of tourism in the area are to create preconditions for cultural (exploratory, religious), rural (including festival and folklore including traditions, customs, The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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cuisine), eco tourism, biking, rock and cave tourism and hobby hiking-fishing. According to four surveys, it is necessary to create an appropriate base for leisure and leisure accommodation, as well as the development of a culturally recognizable type of tourism. There are suggestions for developing rural tourism, improving infrastructure and superstructure. Four of the respondents have indicated that the villages in Ruse region need advertising and the creation of specialized tourist products for different targeted Bulgarian tourists (individual, organized, seniors), tourists from Romania, from Western Europe (eco, ornithological, photo) , attractive products for cruise tourists, cross-border products.

Conclusions: The analysis of respondents' answers indicates that tourism infrastructure needs to be developed - attractions, places of accommodation, especially of a higher category, the main infrastructure-transport, ecological, sewerage, cultural, eco and bicycle tourism products to the main target markets - tourists from Bulgaria - individual, organized, for tourists from Romania, from Western Europe, for tourists from cruise ships. This will increase the tourist competitiveness and attractiveness of the villages in Ruse region.

There will be an improvement in local capacity for sustainable tourism management, which will increase the positive impacts of tourism on the environment, economy and culture.

In order to boost the development of tourism in Ruse region it is necessary to build tourist attractions to provide entertainment and diversity for the tourists. Tourist infrastructure and superstructure are key implementation factors in the development of the area. Without their construction, renovation and development, it is difficult, even impossible, to improve the attractiveness of the territory. The analysis shows that Ruse region needs to expand the bed base in its villages. The construction of the material base of tourism requires substantial investment. Their return is guaranteed by the attractiveness of the tourist destination, but for the moment there are not many investment intentions in the region.

The recreational and tourist resources available allow the development of various types of tourism in the Ruse region and their combination, as well as their use throughout the year or at least during two seasons.

For the future development of rural tourism in Ruse district it is necessary: further study and popularization of resources guaranteeing its sustainable development; preservation and development of traditional culture and arts; improving the infrastructure, strengthening the advertising and information activity, absorbing the funds for the development of rural regions.

3. The development of what kind of alternative tourism would you support?

Cultural/historical

12

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Festival Spa Folklore Eco Rural Congress/event Musical/rock Sports/hobby

6 6 9 11 8 3 3 10

The majority of the respondents support the development of cultural-historical, eco- and sports-hobby tourism in Ruse region. Folklore tourism is also a favorite. Eight of the respondents believe that in the region of Ruse is in need of developing rural tourism. Six responses are given for festival and balneal tourism. Congress and music tourism also has its fans

Conclusions: Analysis of the survey shows that 41% of the respondents appreciate the cultural tourism as a priority for the region and as the most contributing factor for the development of the local economy, incl. folklore and festivals and various musical events. Revenue expectations are for cultural institutions, museums, hoteliers, restaurateurs and all representatives of the tourism business as well as for the population. The expectations of the respondents overlap with the recommendations of the experts and it must be ensured that the formation and implementation of the national and regional policy for the development of cultural tourism prioritizes the preservation of national culture, encourages investments in cultural tourism and promotion of the region.

Within the municipality of Ruse and the region there are relatively few eco, interpretative and pedestrian routes, mainly concentrated in the Rusenski Lom region, but 13% of the respondents define ecotourism and 12% hobby and sports tourism as suitable for development in the targeted villages. In areas with natural attractions, accommodation is sufficient for short-term rest, but it’s not good enough for longer stays in the area.

The protected cultural and historical heritage in the area varies by type, level of socialization (exposure, respectively modern use and accessibility) and attendance.

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The cultural and historical heritage as a major tourist resource is highly concentrated mainly in the municipalities of Rousse and Ivanovo and to a lesser extent in the municipalities Dve Mogili, Borovo, Slivo pole and Byala.

The region has rich traditions - local folklore, lifestyle, crafts, rituals, cuisine, etc., which are also a valuable resource for tourism.

With the Rusenski Lom Nature Park and the Lipnik Forest Park are connected other currently offered opportunities for active recreation - hiking, sightseeing, mountain biking and riding, boating or kayaking, rock climbing, etc.

16

14

13

14

12

12 9

10 8

10 6

6

6 3

4

3

2 0 The development of which type of tourism would you support?

Cultural/ Historical

Eco

Sports / hobby tourism

Folklore

Rural

Festival

SPA

Congress tourism/ event tourism

Musical / rock tourism

Linear (Cultural/ Historical)

Linear (Eco)

4. Would you share ideas for other specialized types of tourism?

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For this question, respondents have suggested different types of ideas for specialized types of tourism.

Most suggestions are for rafting along the Danube and river cruises. Five suggestions are for the development of adventure tourism (paragliding), as well as for weddings. Three of the respondents offer eco, pedestrian and cultural. There are ideas of religious, congress, cave, wine and healing.

In addition to the regional center of Ruse, Ivanovo and Byala municipalities have good tourist potential. Established tourist destinations in the area are as follows • cultural-cognitive - Rousse, Ivanovo, Byala • Congres-business - Rousse • eco and rural - Ivanovo, Byala • ornithologists - Ivanovo, Slivo pole, Borovo

Conclusions: The analysis of the answers to this question indicates that the respondents are aware that despite the presence of the Danube river there is no serious supply of additional tourist services related to the river - water sports, walks, cruises, even opportunities for fishing are not available as a finished product. The main reason is the lack of a spatial plan for the coastal areas, piers and ports in small settlements, separate areas for beach and sports, etc. Greater and more targeted dissemination of information and popularization of the region's natural resources is needed, and within and during guests' stay. With the exception of Rusenski Lom NP, other natural resources and especially the Danube River are not popularized as eco-destinations.

The development of sports tourism would bring significant benefits to the local economy of the Ruse region - in particular for sports institutions, hoteliers and restaurateurs.

In the selected villages there are a number of ornithologically important places (the fishponds near the village of Mechka, the canyons of Lomovete, etc.) attracting fans of this type of tourism.

Ruse Region needs development and organization of new eco-initiatives, Creating a comprehensive network of hiking and cycling routes by linking existing and marking new ones; Marking of new thematic routes (urban architectural, educational, ecclesiastical, etc.) · Creation of permanent attractions (Scout camp, adventure park, lifts for Ivanovo Rock Churches and Cherven, etc.); The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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5. What do you relate to the vision of tourism development in the villages of Ruse and why?

A large number of respondents have linked the vision of tourism development in villages with rural, eco and folk tourism, almost each of the respondents offers as an additional attraction the recreation of the old customs in the villages as well as the natural landmarks along the Danube. There are suggestions related to climatic tourism hunting and fishing. Part of the respondents believe that improving infrastructure and superstructure and creating sustainable economic and social development in the region of Ruse will improve the development of rural tourism. An important factor for tourism development is the improvement of the image of the region, advertising and creation of cross-border products between Bulgaria and Romania.

Conclusions: The analysis shows that the region of Rousse needs to improve the intra-regional relations (state and maintenance of the municipal roads); Organized promotion of demonstration opportunities / participation in crafts, customs, traditions would contribute to the improvement of the rural tourism outlook.

The vision for developed tourism in the villages is connected with the new construction and development of modern infrastructure, which corresponds to the capacity of the constructed facilities in the country, as well as effective marketing and advertising of Bulgaria and its tourist regions as tourist destinations. There is no general marketing of the region, incl. common message, positioning as a single destination, joint advertising, etc .;

Tourism is mentioned as a priority factor for the development of the region and the individual municipalities in Ruse - Ivanovo, Ruse, Borovo, Dve Mogili, Slivo pole. It is undisputed that in the villages selected there is potential for tourism development, which contributes to the development of the economies in the target region. In the future, the world's tourism industry is expected to grow significantly as a result of increased personal incomes and leisure time, as well as improved transport networks and accessibility. Worldwide, tourism contributes to 9.1% of the global gross product and creates nearly 240 million jobs. According to experts, the numbers will increase despite the deterioration in economic conditions.

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Compared to other sectors (industry, agriculture), services are the main driver of economic growth in recent years in Bulgaria. Of particular importance for service growth is tourism, which has grown significantly and has made a significant contribution both to value added and to the reduction in payment deficit. Tourism is expected to maintain high growth rates as well as its share of gross value added and is therefore considered to be the main vector of generation. In this sense, tourism is a complex incentive to achieve economic revival for a number of regions in Bulgaria, regions of which the heavy industry has withdrawn, thus providing opportunities for unlocking new development potential.

6. Tourism infrastructure. Questions related to tourism infrastructure were as follows: • How many places of accommodation are there in and around your village (up to 10-15 km) ?

Please list them • How many dining places are available in and around your village?

Please list them • Can you think of interesting attractions, incl. shops, diners, craft workshops and centers, wineries, etc., which would attract tourists to your village?

Please list them 

Accommodation in the villages in Ruse

Most of the respondents have listed hotels in the regional town of Rousse, which is close to a large part of the villages (10 to 40 km.), Being especially popular - Hotel Complex ˵Izvora - Ruse, the 4-star Cosmopolitan Hotel, Residence House Ruse Boutique Hotel, located in the historical center of Rousse;

There are also a number of guest houses, huts and smaller hotels in the villages: Orlova chuka chalet - located 35 km. south of the town of Rousse, not far from the village of Pepelina; Family Hotel "Cherniyat Shtarkel" and "Rusenski Lom", in the village of Nisovo; Hotel "Familia", Hotel "7 generations" in the village of Mechka, The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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Guest House "Petrovi" in the village of Cherven Krastova house-village of Borovo; Lipite complex - village of Nikolovo; Roussenski Lom hut - Basarbovo village.

Conclusion: The analysis shows that the average annual employment of existing shelter and accommodation places in the villages of Rousse is very low, which is also indicated as the main reason for lack of investor interest. The analysis of the bed base shows significant specifics that have a negative impact on the formation and quality of the tourist product.

The variety of accommodation is significant - hotels, motels, family hotels, holiday homes, chalets, guest houses, private rooms, bungalows and more. The lack of a sufficient number of high-class tourist sites implies difficulties in forming a competitive product for high-paying tourists (eg in the field of cultural tourism). At the same time there is a tendency to generate a large number of small capacity tourist sites in a number of settlements, mainly in Ivanovo Municipality, which is a positive precondition for eco and rural tourism, which are practiced in small groups. This is also an indicator of increased interest, economic expectations and tourism initiatives by the local population. This widespread distribution of mostly small tourist sites creates technological difficulties in the formation of the tourist product, the sale of hotel services and the organization of group visits but is a positive prerequisite for deconcentrated distribution of tourism benefits. The specifics of a family hotel’s services require personal contact with guests and service mostly individual tourists, which at the same time requires a higher degree of organization of the public sector serving the destination tourism public transport, information, etc.

A negative feature is the almost total lack of bed capacity in Borovo municipality, which prevents the realiziation of its full tourist potential despite the availability of resources for it. 

Places for dining in and around the villages of Rousse

There are proposals for restaurants in Rousse. In the villages, preferred dining establishments are: “Razklona” Restaurant; 7 generations Winery - Mechka village.

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Restaurant "Ribarska sreshta" - Ryahovo village "Monastery" - Ivanovo village; Lipite complex - village of Nikolovo; Hotel "Cherniyat Shtarkel" - Nisovo village; Alpistat hut - Basarbovo village.

Fish restaurant "Ribarska sreshta" Ryahovo village

Other attractions, incl. shops, dairies, craft workshops and centers, wineries, etc., which would attract tourists in the villages of Rousse

Tourist centers are built in Rousse, Ivanovo village, Dve mogili, Rusenski Lom Nature Park, Brashlen village.

Almost in all villages there are grocery stores, pet shops, building materials, furniture and children's goods. Attractive for tourism are the Winery; Museums and monuments; Eco Routes and EcoInfrastructure in Rusenski Lom Nature Park, Eco Museum with Aquarium in Rousse Fishermen and boats - Mechka, Ryahovo, Nikolovo Ayazmo in the village of Karanvarbovka; Zoo - Ekzarh Yosif village Ethnographic collection of the village of Ekzarh Yosif Military Museum of the village of Ekzarh Yosif Landscape and art studios in the village of Pepelina Monuments – of wars heroes and others Existing churches and monasteries throughout the region

7. What do you think could improve the quality of service and what steps should be taken to do this?

A large number of respondents noted that for quality improvement, qualified staffing and staff training are needed. Five of the surveys responded to more diverse attractions and better advertising. Four respondents said that higher wages in tourism would have a positive impact on service quality. Three The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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of the respondents point to the infrastructure problem. There are suggestions on the possibility of more weekend-based holidays and the opening of new jobs in the field of tourism,

Conclusion: Analysis of the survey indicates that it is crucial for people working in tourism to have professional skills and market knowledge. It is important to pay special attention to owners of small family hotels and guest houses, small restaurants and other tourist attractions by helping with trainings and seminars to increase the efficiency of their work, with the aim of increasing the satisfaction of tourists.

Increasing the popularity of the region as a tourist destination is a key factor for attracting tourists and new private investors Region Ruse needs to advertise the tourist website of the TIC of all the municipalities in Rousse district; a higher number of advertising and PR publications; printed and distributed catalogs, brochures, leaflets, etc. The analysis shows that there is a need to increase the benefits to society and business through tourism - new jobs and better incomes, as well as Development of local exhibitions and exchanges in the field of tourism- Weekend tourism.

8. Would you invest in tourist infrastructure, eg. setting up a family business: guest house, dining room, craft shop and demonstrations

Only 17% of respondents have indicated that they know people who have started or intend to invest in tourist infrastructure. The poor employment of accommodation bases in the region and the low incomes for the local people do not stimulate the attraction of investors in tourism.

The Second Survey aims to encourage the development of new tourism products and diversify existing tourism resources in the region and direct participants to specific tourist products, routes, services, sites.

Which, in your opinion, are the most famous sites of cultural, historical and natural heritage in the cross-border destinations within the Rousse-Giurgevo region The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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History, architecture (Route suggestion 1)

The most popular in the region of Rousse are the villages of Ivanovo,Cherven, Basarbovo,Mechka and respectively the sights, which are described in detail in the profile of each of the mentioned villages.

The most popular routes related to the cultural, historical and natural heritage.

• The town of Ruse - the village of Ivanovo - the village of Cherven - the village of Mechka Giurgiu • Village of Ekzarh Yosif-Pepelina village-Ivanovo village-Mechka village-Cherven village • Village of Mechka-village of Cherven-village of Basarbovo-village of Nikolovo • Basarbovo- Ivanovo- Cherven-Karanvarbovka- Pepelina-Ekzarh Yosif- Mechka Routes include the villages: Basarbovo, Karan Varbovka, Babovo, Borisovo, Slivo pole, Ryahovo, Nikolovo, Nisovo, Kosharna, Brashlyan and Ekzarh Yosif. Nine of the polls marked the city of Rousse as the initial destination. Several of the respondents pointed out as the ending point of Giurgiu. Only one offer includes the villages of Brashlen, Nisovo and Slivo pole.

For the duration of one tour in the region as the most suitable number of days 48% of the respondents are mentioned 2 day trips, 39% - three days, 9% think they can be organized for long stays.

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9%

4%

1 day 2 day 39%

48%

3 day More than three days

Additional attractions, products, events that can be included in the destination are, for example, a hiking tour, cycling, visits to craft workshops and more.

Respondents have indicated attractions such as a bicycle tour or hike in the Stalpishte and Roussenski Lom region, as well as visits to craft workshops and ethnographic gatherings in the chitalishte in the villages.

Nature, sports, recreation There is a similar situation with cross-border environmental routes. The most popular for eco-tourism in the region are Ivanovo, Cherven, Nisovo, Karanbovka, Ryahovo, Nikolovo, Basarbovo, Mechka.

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Krasen Brashlen Dve mogili Slivo pole Mechka Gyurgevo Babovo Karan Varbovka Nisovo Nikolovo Ekzarh Yosif

Pepelina Ryahovo Basarbovo Ivanovo Cherven Ruse 0

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According to respondents with the most popular routes related to nature, sports and recreation are: • The town of Rousse - the village of Mechka - the village of Ivanovo - the village of Cherven-Giurgiu • Rousse-Ivanovo village-Dve mogili-Bucharest • Village of Mechka-village of Cherven-village of Basarbovo-village of Nikolovo And respectively the most popular places and object are: Rusenski Lom Nature Park Lipnik park – Nikolovo (Teketo) Cave Orlova chuka – Pepelina Ancient castle Apiaria - Ryahovo Rock Church Cherven - Cherven Batalkiyata Wild Reserve - Nisovo Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo Lomovete – Protected area Roman tomb - Babovo Rock Monastery St.Dimitrii of Basarbovo Church “St. Arhangel Mihail”- Ekzarh Yosif Monastery St. Marina – Karan Varbovka The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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Feodal castle – Cherven Kalimok- Braslen Protected area- Ryahovo As complementary activities to ecotourism offers and additional attractions are mentioned: Batalkiyata Wild Reserve - Nisovo Lipnik Pak Batin Island Eco Museum Rock tourism, Sports tourism Cycle tourism, Wine tourism Festival, Eco, Cultural Tourism Craft Workshops und house Panoramic tour Walking tourism 0

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The majority of suggestions are about 2 day holidays and nature trips.

Educational tourism Ivanovo, Cherven, Basarbovo, Ekzarh Yosif are among the favorites for educational tourism within 2-3 day tours in the region.

Nikolovo, Pepelina, Tabachka, Ekzarh Yosif, Basarbovo, Ivanovo are preferred for visits to ethnographic sites, traditional events and objects of intangible cultural heritage and rural tourism.

As additional attractions and opportunities for alternative tourism are listed: Types of tourism

Settlements

General terms River / water tourism

Nikolovo, Ryahovo, Mechka,

Cruise tourism

around town Ruse

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Ecological tourism Rural tourism

Ivanovo, Mechka, Pepelina, Slivo pole, Nisovo, Karan Varbovka Ivanovo, Nikolovo, Pepelina, Ekzarh Yosif, Karan Varbovka

Cultural and historical tourism

Ivanovo, Cherven, Mechka, Basarbovo, Byala

Ornithological tourism

Ryahovo,Slivo pole, Ivanovo, Nisovo, Pepelina, Vetovo

Spa and wellness tourism Equestrian tourism Hunting, fishing

Ruse, Mechka Nikolovo, Ruse, Cenovo, Vetovo, Nisovo, Karan Varbovka, Nikolovo, Ryahovo, Mechka, Pepelina Ruse, Cenovo, Nisovo, Pepelina, Karan Varbovka, Basarbovo, Nikolovo, Mechka, Ekzarh Yosif

Cycling Other complementary forms of alternative tourism (alpinism, hang gliding, wine, etc.)

Religious

Borovo, Ruse, Ivanovo, Nisovo, Cherven, Mechka Rock monasteries -Basarbovo, Ivanovo, Cherven, Nisovo, Karan Varbovka

The natural and cultural attractions of the area, complemented by its history and location, make the region an interesting place to visit and develop various types of tourism.

The analysis of the proposed variants of the respondents gives information that tour operators are generally familiar with sites of cultural, historical and natural heritage in the region of Rousse-Gurgevo, but there is a need to create a constant tourist demand not only during national holidays and during major cultural events in the region.

The aim should be to maximize the potential of the region in terms of tourism resources, which allows tourism to be developed throughout the year. Difficult access to and the unfavorable environment of some of the attractive cultural and historical monuments limits their inclusion in tourist products. This can be overcome by investing in building and improving tourism infrastructure.

Most of the municipalities in the Rousse district have access to the Danube River, and have natural (the The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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Lomove basin) and artificial ponds. This creats the traditions of fishing, fish farming, fish and fishery products. The exotics of the environment and the lifestyle in the so-called "Fishing villages", combined with the opportunities for developing water sports, represent a significant resource for enriching the offered tourist product.

The preserved traditions of local crafts can be offered as a tourist attraction especially in the villages of the area – barrel making, carpentry, extraction and processing of traditional stone, weaving, hand knitting and embroidery with traditional motifs. The best conditions for rural tourism are in municipalities and settlements near other attractions such as Ivanovo monasteries, fishing villages and water basins. In Rousse, these conditions are most suitable in the municipalities of Ivanovo, Dve Mogili, Slivo pole and Borovo.

Some of the economic activities of the district economy also have the potential to enrich the proposed tourist product with additional attractions and leisure opportunities: • Fisheries and fishing - opportunities for organizing sport fishing • Vine-growing, wine-making and fruit-growing - opportunities for tasting local wines, participation in grape harvest, etc. attractive forms of agricultural work Strategies and possibilities for development of villages as tourist destinations Tourism is defined as a priority for development in the National Regional Development Strategy, in all regional development plans and regional development strategies as well as in most municipal development plans.

NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN BULGARIA 2014-2030 In the Strategy for Sustainable Development of Tourism in Bulgaria till 2030 the Danube Region and the region around Rousse has been given a significant role and a number of measures and activities:

DANUBE REGION 2 1.1. Positioning the region as a destination of the "Free Spirit on the Danube" 1.2. Creation of a cross-border tourist destination "The Roman Way of Emperor Trajan" (Ulpia Eskus and Sexaginta Prista) 2

PROJEKT OF UPDATING THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM, 2014 - 2030 The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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1.3. Development of cultural and historical routes related to the role of the Danube River for the penetration of Western European culture in Bulgaria 1.4. Development of cultural and historical routes to sites under the protection of UNESCO in Ivanovo and their inclusion in the Cultural Corridors of Southeastern Europe 1.5. Development of cultural and historical routes related to the Russo-Turkish liberation war 1.6. Development of river cruise tourism along the Danube River 1.7. Development of sport and adventure tourism along the Danube River (Creation and marketing of the Danube cycling route) 1.8. Development of ecological tourism in the region of Rusenski Lom Nature Park 1.9. Development of urban entertainment and shopping tourism oriented towards the Romanian market 1.10. Development of routes for wine and culinary tourism in the region of Rousse 1.11. Development of religious and pilgrimage tourism

PRIORITIZING THE PRODUCT OF CULTURAL TOURISM 4.1. Supporting museums for creating and offering innovative cultural products for tourists and attracting tourist demand 4.2. Partnership between museums, municipalities and local NGOs to create temporary or permanent exposures to promote local cultural monuments and intangible cultural assets 4.3. Partnerships between museums and foreign and national TOs for incorporation of the museum tourist product into tourist packages 4.4. State initiative to create a list of national pilgrimage sites and identify potential micro-destinations for pilgrimage tourism 4.5. Collaboration and partnerships with religious temples, churches, monasteries 4.6. Restoration of temples, churches, monasteries that have lost their former appearance (or have been destroyed) and them joining the pilgrimage tourism routes 4.7. Initiating partnerships between Orthodox churches worldwide and creating opportunities for mutual promotion of a pilgrim tourist product 4.8. Creation of multicultural cultural routes on the basis of cooperation and tolerance between the The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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institutional representatives of the religions professed in Bulgaria 4.9. Improving the quality of the tourist product of wine tourism and helping to promote it 4.10. Participation of all wine producers in the creation of "national representative cellars", positioned in key tourist and transport hubs, in order to promote the whole Bulgarian eco-product 4.11. State support to private initiative in the creation, development and advertising of spa and wellness centers specialized in providing vinotherapeutic procedures 4.12. Prioritize and promote cultural events of international importance, create new events for which there is significant cultural potential 4.13. Support for the development of events in small towns and villages 4.14. Partnerships at the municipal and national level with the organizers of international music festivals ("Tomorrowland", "Ultra Music Festival", "Lollapalooza", "ViĂąa del Mar") to turn big city centers into an attraction point for youth and event tourism.

4.15. Taking measures for preservation and improvement of the general and specialized infrastructure, which is important for the development of the event tourism in Bulgaria

4.16 Combining the efforts of stakeholders in the development of festivals, holidays and customs of national or regional importance, creating theatrical, literary, folklore events in certain areas with significant cultural potential 4.17. Encourage the attendance of cultural tourism sites in inactive seasons 4.18. Establishment of an international SME association EUROTHENTICA, based in Rome, Italy, to implement and multiply the results of the DIVERTIMENTO project (the project envisages the introduction of the so-called Trilogy (Cultural Route, Booklet, Internet Games about Cultural Heritage) IT technologies and the experience of participating partners) 4.19. Development of multimedia applications and interactive maps for presenting Bulgarian cultural values and objects to a wide range of potential users 4.20. Development of programs for landscape zoning and diversification of regional tourism products based on ICT 4.21. Creation of a media advertising campaign - brochures, videos and presentations aiming at the promotion of cultural tourism sub-products and in particular the intangible cultural heritage 4.22. Offering developed cultural routes to Bulgarian and foreign TCs The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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4.23. Joint packaging of cultural tourism sub-products with the products of other priority or niche species and forms of tourism (health, youth, sports, etc.) in order to reach a larger consumer audience 4.24. Using the possibilities of the Internet and information and communication technologies (ICT) to offer cultural tourism trips through virtual intermediaries, CRC and GDS 4.25. Cooperation between public and private owners in the distribution of tourist products, including fully or partially cultural tourism, in order to improve consumer perceptions as to the quality and usefulness of the service offered.

SPECIALIZED SPORTS TOURISM 5.1. Coordination of institutions for the proper use of state hunting farms for the development of international hunting tourism 5.2. Coordination of institutions for the proper use of private artificial water basins for practicing international and national sport fishing 5.3. Increase the number and variety of sports tournaments for professionals and amateurs held in summer tourist resorts 5.4. Determination of the specific communication mix (advertising, promotion, direct marketing, PR) for the concentrated presentation of the products of sports tourism on domestic and in priority foreign markets, concentrated advertising campaign with presentation of Bulgarian sporting events.

5.5. Promotion of sporting events including forms of cultural tourism (concerts, festivals, etc.) in order to attract a target audience with low interest in sporting events.

5.6. Using the potential of cultural and historical values to enhance the physical state of the individual through municipal, regional or national races of the "Race to Victory" type.

DANUBE STATEGY The market shares with the biggest development potential at regional level are the following: cruises on Danube River, rural tourism, sports tourism (water sports) and fishing, leisure tourism, weekend tourism (for citizens from Bucharest Municipality, 65 km away, but also as breaks from the city), cultural tourism, business and transit tourism.

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There is the potential for creating and promoting a "Danube destination with rich cultural and historical heritage, with many events and preserved nature, offering opportunities for cognitive trips and experiences ", as well as the creation and promotion of the" Destination for Cultural Tourism, Events and Experiences on the Danube River ".

International cultural corridors

The Danube Road is a cultural corridor along the great Danube River. Beginning from Schwarzwald (Germany), the river flows through ten countries, including Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Bulgaria and Romania, to flow into the Black Sea. It is the only large floating river in Europe that runs from west to east, which has also defined its crucial importance as an important link between Western Europe and the Black Sea for centuries.

The Danube is the largest river in the European Union, linking ten countries, features picturesque ports, and hosts a plethora of cruises. Experience this dynamic river from the largest port in Ruse, Bulgaria, where neo-Baroque and neo-Rococo architecture dots riverside pathways as people jog and cycle alongside. From here you'll see some unusual monuments, such as a crumbling medieval castle on a rock above the Danube. Grab a bite at a restaurant by the river, snap photos of this site amidst an urban setting, or board one of the riverside cruise boats to learn about the region's history and ecosystems. Some itinerary builder as Inspirock's, trip30, travaa, trip advisor etc. make planning a Ruse trip simple and quick.

The Eastern Trans-Balkan Road crosses South East Europe in the North-South direction. The corridor passes through Romania, Bulgaria and Greece and connects the Baltic sea with the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. Along its way to the North, the Eastern Trans- Balkan road connects with the great European route Via Regia (the Royal Road) in L’viv (Ukraine) – crossing Europe from Kiev to Santiago de Compostela (Spain).

The Eastern Trans-Balkan road is the spine of the monastery centres in South East Europe in North-East direction. Staring from the religious area of the churches in Moldavia and the wooden churches in The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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Maramures (Romania), the corridor goes to the South to the Holy Mount in Veliko Tarnovo and the Holy Mount in the Rhodopi Mountains. The corridor infuses the religious axis Via Egnatia by the former great monastery centre Mount Papikion. The Eastern Trans-Balkan road passes through three mountainous massifs, each with a specific character – the Carpaths, the Balkan range (the Balkans) and the Rhodopi Mountains. These secluded places have preserved as odd isles of time – traditional village agglomerations with preserved Balkan architecture.

A specific feature of the Eastern Trans-Balkan Road is its fragment on the territory of Bulgaria. It reflects a complex stratification of time layers – from most modern times in Ruse on the Danube river, through the monasteries, churches and vernacular architecture of Modern Times in the cultural areas of Veliko Tarnovo and Assenovgrad, the Medieval fortresses to the north of the Balkan range and in the Rhodopi Mountains, reaching most ancient civilizations – the Thracian tombs in Kazanlak and Sveshtari,, the Neolithic dwellings in Stara Zagora, the Valley of Thracian Kings, the rock sanctuaries in Perperikon and Belintash.

The Eastern Trans-Balkan Road exhibits the most distinctive achievements of craftsmen – builders, woodcarvers, painters in the unique churches of Moldavia, Maramures, the imposing rock monasteries in Ivanovo, the monasteries of the Holy Mounts in Veliko Tarnovo and the Rhodopi Mountains. A number of historical towns are also located along the road - Sighisoara, Sibiu, Brasov, Bucharest (Romania), Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Plovdiv, Smolyan (Bulgaria), Xanthi, Drama, Kavala, Alexandroupoli, Didimoticho, Samothraki (Greece).

People have been living in Ruse and its vicinities for millennia. Thus, the traces of its habitation are so many – legends, ruins, necropoles, monuments. Few know that the town and the region have a unique cultural heritage of national and world significance. There are also a lot of places that leave a lasting memory and are important for the local community and for the formation of its cultural identity. The knowledge about the existence of these sites supports their preservation.

Ruse is an old Bulgarian town on the Danube river. Since the beginning of time people have settled along the river, which granted them means of living – thus the tale of Rousse began in Prehistory. The The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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discovered clay idols – patrons of life, are nowadays kept in the museum. The houses of the past were arranged in a row, forming streets. This is why the specialists are considering the territory of Rousse tell to be a prototype of a town from around the fifth millennium BC. In the beginning of the 1st century AD the Romans founded here a military camp – a fort, where the navy of Lower Danube was gathered in the winter. In the mouth of Ruse Lom river were anchored the “pristis” ships, which gave the name of Sexaginta Prista – port of the sixty ships. According to other legends – the nomination “sixty ships” meant the number of ships needed to transport a legion of soldiers. The latest archaeological research showed that long before the arrival of the Romans on the high bank at the mouth of the Rousse Lom river there has been a Thracian settlement. It existed for three centuries BC and traded with the eastern part of the Balkans – amphorae from the island of Rhodes were also found.

In the beginning of the 5th century AD the Slavic invaders entered on the territory of the Roman Empire and destroyed the fort of Sexaginta Prista, like the Goths did before them. The Slavs, however, established settlements of their own in proximity to the contemporary town and after the creation of the Bulgarian state, the fortress on the riverbank restored its guarding functions. Archaeological evidence from the time of the First Bulgarian Kingdom are stating the presence of a Bulgarian fortress and a settlement there.

Recommendations for the development of villages in the cross-border region Ruse- Giurgiu Cross-border cooperation is one of the main objectives in Europe and the cohesion policy of the member states determines its importance. The integration of regions separated by national borders, facing common problems requiring unified solutions, is the ultimate goal of this cooperation. The membership of Bulgaria and Romania in the European Union has important strategic implications. It reduces the traditional function of the border as an obstacle to social, cultural and economic cooperation and removes administrative obstacles to the free movement of goods and people. Crossborder cooperation between Bulgaria and Romania encompasses all spheres of the economy. This The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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implies the development of common programs, strategies and actions, the active participation of different societal groups and management levels, especially in the field of tourism.

The cross-border region of Ruse-Giurgiu is filled with a variety of natural and anthropogenic tourist resources, which are largely unknown to visitors. Unique cultural and natural resources are among the strengths of the Bulgarian-Romanian region. Archaeological and architectural heritage, traditional folklore, cultural and urban landscapes are the subject of many programs and their further encouragement and development leads to diversification of tourism activities. This creates the conditions for the management of cross-border tourism programs and projects and for joint management of funds from different sources. However, a large number of tourist sites are difficult to access, with underdeveloped infrastructure and insufficient tourist interpretation to meet the contemporary requirements of international tourism. Poor economic development, depopulation of the region and aging populations have had a negative impact on the human factor and the shortage of skilled workers. The lack of a clear vision and awareness of the benefits of developing the region as a tourist destination leads to fragmentation of existing projects, worsened communication between stakeholders and difficulties in forming a common identity.

The cross-border region Ruse-Giurgiu should be increasingly oriented towards the business sector and the market in planning and realization of its economic priorities and activities.

The fundamental question is how the overall cross-border region of Ruse-Giurgiu can evolve and adapt to growing competition, how to offer sustainable development to meet the challenges of the market.

The region must meet market conditions and adapt to user requirements and searches.

The sustainable development of the cross-border region of Ruse-Giurgiu is a reflection of the continuous struggle for market positioning, through innovation and preservation of historical values and traditions. The basic idea of community development and the formation of an environment is related to the people who live and work in this community at this time; regional planning aims to establish the economic base of the community and to protect the "public interest". Economic The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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development offers not only more productivity, but also the productive usage of resources, more innovation, and focus on enhancing competitiveness. At the heart of these approaches is the idea that in order to succeed, it has to use its business potential and develop and operate the planning methodology (strategic market planning).

The region's brand should be created and enforced as an opportunity to integrate the competitive advantages of the site as major economic development goals.

The Cross-border Region Ruse-Giurgiu must take into account the main resources and on their basis plan and select the most appropriate marketing tools (advertising, organizational, functional and many others), tailored to the specifics of the different consumer groups and their expectations and requirements. In order to build strategic and successful marketing, the region needs several key elements - effective planning, marketing factors that include infrastructure, attractions, image, quality of life and people, and as a last but very important factor - well-defined target markets.

In summary, the following conclusions can be drawn: • There is a need for a new understanding of the positioning of the cross-border region Ruse-Giurgiu as a tourist destination - positioning based on strategic advetisement tailored to a specific target group of users. • This follows the creation of a comprehensive cross-border strategy for the cross-border region RuseGiurgiu, coordinated and realized with all stakeholders (state institutions, civil, cultural and educational organizations, society, private organizations, etc.).

The construction of an effective tourist brand in the cross-border region of Ruse-Giurgiu is related to asking the question: what is the brand image that the cross-border region can present to the world in the 21st century? A brand that is recognizable, bearing the emotion to be evoked and accepted by the consumer of the tourist destination Cross-border region Ruse-Giurgiu.

An effective factor for success in attracting investment and funding is effective cooperation between institutions and various tourism organizations. The development of this factor in the BulgarianRomanian cross-border region is greatly favored by the fact that the creation of public-private The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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partnerships is a major task in both countries. A wide range of measures at national level has been developed to achieve this. At local level, however, it is also necessary to build even more cross-border partnerships with different organizations and institutions.

For the Bulgarian-Romanian cross-border region, partnership can be defined as an agreement to work with a public or private organization to create and develop components of a tourism investment promotion program. This partnership can be identified and developed by all institutions and organizations that play a role in the development of tourism and can be based on formal or informal relationships. It aims to accomplish tasks that can be better achieved through collaborative work than on their own. Partners need to be included in such a way that they can add value to a range of upcoming tourism activities and contribute resources.

Vulnerability and threats Despite its growth in recent years, tourism in Bulgaria suffers from serious structural weaknesses such as uniform supply, dependence on a limited number of markets, poor tourist infrastructure and services, low occupancy rates, average stay and income from each tourist, and last but not least, an exclusive territorial concentration that limits the wider distribution of the benefits brought by tourism, while a significant part of the tourism potential of the country remains unused.

In this sense, the Rousse-Gurgevo region and especially the rural areas have potential for development. The growth of tourism and its contribution to the regional economy and prosperity can not be maintained under the existing approach that leads to significant environmental, social and economic pressures and risks, which is why interventions are needed to ensure sustainable tourism development, diversification of products and markets, improvement of the performance indicators and wider territorial distribution.

Throughout the country, tourism is seen as one of the main tools to support regional and local development. The expansion of the tourism sector can have a positive impact not only on the sector itself but also on the development of the related sectors of industry and services, employment and the general economic wellbeing of the regions. This is of particular importance to peripheral areas where development opportunities are limited.

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Tourism is defined as a priority for development in the National Regional Development Strategy, in all regional development plans and regional development strategies as well as in most municipal development plans.

Natural recreational-tourist resources are the destination of the majority of tourist travels worldwide 2/3 of them visit destinations with predominantly natural resources. These include the main natural components both individually and in their complexity and integrity. The perception of the landscape and of the individual components is mainly visual – forms of the relief, rocks, open waters, vegetation and the animal world. For most types of tourism, climate, air quality, and water quality, as well as their restorative and psychophysical properties, are particularly important. Besides by their components, natural recreational resources can be considered by types of natural environment - mountainous, low mountainous, alpine, seaside, lakes, hilly-plain, settlements, etc.

Of all the natural components, the climate has the greatest influence on all types and forms of tourism, which in turn is determined by the geographical location and the relief of the destination. During all recreational activities, tourists are in a specific air environment with characteristic microclimatic features. These climate features that have the greatest impact on people are called bioclimate. It is manifested by various parameters - air temperature, humidity, level of pollution, atmospheric pressure, duration and strength of sunshine, strength and direction of winds, timeframe and duration of the snow cover, clouds, fog, etc.

The main climate changes affecting tourism are related primarily to changes in temperatures and precipitation in spatial and temporal (seasonal) aspects. Therefore, further analysis is based on studies and forecasts on these two parameters3.

Registered observations show that the global climate is changing and the on-going changes are visible across the world. Over the past decades, there has been a clear trend of temperature increase, accompanied by a reduction in rainfall and its amount. Naturally, the notability and pattern of these changes are regionally differentiated.

The conclusions of famous studies on the impact of climate change on Bulgarian tourism can be 3

ANALYSIS AND RISK ASSESSMENT OF THE SECTORS IN THE BULGARIAN ECONOMY FROM CLIMATE CHANGE "MOEW, 2018 The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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summarized by the following trends: • The summer tourist season will be extended (both in spring and autumn) - the reason is the increase in temperatures in the country, especially in the autumn season; • Biocomfort will be reduced during the peak summer season, when a significant decrease in the number of overnight stays, mainly by foreigners, can be expected; • The winter tourist season will be significantly shortened, and in places with lower altitudes it may very well disappear - due to increasing temperatures in the country, increase of the rate of liquid rainfall, increase the height of the constant snow line, earlier melting of the snow; • Seasonality as a whole will decrease or at least grow at a slow pace at the expense of shrinking winter season and growing summer season; • There will be a significant shortage of water for drinking and hygiene needs of tourists, especially in Eastern Bulgaria, where about 75% of the accommodation base of tourism is located.

• There will be significant changes in the structure of tourist inflow into the country. Some of the traditional visitors will decrease or even disappear due to improved weather conditions and recreational opportunities in their own countries (eg Germany, Great Britain, Poland, Scandinavian countries, etc.)

• Bulgarian tourism should increasingly rely on domestic tourism. Tourism enterprises and organizations should be redirected in a timely manner and turn their attention to the retention of Bulgarian tourists in the country and their satisfaction; • The occupancy of the accommodation base has a chance to increase. Cause - the extended summer tourist season; • Labor employment in tourism also has a chance of being increased, thus creating opportunities for less turnover, increasing the skills and income of the staff and ultimately increasing the quality of tourist services in Bulgaria. As a consequence, increases in tourism revenue can be expected; • Revenues from tourism can increase during the summer season if the forecasts mentioned above come true. The response and adaptation of the tourism business to the new challenges it faces as a result of climate change will be of major importance.

In conclusion, it can be summarized that climate change will have a significant impact on tourism in The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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Bulgaria, especially on the two main types of tourism - sea summer recreational and winter ski tourism, which have pronounced seasonal characteristics and are most susceptible to changes in the climate.

At the same time some alternative perennial types of tourism, which are very promising for our country but are not sufficiently developed for different reasons (cultural, religious, route, culinary, wine etc.) will not be influenced to a great extent or climate change will not cause significant differences in them. Even they can become compensatory in terms of using the accommodation base and the available tourist staff. With good marketing strategies, tourism in the country can increase its contribution to Bulgarian GDP - gross domestic product.

In this sense, the Bulgarian tourism industry as a whole and the individual economic units in it should develop strategies for their future development and for appropriate adaptations to the expected changes. New integrated and diversified tourism products, which are not so dependent on the climatic and meteorological conditions of the country and its individual destinations, should be developed in new markets and especially in the Bulgarian one, which is no less useful and productive than its foreign counterparts. The reduction of income and employment as a result of climate change can be very successfully offset by offering higher quality tourism products and attracting richer, more educated and more cultured tourists. Quantity, both in terms of supply and demand, should be successfully replaced by quality.

Another important issue related to climate change which can have a significant cross-border effect and which will be increasingly important for Bulgaria in the coming years is related to the management of cross-border river basins. Given the peculiarities of local geography, Bulgaria is less dependent on the distribution of water resources than its neighboring countries.

On the other hand, all River Basin Districts (RBDs) are part of international pools, which makes management responsibility not only more important but also requires cooperation with neighboring countries. The problems with the management of cross-border basins for Bulgaria are not fully resolved, but only the Danube basin has all the necessary attributes: an existing cooperation agreement, a cooperation body and a general river basin management plan.

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Main principles of sustainable tourism:

The principle of satisfaction of visitors There are several main factors that lead to the visitor's curiosity about the tourist supply in the culinary, youth, rural and extreme tourism: (a) tourist attractions that represent a challenge to the intelligence of visitors and which enable visitors to use their skills and abilities; to offer a variety of tasks, freedom and feedback on how well they’re doing. At a moderate level of challenge, most visitors experience satisfaction; (b) a fair price / quality ratio of the tourist product - visitors want a clear price for the service they charge, which they consider to be fair, relevant and responsive to their expectations; (c) Conditions for maintaining the quality of the tourist product - visitors appreciate the environment in terms of both personal comfort and facilities to achieve the satisfaction of expectations; d) group support - for most tourists in the part of ethnographic, culinary, youth, extreme and rural tourism, the work on the realization of an integrated tourist product is not only a means of achieving gratification but also a process that satisfies their social needs. The friendly and supportive behavior of other visitors and tourists and the tour leader increases gratification; e) Matching the personality of the tourist with the tourist product of culinary, youth, rural, and extreme tourism - when the character of the product fits the visitor's personality, the tourists have the opportunity to develop their talents and abilities, and this leads to high satisfaction ; The project on the territory of the villages in Ruse aims to increase the visitor's satisfaction.

The principle of economic growth of the receiving community Increasing the local economy's revenue from tourism development and job creation is the most accessible monitoring indicator. It is determined not only by the creation of jobs in accommodation, food, and entertainment but also in jobs created in other sectors such as agriculture, transport, construction, banking, telecommunication, etc. The UN Statistical Commission recommends local communities to maintain a so-called satellite balance of tourism revenues that take into account the contribution of tourism to the local economy as a whole. The municipality should see the overall contribution of tourism, which plays an important role in improving the local economy.

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The project on the territory of villages aims to increase the revenues for the local economy, to improve the competitiveness of the tourist product and to create new jobs.

Principle of protection and conservation of the environment Environmentally friendly tourist products The environmental impacts of tourism products are always taken into account and evaluated during the development process that covers the full life cycle of the product. Providers of tourist services on the territory of the villages in Ruse district - tour operators and travel agencies should inform visitors about the nature of the tourist product in the categories of cultural, culinary, youth, extreme and rural tourism and the procedures for safely handling the tourist product.

Environmentally friendly supply During the course of individual and organized tourism it is necessary to use modern technologies of tourism supply, combined with environmental protection procedures. Reducing the use of resources should be a clearly defined goal.

Competence and protection of visitors' economic rights.

The conscious protection of the environment by all our visitors and tourists should be promoted and expanded regularly through information, skilled staff, and the environmental consciousness of the visitors. Local authorities should commit to continuously improve the protection of the health and safety of tourists and their protection as consumers of the tourist product.

Reliable partnership The implementation of the project should affect all suppliers of tourist packages and services to apply equivalent environmental principles and require tourists to comply with the standards when participating in the recreation and realization of tourist products in the cultural, culinary, youth, rural and extreme tourism spheres. Collaboration with waste-disposal companies in conducting activities in nature or in common public spaces, starting to organize waste generation and ending with their final disposal, must be a permanent duty of the local authorities.

Management of environmental protection and control.

Effective implementation of environmental protection principles and compliance with legal and administrative standards must be ensured by municipal environmental management systems that take The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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the necessary precautions. Local communities should strive for a continuous improvement of environmental protection, which is established within the framework of environmental protection objectives.

Ecological damage The aim of the products for cultural, culinary, youth, extreme and rural tourism should be to minimize environmental damage from tourism products by implementing internal conservation management processes at the planning stage. At the same time, organizers and participants in tourism events should strive to avoid harm to the environment and reduce the use of natural resources by reducing waste and waste water and also by trying to pass on recycled materials. Through a process of constant improvement on the territory of villages in the target region, the optimization of the overall ecological performance of the destination should be sought.

Social dialogue When an environmental issue is raised on the territory of the villages in Ruse district, they should strive for each case to find a solution that is most favorable to the environment. Through the exchange of knowledge between municipalities, visitors and tourists, suppliers of basic and additional tourism services, authorities, different associations, and citizens, it is necessary to develop environmentally friendly processes and products with confidence in the measures being taken to protect nature.

Sources of information 1. Regional Development Plan for the North Central Region 2014-2020; 2. Regional Strategy for Development of the Ruse District 2014-2020; 3. Municipal development plan of Ruse, Ivanovo, Borovo, Byala, Vetovo, Slivo pole, Dve mogili 2014The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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2020 4. Development tourism programs of Ruse, Ivanovo, Slivo pole; 5. The National Register of Immovable Cultural Property, Rousse 6.

The National Tourist Register - places for accommodation, dining places, tour operators;

7. Bachvarov, M. Recreational and Tourist Functions of Settlements - Geographical Fusion. C., 1990; 8. Bachvarov, M., S. Kiradjiev. Anthropogenic resources for the development of recreation and tourism in the mountains of Bulgaria. C: The natural and economic potential of the mountains in Bulgaria. S., 1989.

9. Evrev, P., V. Marinov and others. Concept for territorial development of tourism. S., NCTR, MRDPW, December 2003.

10. Protected Areas Act. 11. Tourism Act 12. Regional Development Act 13. Criteria and territorial scope of tourist potential sites, MRDPW 2004.

14. Marinov, C. Significance of the tourist flows indexes for the resort-tourist zoning and the classification of the tourist region units. - Typology and zoning of the areas for tourism and recreation. C., 1986, 15. National Strategy for Sustainable Development of Tourism in Bulgaria - Project 2014-2030 16. Bulgaria's Sustainable Development Strategy 17. Ecotourism Strategy of Bulgaria 18. World Heritage List (http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?CID=31&) ; 19. List of Reserves - Monuments of Culture, NIMC. 20. List of 100 National Tourist Sites (www.btsbg.org) 21. ANALYSIS AND RISK ASSESSMENT OF THE SECTORS IN THE BULGARIAN ECONOMY FROM CLIMATE CHANGE "MOEW, 2018 22. http://bestbgtrips.com 23. https://www.visit.bg/patevoditel/parkove-rezervati/pp-rusenski-lom-171/ 24. http://strannik.bg/o/562/turisticheski-informatsionen-tsentar-ivanovo 25. THE INVESTMENT PROFILE OF RUSE-GIURGIU EUROREGION The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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26. http://www.tourism.government.bg/en/tourist-destinations/2804/5495 27. https://www.museumruse.com/ 28. http://hotelrusenskilom.com/ 29. http://www.bulgariatravel.org

The content of this material does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu

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