Models of Rural Tourism Development in Mountain Villages
Dağ Köylerinde Kırsal Turizm Gelişim Modelleri
Mariana ASSENOVA
University of Sofia “St. Kliment Ohridsky”, Faculty of Geology and Geography, Geography of Tourism Department, Sofia, Bulgaria
Abstract: The approach to derive models of tourism development in three studied villages in a border mountainous region of Bulgaria adheres to some known literature models - the tourism system of tourist destinations (Marinov, 2003) and other models of tourism development - Vodenska (2004), Gunn (1998) and others. It is based on a comparison against a set of 25 characteristics for which it is assumed they may show differences. The leading factors that determine the specificity of development are the basis for the distribution of characteristics selected for analysis in the following groups: status of the village and population characteristics, tourism supply, tourism demand, local environment, management and marketing of tourism. Despite the similar stage of tourism development in the three villages they demonstrate differences that point to the existence of three different models relative to tourism development in terms of current business practices:1) Visiting the locals – combination of elitist commercial tourism (in the houses of locals) with commercialized, institutionalized and professionalized tourism; 2) Typical hotel - commercialized tourism in collective accommodation establishments, tourists’ contact with local people is minimized; 3) First stage of diffused hotel - non-institutional (non-commercialized) tourism, detached houses for accommodation of different ownership, with a common reception and servicing.
Key words: tourism development models, tourism development life cycle, tourism business practices.
Özet: Yaklaşımımız bazı bilinen modellere bağlı kalarak - turist destinasyonlarının turizm sistemi (Marinov, 2003) ve turizm gelişiminde diğer modeller - Vodenska (2004), Gunn (1998) ve diğerleri - Bulgaristan’ın dağlık bir bölgesinin sınırındaki üç köyde turizm gelişim modelleri üretmek şeklinde olmuştur. Farklılıkları yansıtacağı düşünülen 25 özelliğin karşılaştırılması temel alınmıştır. Kalkınmayı yansıtan başlıca faktörler, analiz için seçilen başlıkların özellikleri temel alınarak saptanmıştır. Bunlar, köylerin statüsü ve nüfus özellikleri, turizm teşviği, turizm gereksinimi, yerel çevre, turizm pazarlaması ve yönetimidir. Turizm gelişimi bakımından üç köy aynı aşamada olmasına rağmen günümüz iş uygulamaları bakımından üç farklı modele göre değişiklikler göstermektedirler. Bunlar: 1) Yerel halkı ziyaret - profesyonelleşmiş, kurumsallaşmış ve ticarileşmiş elitist turizm kombinasyonu (yerel halkın evlerinde); 2) Tipik otel - toplu konaklama tesislerinde ticarileşmiş turizm, turistlerin yerel halkla ilişkisi en düşük seviyededir; 3) Yaygın otelleşmenin ilk evresi - kurumsal olmayan (ticarileşmemiş) turizm, ortak resepsiyon ve hizmetleri olan farklı kişlerin sahibi olduğu konaklamaya ayrılmış evlerdir.
Anahtar sözcükler: turizm gelişim modelleri, turizm gelişiminin yaşam döngüsü, turizm iş uygulamaları.
1. Introduction
The three surveyed villages – Kovachevitsa, Leshten and Dolen, are situated in the southwestern corner of the Bulgarian part of the Rhodope Mountains in Blagoevgrad administrative region, near the boundary with Greece. They are located in two neighboring municipalities (Garmen and Satovcha) and a short distance from one another, which explains the similar context of their tourism development (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Geographical location of Kovachevitsa, Leshten and Dolen
The three villages fall in the border area with Greece, which has long been in a deep socio-economic exclusion and has no tradition in tourism development. Its potential, however, radically changed since the early 90's, especially after the opening of the Ilinden-Exohi border check-point at the end of 2005, Bulgaria's membership in the EU since 2007, and the expected drop of border control between Bulgaria and Greece after Bulgaria’s integration into the Schengen zone. The favorable assessment of the tourism prospects of the settlements in the region is also due to the improvement of the road infrastructure along the Mesta River valley and the dynamic development of international resorts in this part of the country (Bansko, Dobrinishte etc.).
However, the surveyed villages are far from large cities - centers of tourism demand. They are located in a rural area with mountainous nature of the terrain, which determines their economic backwardness and the leading role of agriculture and forestry in the local economy. Another consequence of the location is the decrease and aging of the population, the trend of depopulation being particularly characteristic for the settlements with Christian population, including the surveyed villages, especially Leshten.
All the three villages have preserved their outlook from the Revival period and are rich in cultural heritage. For that reason two of them (Dolen and Kovachevitsa) are declared architectural and historical reserves. At the same time they are all located among the picturesque, well-preserved natural environment of the Western Rhodopes. Their specific appearance, combined with the development of small and medium businesses lead to their gradual transformation into tourist centers with a regional identity, offering a blend of cultural, rural and eco-tourism product not only for domestic but also the international market.
Despite their growing popularity and the overall impression of successful business development and interesting management practices there have been no surveys of the quantitative and qualitative parameters of supply and demand in the three tourist centers, as well as of the approaches and attitudes
of stakeholders towards the management and marketing of tourism at the destination to provide the necessary information for identifying the models of their tourism development.
The aim of the paper is to develop (adapt) and test a research model for identifying models of rural tourism development – in terms of life cycle phases and current business practices.
The starting hypothesis is that despite their clear similarity in available resource potential, the three villages show specific differences in the pattern of their tourism development and are in various stages of their lifecycle.
2. Material and methodology
The scope of the study is based on existing models of the system of tourism and tourism destinations (e.g. Marinov, 2003; Vodenska, 2004; Gunn, 1988, etc.) as well as destinations’ lifecycle and the related impacts of tourism (Butler, 1980; Buhalis, 2000, etc.).
The approach applied to derive models of tourism development is based on comparing a set of 25 characteristics for which it is assumed that the three villages may show differences. Leading factors which determine the specifics of the development are the basis for the distributing of characteristics selected for analysis in the following groups:
• Status of the village and demographic characteristics - the status of the village (whether
reserve or not) is the reason for attracting attention and provoking interest to visit and is responsible for the boost in their tourist development, while the number and characteristics of the population identify viability of the settlements, tourism development opportunities and the availability of labor force or the tourist sites.
• Tourism supply - this group of characteristics is set to highlight the main types of tourist
resources, respectively the potential types of tourism to be developed in the three villages, the available accommodation facilities, their ownership and management and the fulfilled investments in the development of supply.
• Tourism demand - the characteristics of tourism demand should give an idea of the number of
tourists and nights spent by them and would help to identify the type of tourists who are the main users of these settlements and their origin, purpose and motivation to visit the villages, length of stay and other parameters of the segments.
• Local environment - the local environment from the point of view of the tourists is part of the
local tourism product. With particular importance to product quality are the degree of urbanization of villages and the state of general infrastructure in order to ensure key components of tourism supply.
• Management and marketing of tourism - the interaction of all local actors (individual owners,
businesses, non-governmental and public sector) are the basis for successful tourism development, so their joint activities (including marketing of villages) and especially the support on behalf of local administrations stimulate or inhibit its development.
The chronological approach is applied to study the path of development in comparative terms and the key points in the tourist development of the three villages are tracked by years (periods).
The methodology of the study is based on the combined use of different methods of collection, processing and analysis of information on the development and management of tourism at the local level, taking into account their strengths, weaknesses and limitations. The specific methods that have been applied in the study include:
• Review and systematization of the literature and internet resources, planning documents,
official statistics at regional and municipal levels, collecting information from local authorities and organizations involved in the development of tourism in the three villages;
• Questionnaire survey among entrepreneurs in tourism to establish the quantitative and
qualitative parameters of tourism supply and demand in the studied villages, and also the applied business practices in product development and marketing (Dogramadjieva, 2012);
• Interviews with "key informants" (primarily local tourism development entities
representatives), to study the perceptions about tourism development, the experience in managing tourism on public level and the attitudes of different actors towards cooperation and partnership (Marinov, 2012);
• Mathematical and statistical methods for processing quantitative information; • Scientific analysis and synthesis of primary and secondary information.
3. Research findings
Summary overview of past and current tourism development in Kovachevitsa, Leshten and Dolen is presented chronologically (Annex 1) and on comparative basis against the set of 25 characteristic features, discussed above (Annex 2). Among the three villages differences are identified, but they have one thing in common – famous persons have “discovered” them to the public and played an important role in their tourism development.
Kovachevitsa gained its popularity in the early 70s when prominent persons of arts and culture, including writers (Georgi Danailov), scriptwriters and cameramen (Radoslav Spassov) use the village as a natural background of emblematic Bulgarian movies. At the same time, university lecturers and students in architecture began visiting the village every summer to sketch and photograph its unique houses. Gradually many intellectuals started buying and restoring houses for second homes. The announcement of the village an architectural and historical reserve in 1977 served as an impetus for tourism development. An old house after restoration was converted into an accommodation facility, which functioned until the late 90's. Since the mid-90s a number of other houses were restored and adapted for tourists. Buying houses either for villas or for investment purposes continues to this day, and in recent years the interest is not only from Bulgarians but also from foreigners.
Leshten appears on the tourist map in 1994, when the non-resident entrepreneur Michael Marinov bought a total of 15 houses in the depopulating village and turned them into a tourist village. A few years later the famous Bulgarian writer and poet Boris Hristov and his wife – the artist Darina Hristova settled in Leshten. They founded a small art gallery and built an amphitheater for outdoor performances, which often hosts famous art representatives. In recent years many of the houses were purchased by Bulgarians and foreigners for second homes, retired residents are also returning to their inherited houses.
Dolen, similar to Kovachevitsa, became popular in the 70s, because of its use as a natural decor for famous Bulgarian films, and was also declared an architectural and historical reserve in 1977. Short after that an old house was restored for tourist purposes and was in operation as a guest house with a tavern. Restoration works were launched in other houses as well, but they ceased in the 80s after the death of Lyudmila Zhivkova (Minister of Culture and daughter of the communist leader Todor Zhivkov). Since the early 90's, many of the houses in the village were bought and restored by intellectuals, most of them for personal use, but some are developed to serve tourists.
Along with the differences in their historical development, many common features of the three villages are identified in terms of current tourism demand and supply (Dogramadjieva, 2012):
• Small volume of tourism - in 2010 Leshten, Kovachevitsa and Dolen are visited by about 3,600
people who used commercial accommodation and have spent nearly 7,500 nights;
• A very small number of employees are engaged in tourist services: in Leshten - 11 people, in
Dolen - 14 people and in Kovachevitsa - 29 people. In cases where the owners are involved in the provision of tourist services, the share of recruited staff is low, as is the case in
Kovachevitsa (only 34% of the staff is recruited) and in Dolen. In Leshten where the facilities are only two, but relatively with more beds, the recruited staff is 91%. The above data suggests that in the three settlements tourism is still notseen as a serious occupation, despite the fact that for 40-60% of the employees in Dolen and Kovachevitsa, and for all employees in Leshten tourism is the main source of income.
• Over 60% of people employed in tourism in Dolen and Leshten are over 30 years of age, and
in Kovachevitsa this share is 93%, with 15% of employees being over 65;
• Only 5-10% of the expenditure of the facilities for supply remains in the municipalities, where
the villages are located. Purchase of goods occurs primarily in Gotse Delchev, less - in Blagoevgrad, Sofia and even Greece;
• Very low occupancy rate and utilization of the available accommodation facilities - from 3%
(in Dolen) to 8% (in Kovachevitsa and Leshten);
• All officially categorized facilities in the three villages - both family-run hotels and
guest-houses are categorized as "one star" facilities;
• The stay of foreigners in the settlements is usually part of a round-trip in Bulgaria (91-100%)
or weekend trip (9 %). Bulgarians visit the villages and stay overnight mostly on weekends - 100% of the tourists in Leshten, over 80% of the tourists in Kovachevitsa and around 50% of the tourists in Dolen. In the last village about 40% of the visitors come for extended mountain vacation;
• Short average length of stay - about two days; only in Leshten, where apparently some tourists
remain for three nights the average stay is 2.5 days.
The lack of quantitative data for the entire historical period of tourism development in the three villages does not allow tracing precisely the dynamics of supply and demand. The curve of the number of tourists drawn on the basis of data for individual years, provisionally allows to determine the phase of the life cycle of tourism development of each of them (Figure 2). Generally for the three villages it can be said with certainty that in the middle of the 90s there was an increase in tourism demand, accompanied by the development of tourism supply. Some fluctuations are observed after 2007 in connection with the general stagnation caused by the economic and financial crisis. The graph also presents the potential number of tourists in the three villages, at the current length of stay if 30% annual occupancy rate of available beds is achieved (which is the average value of this indicator for the country). In this potential situation, the number of tourists in Kovachevitsa should reach at least 7,500 people, in Leshten - about 3,150 people, and in Dolen - about 6,200 people, which far exceed the current volume of demand.
Given the large investment for reparation and restoration of houses, including those adapted to provide tourist services, at the identified by the study levels of occupation and prices, it can be concluded that the payback period of this investment will be quite long. This also speaks for alleged excess of investment (cost) over income, which, along with the highlighted chart of trend sets the three villages in the initial phase of their life cycle - introducing and imposing on the market.
This conclusion is confirmed by the comparison with the features of the initial phase of the life cycle of destinations, defined by Buhalis (2000): the relatively small number of tourists, low growth rate of tourists and overnight stays, small capacity of accommodation facilities and low employment, entry of non-resident investors, circling unorganized visitors are welcomed as guests, low levels of employment and income, negligible use of intermediaries, less established socio-economic and environmental impacts - both positive and negative.
Figure 2. Number of tourists in Kovachevitsa, Leshten and Dolen (1975-2011)
4. Discussion
The comparative analysis of tourism development of Kovachevitsa, Leshten and Dolen revealed a number of common characteristics: general context of development (periphery location, similar environmental conditions and tourist resources, etc.), low volume of tourism, low occupancy rate of accommodation facilities, negligible use of intermediaries, short stay of visitors, limited impacts of tourism, and similar phase in their life cycle. However, during the study some features were identified in the three villages that point to the existence of three relatively different models of tourism development in terms of current business practices. Generally, they can be presented by the following leading characteristics, which consequently determine the specificity in product development, pricing, use of intermediaries and their promotion (Table 1).
Table 1. Models of tourism development in Kovachevitsa, Leshten and Dolen
Kovachevitsa Leshten Dolen
Visiting the locals Typical hotelier business
First stage of diffused hotel* • The suppliers of tourist services
are mainly local individuals (physical bodies) and companies
• The suppliers of tourist services are commercial enterprises only
• The suppliers of tourist services are mainly non-local individuals (physical bodies) and companies
• Direct involvement of owners in servicing tourists
• The establishments operate as typical hotels
• The owners are not present, employees are hired in limited cases
• Tourists are treated like guests • There is no contact of tourists with local population
• A few local hosts are delegated the right to manage the guest-houses and serve the tourists
Kovachevitsa is in a process of forming as a place for elitist non-commercial tourism (in owned houses), combined with commercialized, institutionalized and professionalized tourism. Most of the restored houses are for family use as second homes/villas. There are 11 identified houses that are available to travelers. In 50% of the guest houses, the owners are engaged in servicing the guests. They carry out tourist activities as individuals whose receipts from tourism are considered as
*
diffused hotel - detached houses for accommodation of different ownership, with common reception and service 0 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000 6000 7000 8000 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2011
Kovachevitsa-number of tourists Kovachevitsa-potential number of tourists Leshten-number of tourists Leshten-potential number of tourists Dolen-number of tourists Dolen-potential number of tourists
additional income. The other half of the guest houses are run as commercial enterprises, but again with the direct involvement of owners in tourist services provision. This allows visitors to feel like guests, becoming part of everyday life of local residents.
In Leshten the acquiring and restoring of houses in the village is for investment purposes or for their use as second homes. Two tourist facilities (hotels) of bigger capacity are identified – they both operate as commercial companies. The employees are not residents of the village. The hotelier service model is introduced - commercialized tourism in collective accommodation establishments, in which the contact of tourists to locals is minimized.
The tourism development of Dolen is exogenously determined and less commercialized model of development is evident. The restored houses for personal (family) use predominate. Tourists are accommodated in 16 houses – in two of them serving tourists engages owners, but there is recruited staff as well. The remaining houses are managed by three local residents, whom house owners have delegated the right to welcome, accommodate and provide other services to the tourists. The emergence of the model of diffused country hotel is witnessed, where accommodation is in separate family homes owned by different non-resident persons, but for which there is a general reception and service.
5. Conclusions
As a result of the conducted survey of the three villages the following conclusions regarding the characteristics of tourism development can be made:
The results confirm the starting hypothesis that, despite the similarity in the location, resource potential and other factors of context and in several characteristics of tourism development, all three villages – Kovachevitsa, Leshten and Dolen, have specific patterns of tourism development. The most important common features include: peripheral position, changing evaluation of tourist-geographical location, economic backwardness and negative demographic trends, resource potential (a combination of cultural and natural resources favoring the development primarily of cultural, eco- and rural tourism), low volume of tourism (measured by the capacity of accommodation facilities, visitors and overnights), low occupancy rate of accommodation facilities, negligible use of intermediaries and the dominance of unorganized tourism, short stay of visitors, limited economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism. Similar is the importance of individual personalities (intellectuals and entrepreneurs) who "discovered" the sites and gave an impetus to tourism development. The main differences are related to emerging business practices. Kovachevitsa shows an interesting combination of elite commercial tourism (in owned houses) and commercialized tourism where servicing is carried out by the owners, tourists are treated and feel as guests, a very high proportion of repeat visits is registered (regular guests) and the village is considered a "prestigious site". Leshten developed as a place for commercial tourism with typical hotel service model and tourists have minimal contact with the locals. In Dolen tourism development is largely exogenous (non-resident owners of both houses and commercial sites for tourism), and in the provision of tourism services the diffused country hotel is emerging as a model, where a small number of local people welcome, accommodate and service guests in houses owned by different persons.
However, the results from the survey do not confirm the hypothesis that all three villages are in various stages of their lifecycle. Despite the different starting point and driving forces, the quantitative parameters and trends since the early 90's are similar and set the three villages in the initial phase of their life cycle - introducing and imposing on the market.
Differences found in tourism development are strong arguments for "caution" and evidence-based treatment of the typology of tourist sites and the need for carrying out detailed field studies of individual cases. It is advisable to test the developed study model in other areas of the country to see whether in other areas the same patterns of development will repeat or new versions of the discussed or entirely different models will be outlined. The further findings would help to develop a conceptual framework about rural tourism models in Bulgaria and compare them with the internationally recognized ones.
References
Buhalis, D. Marketing the Competitive Destination of the Future. – Tourism Management Special Issue, 2000, pp. 1-27. Butler, R. The Concept of a Tourist Area Cycle of Evolution: Implications for Management of Resources. – Canadian
Geographer, 24, 1980.
Dogramadjieva, E. Field Research of Tourism Supply and Demand in Mountain Villages: the Case of Three Architectural Reserves in the Western Rhodopes, Bulgaria. Abstracts, SEEmore Conference 2012: Mountain Resources and Their Response to Global Change, 5-8 July 2012, Ankara University, Turkey.
Gunn, C. A. Tourism Planning. New York, 1988.
Marinov, V. Key Informants’ Analysis of Small Scale Tourism Development in Mountain Villages. Abstracts, SEEmore Conference 2012: Mountain Resources and Their Response to Global Change, 5-8 July 2012, Ankara University, Turkey.
Marinov. V. SWOT-analysis in Regional and Tourism Planning: Requirements, Problems and Solutions. - In: Proceedings of the First Scientific Conference "Theory and Methodology of Geographical Research". Sozopol, 2003 (In Bulg.). Vodenska, M. Territorial Tourism System Model as the Main Object of Study in Geography of Tourism and Place of
Tourism Impacts in it. Geography - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow. University Publishing House "St. Kl. Ohridski", 2004 (In Bulg.).
A n n ex 1 . H is to ri ca l re v ie w o f to u ri sm d ev el o p m en t o f K o v ac h ev it sa , L es h te n a n d D o le n Y e a r K o v a c h e v it sa L e sh te n D o le n 1 9 6 0 M ig ra ti o n s o f lo ca ls m ai n ly t o b ig g er t o w n s – P lo v d iv , P az ar d zh ik , V el in g ra d , B at ak an d o th er s, b ec au se o f la ck o f em p lo y m en t o p p o rt u n it ie s, m an y h o u se s ar e ab an d o n ed . M ig ra ti o n s o f lo ca ls , m an y h o u se s ar e ab an d o n ed . T il l 1 9 6 0 t h e v il la g e h as 2 8 0 0 i n h ab it an ts , b u t g ra d u al ly b eg in s to d ec li n e. 1 9 7 0 M et ro p o li ta n in te ll ec tu al s st ar t b u y in g v il la g e h o u se s fo r se co n d h o m e d w el li n g s. A b an d o n m en t o f th e v il la g e, a b an d o n ed h o u se s cr u m b le , th er e is n o c en tr al w at er s u p p ly , se w er ag e an d e le ct ri ci ty . M ig ra ti o n o f lo ca ls a n d a b an d o n m en t o f th e h o u se s in t h e o ld p ar t o f th e v il la g e. 1 9 7 5 D is co v er y o f th e v il la g e fo r th e m o v ie i n d u st ry a n d b y th e ar ch it ec tu ra l co m m u n it y . D is co v er y o f th e v il la g e fo r th e m o v ie in d u st ry an d sh o o ti n g o f m an y f am o u s B u lg ar ia n f il m s. 1 9 8 0 A n n o u n ci n g t h e v il la g e a re se rv e in 1 9 7 7 a n d o p en in g o f an a cc o m m o d at io n f ac il it y . A n n o u n ci n g t h e v il la g e a re se rv e in 1 9 7 7 . C o n st ru ct io n o f a h o te l in l o ca l st y le b eg an , w h ic h w as d is co n ti n u ed i n t h e ea rl y st ag es . A h o u se w as re fu rb is h ed b y S o fi a M u n ic ip al it y a n d c o n v er te d i n to a cc o m m o d at io n f ac il it y . 1 9 9 0 L ac k s o f su b st an ti al t o u ri sm d em an d , h o u se s ar e b o u g h t m ai n ly b y i n te ll ec tu al s fr o m S o fi a. A b an d o n ed h o u se s st ar t cr u m b li n g . A b an d o n ed h o u se s st ar t cr u m b li n g ; n o fu rt h er to u ri sm d ev el o p m en t is t ra ce d . 1 9 9 5 O p en in g o f th e fi rs t p ri v at e g u es t-h o u se s. S ta rt in g i n 1 9 9 4 , 1 5 h o u se s w er e b o u g h t an d r es to re d b y a si n g le e n tr ep re n eu r an d a t o u ri st v il la g e w as c re at ed . T h e p ro ce ss o f b u y in g a b an d o n ed h o u se s st ar te d , m ai n ly b y i n te ll ec tu al s fr o m S o fi a an d t h e re g io n . 2 0 0 0 In cr ea se d to u ri sm d em an d , jo in t ef fo rt s o f lo ca l en tr ep re n eu rs , ra is ed aw ar en es s o f th e v il la g e in B u lg ar ia a n d a b ro ad . In cr ea se d to u ri sm d em an d , in cr ea se d p o p u la ri ty o f th e v il la g e, n a m el y i n r el at io n t o t h e u n iq u e to u ri st v il la g e, o p en in g o f ar t g al le ry b y B o ri s H ri st o v as a lo ca l at tr ac ti o n . R es to re d h o u se s ar e u se d b y t h e n ew o w n er s en ti re ly a s se co n d h o m es . In ra re ca se s th e h o u se s o ff er ac co m m o d at io n t o t o u ri st s. 2 0 0 5 In te re st o f b u si n es sm en to in v es t in th e p u rc h as e, re n o v at io n a n d s al e o f p ro p er ti es , in cr ea se d b u y in g o f re al e st at e p ro p er ty , in cl u d in g o n b eh al f o f fo re ig n er s. R et u rn o f re ti re d p eo p le t o t h e v il la g e, r es to ri n g d es tr o y ed h o u se s, p u rc h as e o f h o u se s o n b eh al f o f B u lg ar ia n s an d fo re ig n er s an d th ei r re n ew al ; co n st ru ct io n o f an ec o lo g ic al cl ay h o u se fo r ac co m m o d at io n , se rv in g as at tr ac ti o n . In a b o u t 4 0 h o u se s re p ai rm en t b eg an . S o m e o f th e h o u se s w er e ad ap te d t o a cc o m m o d at e to u ri st s. . 2 0 1 0 S ta g n at io n o f to u ri sm d ev el o p m en t d u e to la ck o f in fr as tr u ct u re im p ro v em en t an d w o rs en in g o f th e ec o n o m ic a n d f in an ci al e n v ir o n m en t. I n t o ta l ab o u t 6 0 h o u se s ar e re st o re d . In te re st o f b u si n es sm en to in v es t in th e p u rc h as e, re n o v at io n an d sa le o f p ro p er ty ; st ag n at io n o f to u ri sm d ev el o p m en t b ec au se o f p ro b le m s w it h g en er al in fr as tr u ct u re . C o m p le ti o n o f co n st ru ct io n p ro je ct s fu n d ed b y c o m p an ie s an d i n d iv id u al s fr o m a ll o v er t h e co u n tr y , so m e o f th em d o n o t k ee p t o t h e ar ch it ec tu ra l st y le o f th e re se rv e. 2 0 1 1 S ta g n at io n in d ev el o p m en t, d es ir e o f so m e en tr ep re n eu rs i n t o u ri sm t o g iv e u p t h e ac ti v it y ; p eo p le se rv in g t h e to u ri st s (p ro v id in g r o o m s an d h o u se s) , ar e m o st ly a d u lt s (1 4 % o v er 6 5 y ea rs ); o f ab o u t 2 0 g u es t-h o u se s in o p er at io n f ew y ea rs a g o , in 2 0 1 1 o n ly 1 1 a re st il l o p en ; v er y f ew a b an d o n ed h o u se s h av en ’t c h an g ed th ei r o w n er ; in ra re ca se s n ew o w n er s h a v en ’t y et b eg u n t o r es to re t h e h o u se s. S ta g n at io n i n d ev el o p m en t, a d ec li n e in t o u ri sm d em an d an d le ss in te re st in b u y in g p ro p er ty . N o n -e x is te n ce o f o w n er sh ip ac ts p re v en ts p u rc h as e o f th e ab an d o n ed h o u se s. I n t o ta l ab o u t 5 0 h o u se s w er e re n o v at ed a n d /o r re b u il t. A t o u ri st v il la g e, c o m p ri si n g 1 5 l o ca l h o u se s an d o n e h o te l w it h a t av er n a re i n o p er at io n . D ec li n e in u rb an iz at io n o f th e v il la g e an d in at tr ac ti n g to u ri st s; r et en ti o n o f th e le v el o f to u ri sm d em an d ; la ck o f b as ic t o u ri st s er v ic es a n d a tt ra ct io n s. I n 1 6 h o u se s to u ri st s ar e ac ce p te d .
A n n ex 2 . C o m p ar at iv e re v ie w o f cu rr en t to u ri sm d ev el o p m en t o f K o v ac h ev it sa , L es h te n a n d D o le n № V il la g e C h a r a c te ri st ic s K o v a c h e v it sa L e sh te n D o le n S ta tu s o f th e v il la g e a n d d e m o g ra p h ic c h a r a c te ri st ic s 1 S ta tu s In S ta te G az et te № 7 3 o f 1 9 7 7 t h e v il la g e w as d ec la re d a h is to ri ca l an d a rc h it ec tu ra l re se rv e. N o re se rv e st at u s, b u t w it h p re se rv ed ar ch it ec tu re an d ty p ic al R en ai ss an ce at m o sp h er e. In S ta te G az et te № 7 3 o f 1 9 7 7 t h e v il la g e w as d ec la re d a h is to ri ca l an d a rc h it ec tu ra l re se rv e. T h e re se rv e in cl u d es 7 0 m o n u m en ta l b u il d in g s. 2 N u m b er a n d d y n a m ic s o f p o p u la ti o n T h e p er m an en t p o p u la ti o n in 2 0 1 1 w as 4 2 p eo p le . T h e tr en d o v er t h e la st 1 0 y ea rs s h o w s re d u ct io n b y 3 0 % . In 2 0 1 1 t h er e ar e o n ly t w o p er m an en t re si d en ts i n t h e v il la g e. T h e tr en d o v er t h e la st 1 0 y ea rs s h o w s re d u ct io n b y 7 5 % . T h e la rg e n u m b er o f B u lg ar ia n M u sl im s, ch ar ac te ri ze d b y h ig h b ir th a n d o cc u p at io n ra te , is t h e re as o n f o r th e h ig h er n u m b er o f p o p u la ti o n a b o u t 3 7 0 p eo p le i n 2 0 1 1 . T h e tr en d o v er th e la st 1 0 y ea rs sh o w s re d u ct io n b y 8 .4 % . 3 E th n o -c o n fe ss io n al s tr u ct u re T h e v il la g e h as B u lg ar ia n C h ri st ia n p o p u la ti o n . In re ce n t y ea rs in co n n ec ti o n w it h th e d ev el o p m en t o f to u ri sm B u lg ar ia n M u sl im s fr o m n ei g h b o ri n g v il la g es a ls o s et tl ed h er e. T h e p o p u la ti o n is en ti re ly B u lg ar ia n an d O rt h o d o x . T h e d ev el o p m en t o f to u ri sm at tr ac te d in v es tm en ts o f re si d en ts o f n ei g h b o ri n g v il la g es , w h o ar e B u lg ar ia n M u sl im s. T h e v il la g e is et h n ic al ly m ix ed an d d o m in at ed b y B u lg ar ia n M u sl im s. T h e v il la g e h as b o th a c h u rc h a n d a m o sq u e. 4 W il li n g n es s fo r to u ri sm d ev el o p m en t an d as se ss m en t o f th e p o te n ti al ec o n o m ic i m p ac t G re at w il li n g n es s to d ev el o p to u ri sm . M aj o r ec o n o m ic c o n tr ib u ti o n o f to u ri sm i s ex p ec te d . S ig n if ic an t d es ir e fo r to u ri sm d ev el o p m en t. M aj o r ec o n o m ic c o n tr ib u ti o n o f to u ri sm i s ex p ec te d . M o d er at e w il li n g n es s fo r to u ri sm d ev el o p m en t. M o d er at e ec o n o m ic co n tr ib u ti o n o f to u ri sm i s ex p ec te d . T o u r is m s u p p ly 5 S ta rt u p o f to u ri sm d ev el o p m en t T h e v il la g e b ec am e fa m o u s in th e ea rl y 7 0 s w h en p ro m in en t in te ll ec tu al s d is co v er ed i t fo r ci n em a p ro d u ct io n s. D ec la ri n g it a re se rv e in 1 9 7 7 g av e an im p et u s to th e d ev el o p m en t o f to u ri sm . In 1 9 9 4 , ta k in g a d v an ta g e o f th e lo w r ea l es ta te p ri ce s d u e to t h e d ep o p u la ti o n o f th e v il la g e, an en tr ep re n eu r st ar te d b u y in g h o u se s an d co n v er te d th em in to a to u ri st v il la g e. In t h e 7 0 s, u si n g t h e p re se rv ed d is ti n ct iv e h o u se s as b ac k g ro u n d , a lo t o f B u lg ar ia n m o v ie s w er e sh o t h er e. In 1 9 7 7 it w as d ec la re d a r es er v e, f o ll o w ed b y o p en in g o f so m e to u ri st f ac il it ie s. 6 D ri v in g f o rc es o f d ev el o p m en t • A rc h it ec ts a n d fi lm m a ke rs w h o ex p lo re d th e lo ca l a rc h it ec tu re o r u se d i t a s n a tu ra l d éc o r; • T h e a n n o u n ce m en t o f th e vi ll a g e a s a n a rc h it ec tu ra l re se rv e; • L o ca l a n d n o n -r es id en t en tr ep re n eu rs d ev el o p in g t o u ri sm s u p p ly ; • B u lg a ri a n s a n d fo re ig n er s b u yi n g h o u se s fo r se co n d h o m es . • T h e in it ia ti ve o f n o n -r es id en t en tr ep re n eu rs ; • S et tl in g o f fa m o u s in te ll ec tu a ls ; • T h e p u rc h a se o f h o u se s b y B u lg a ri a n s a n d f o re ig n er s fo r se co n d h o m es o r fo r in ve st m en t p u rp o se s; • R et u rn o f re ti re d f o rm er r es id en ts . • T h e a n n o u n ce m en t o f th e vi ll a g e a s a n a rc h it ec tu ra l re se rv e; • O p en in g f o r m o vi es s h o o ti n g ; • L o ca l a n d n o n -r es id en t en tr ep re n eu rs d ev el o p in g t o u ri sm s u p p ly ; • B u lg a ri a n s a n d fo re ig n er s b u yi n g h o u se s fo r se co n d h o m es .
№ V il la g e C h a r a c te ri st ic s K o v a c h e v it sa L e sh te n D o le n 7 T y p e v ar ie ty an d st at e o f to u ri st re so u rc es B u lg ar ia n R en ai ss an ce h o u se s, an o ld ch u rc h an d o ld s ch o o l, st re et f o u n ta in s. I n t h e v ic in it y – c h ap el , T h ra ci an s an ct u ar y , ri v er p o o l, " D ar k F o re st " n at u re re se rv e, ec o -t ra il s to R ib n o v o , D o le n an d B es le t. S o m e o f th e h o u se s ar e cr u m b li n g , th e ec o -t ra il s ar e n o t w el l m ai n ta in ed , th e ch u rc h n ee d s re st o ra ti o n a n d t h e sc h o o l-m u se u m i s cl o se d . B u lg ar ia n R en ai ss an ce h o u se s, o ld ch u rc h an d a rt g al le ry . In t h e v ic in it y – r iv er p o o l, "D ar k F o re st " n at u re r es er v e, e co -t ra il t o t h e ri v er p o o l. S o m e o f th e h o u se s ar e cr u m b li n g , o th er s ar e u n d er su sp en d ed re co n st ru ct io n an d st re et s ar e n o t w el l m ai n ta in ed . B u lg ar ia n R en ai ss an ce h o u se s, an o ld ch u rc h an d st re et fo u n ta in s. E co -t ra il to K o v ac h ev it sa . M ar k ed tr ai ls fr o m /t o T ri g ra d an d D o sp at . T h e co b b le st o n e st re et s ar e n o t w el l m ai n ta in ed , so m e o f th e h o u se s ar e cr u m b li n g , th e ce n tr al s q u ar e o f th e to w n h al l is in b ad co n d it io n an d th e ch u rc h n ee d s ad d it io n al c o n se rv at io n . 8 L iv el ih o o d a n d o p p o rt u n it ie s fo r ru ra l to u ri sm d ev el o p m en t In t h e p as t – a g ri cu lt u re , an im al b re ed in g a n d co n st ru ct io n . T o d a y - lo g g in g , to u ri sm , ag ri cu lt u re an d an im al b re ed in g ( g o at s, c h ic k en s) . O n ly i n s o m e g u es t-h o u se s to u ri st s m ay e n g ag e in a g ri cu lt u ra l ac ti v it ie s. In th e p as t - m as o n ry , b la ck sm it h in g an d m in in g o f g o ld sa n d . T o d a y - m ai n ly to u ri sm . L ac k o f in cl u si o n o f to u ri st s in ru ra l ac ti v it ie s. In t h e p as t - g o ld en j ew el ry , tr an sp o rt at io n , w ea v in g . T o d a y - lo g g in g , m in in g ti le s, to b ac co g ro w in g , an im al b re ed in g , co n st ru ct io n a n d to u ri sm . T o u ri st s m ay p ar ti ci p at e in ce rt ai n lo ca l ev er y d a y a ct iv it ie s. 9 L ea d in g t y p es o f to u ri sm C u lt u ra l, r u ra l an d e co -t o u ri sm C u lt u ra l an d e co -t o u ri sm N at u re -o ri en te d ( w al k in g t o u rs ), r u ra l an d cu lt u ra l to u ri sm 1 0 C ap ac it y o f ac co m m o d at io n f ac il it ie s an d o cc u p an cy r at e 1 1 a cc o m m o d at io n f ac il it ie s w it h 1 2 9 b ed s in to ta l. O cc u p an cy r at e – 8 % . 2 a cc o m m o d at io n f ac il it ie s w it h 7 2 b ed s in to ta l. O cc u p an cy r at e – 8 % . 1 6 a cc o m m o d at io n f ac il it ie s w it h 1 1 9 b ed s in t o ta l. O cc u p an cy r at e – 3 % . 1 1 S tr u ct u re o f th e ac co m m o d at io n fa ci li ti es T w o fa m il y -r u n h o te ls , th e re st ar e g u es t-h o u se s. 6 5 % o f th e fa ci li ti es a re w it h l es s th an 1 0 b ed s. O n e to u ri st v il la g e an d o n e h o te l w it h a ta v er n . T h e to u ri st v il la g e is w it h a b o u t 5 0 b ed s an d t h e h o te l fa ll s in t h e g ro u p w it h 1 0 -2 0 a v ai la b le b ed s. O n e fa m il y -r u n h o te l, th e re st ar e g u es t h o u se s. A lm o st 9 0 % o f th e fa ci li ti es a re w it h l es s th an 1 0 b ed s. 1 2 P ri ce l ev el 1 E U R = 1 ,9 5 5 8 3 B G N (f ix ed r at e) T h e a v er ag e m in im u m p ri ce p er b ed i s 3 5 B G N , th e ab so lu te m in im u m p ri ce i s 1 0 B G N a n d t h e m ax im u m - 2 0 0 B G N . S tr o n g p o la ri za ti o n o f p ri ci n g , o ri en ta ti o n to w ar d s fu n d a m en ta ll y d if fe re n t m ar k et s eg m en ts . T h e a v er ag e m in im u m p ri ce p er b ed i s 2 5 B G N , th e ab so lu te m in im u m p ri ce is 2 5 B G N a n d t h e m ax im u m 6 0 B G N . T h e a v er ag e m in im u m p ri ce p er b ed i s 1 5 B G N , th e ab so lu te m in im u m p ri ce is 1 0 B G N a n d t h e m ax im u m – 7 5 B G N . 1 3 O w n er sh ip an d m an ag em en t o f th e ac co m m o d at io n f ac il it ie s T h e m aj o ri ty o f th e h o u se s h a v e b ee n b o u g h t b y re si d en ts o f S o fi a an d o th er ci ti es . 1 0 to 1 2 h o u se s ar e o w n ed b y f o re ig n er s. T h e m aj o ri ty o f h o m eo w n er s, ac co m m o d at in g to u ri st s, li v es h er e y ea r ro u n d a n d d ir ec tl y e n g ag e in s er v ic in g th ei r g u es ts . A b o u t 1 0 h o u se s w er e p u rc h as ed b y fo re ig n er s. 3 h o u se s w er e b o u g h t b y a co m p an y th at re st o re s th em fo r la te r sa le . T h e re st o f th e o w n er s ar e ei th er f ro m t h e ca p it al o f S o fi a, o r re p re se n t fo rm er re si d en ts , w h o h a v e re tu rn ed t o l iv e in t h e v il la g e af te r re ti re m en t. T h e to u ri st f ac il it ie s ar e g en er al ly m an ag ed a s tr ad e co m p an y . M o st o f th e h o u se s ar e o w n ed b y B u lg ar ia n s, o n ly ab o u t 5 h o u se s w er e b o u g h t b y fo re ig n er s. H o u se o w n er s, p ro v id in g to u ri st se rv ic es st ay in th ei r h o u se s o n ly fo r sh o rt p er io d s d u ri n g th e y ea r. T h re e lo ca l re si d en ts a re d el eg at ed t h e ri g h t to m an ag e th e h o u se s an d ac t as h o st s. O n ly tw o o f th e fa ci li ti es h av e re cr u it ed p er m an en t st af f.
№ V il la g e C h a r a c te ri st ic s K o v a c h e v it sa L e sh te n D o le n 1 4 In v es tm en ts in to u ri st fa ci li ti es an d o ri g in o f fu n d s 3 0 % o f th e to u ri st f ac il it ie s ar e th e re su lt o f n ew in v es tm en t o v er th e la st fi v e y ea rs . O v er al l in v es tm en t in t h e la st f iv e y ea rs h as b ee n a im ed p ri m ar il y a t im p ro v in g l iv in g s ta n d ar d s an d l es s to in cr ea se ca p ac it y an d p ro v id e ad d it io n al fa ci li ti es a n d s er v ic es . H al f o f th e in v es tm en t is th ro u g h b an k l o an s an d 3 0 % u n d er p ro je ct fi n an ci n g . T h e h o te l w it h t h e ta v er n i s co n st ru ct ed i n th e p as t tw o y ea rs w it h o w n f u n d s. I n t h e to u ri st v il la g e n o i n v es tm en ts w er e m ad e in th e la st f iv e y ea rs . E v er y f if th t o u ri st f ac il it y i n t h e v il la g e is th e re su lt o f en ti re ly n ew i n v es tm en t in t h e la st f iv e y ea rs . A b o u t 3 0 % o f th e fa ci li ti es h av e m ad e n o in v es tm en ts in th e sa m e p er io d . In a ll o th er c as es , m o n ey i s in v es te d m ai n ly fo r ca p ac it y en la rg em en t an d fa ci li ty im p ro v em en ts . P o o r u se o f fi n an ci al in st ru m en ts is id en ti fi ed – p ri m ar il y o w n f u n d s ar e u se d . T o u r is m d e m a n d 1 5 N u m b er o f to u ri st s an d o v er n ig h ts , av er ag e le n g th o f st ay A b o u t 2 0 5 0 to u ri st s (2 2 % fo re ig n er s) ; ab o u t 4 0 0 0 o v er n ig h ts (2 0 % fr o m fo re ig n er s) ; av er ag e st ay – 1 .9 d ay s A b o u t 8 5 0 t o u ri st s (5 % f o re ig n er s) ; ab o u t 2 1 0 0 o v er n ig h ts (4 % fr o m fo re ig n er s) ; av er ag e st ay – 2 .5 d ay s A b o u t 6 7 0 t o u ri st s (7 % f o re ig n er s) ; ab o u t 1 5 0 0 o v er n ig h ts (3 % fr o m fo re ig n er s) ; av er ag e st ay – 2 .1 d ay s 1 6 P ro fi le o f v is it o rs B u lg ar ia n s ar e m o st ly f ro m S o fi a, P lo v d iv a n d B la g o ev g ra d , al m o st co m p le te ly u n o rg an iz ed ; fo re ig n er s ar e fr o m F ra n ce ( 4 2 % ), G re at B ri ta in (2 7 % ), G er m an y (9 % ), th e N et h er la n d s an d G re ec e, an d al m o st 9 0 % o f th em ar e u n o rg an iz ed . A lm o st a ll B u lg ar ia n t o u ri st s ar e fr o m S o fi a an d 5 5 % o f th em a re o rg an iz ed . F o re ig n er s ar e fr o m F ra n ce ( 7 0 % ) an d G re at B ri ta in (3 0 % ) an d t h ey a re t o ta ll y u n o rg an iz ed . B u lg ar ia n v is it o rs ar e fr o m S o fi a, V ar n a an d o th er m aj o r ci ti es o f th e co u n tr y a n d 9 0 % a rr iv e in a n u n o rg an iz ed w a y . F o re ig n to u ri st s ar e d o m in at ed b y th o se fr o m F ra n ce (4 0 % ), Is ra el (2 0 % ) an d Ja p an (2 0 % ); 9 0 % o f fo re ig n to u ri st s ar e o rg an iz ed a n d f o ll o w a r o u te ( o n h o rs e, b y b ic y cl e o r m o to rc y cl e) . L o c a l e n v ir o n m e n t 1 7 D ev el o p m en t an d s ta te o f th e g en er al in fr as tr u ct u re P ro b le m s w it h t h e w at er s u p p ly ( w at er r eg im e) , th e g ri d , th e m ai n te n an ce o f st re et s an d th e co ll ec ti o n a n d t ra n sp o rt at io n o f w as te . P ro b le m s ar e id en ti fi ed w it h th e w at er su p p ly (w at er re g im e) , th e g ri d an d th e m ai n te n an ce o f st re et s. P ro b le m s w it h se w ag e sy st em , w as te co ll ec ti o n , co n d it io n o f st re et s; n o st re et li g h ts i n t h e o ld p ar t. 1 8 R em o te n es s fr o m c en te rs o f d em a n d an d m aj o r to u ri st a tt ra ct io n s A w ay fr o m th e m ai n ro ad s an d ce n te rs o f d em an d , th e o n ly a cc es s ro ad p as se s th ro u g h a R o m a n ei g h b o rh o o d . B an sk o in te rn at io n al m o u n ta in r es o rt i s ab o u t 7 0 k m a w ay . A d ja ce n t to t h e sp a in O g n y an o v o a n d t h e R o m an t o w n N ic o p o li s ad N es tu m ; cl o se st to t h e m u n ic ip al c en te r o f G ar m en a n d t h e re g io n al c en te r - G o ts e D el ch ev . A b o u t 5 0 k m f ro m B an sk o s k i re so rt . A si d e fr o m th e m ai n ro ad s an d in co m p ar is o n w it h o th er v il la g es f ar th er t o th e o th er to u ri st at tr ac ti o n s in th e ar ea . A b o u t 8 0 k m fr o m B an sk o in te rn at io n al m o u n ta in r es o rt . 1 9 T ra n sp o rt p ro v is io n D if fi cu lt a cc es s b y p u b li c tr an sp o rt . C lo se st t o t h e m ai n r o ad s in t h e ar ea , to t h e b o rd er c h ec k p o in t w it h G re ec e – “ Il in d en ”, an d t o t h e A eg ea n S ea . D if fi cu lt ac ce ss b y p u b li c tr an sp o rt . T h e se ct io n f ro m t h e m ai n r o ad G o ts e D el ch ev -D o sp at t o t h e v il la g e is i n p o o r co n d it io n . 2 0 E v al u at io n o f th e ef fe ct o f th e o p en in g o f th e b o rd er ch ec k p o in t "I li n d en " w it h G re ec e N o s ig n if ic an t im p ac t o n t o u ri sm d ev el o p m en t, in p ar ti cu la r o n i n cr ea si n g v is it o rs f ro m G re ec e (o r to u ri st s v ac at io n in g i n G re ec e) . T h e ef fe ct o f d iv er si fy in g t h e d ai ly a ct iv it ie s o f to u ri st s in t h e ar ea ( o n e-d ay e x cu rs io n o r g o in g t o t h e b ea ch i n G re ec e) i s o u tl in ed . In cr ea se d tr an si t tr af fi c (v is it o rs p as si n g th ro u g h w it h o u t o v er n ig h t st ay ) o f G re ek s an d e v en m o re B u lg ar ia n s. Im p ac t is n o t id en ti fi ed . E x p ec te d p o te n ti al im p ac t in te rm s o f th e p o ss ib il it y o f co m b in ed h o li d a y s.
№ V il la g e C h a r a c te ri st ic s K o v a c h e v it sa L e sh te n D o le n T o u r is m m a n a g e m e n t a n d m a rk et in g 2 1 Jo in t ac ti o n s o f lo ca l en tr ep re n eu rs In 2 0 0 2 l o ca l as so ci at io n w as f o u n d ed u n d er t h e n am e "H is to ri ca l an d A rc h it ec tu ra l R es er v e K o v ac h ev it sa ", w h ic h w as o ff ic ia ll y r eg is te re d as N G O in 2 0 0 3 . It st ar te d to d ev el o p th e re so u rc es a n d t o p ro m o te t h e v il la g e, b u t d u e to d is ag re em en t w it h th e lo ca l g o v er n m en t so o n ce as ed o p er at io n . T h er e is n o fo rm al st ru ct u re fo r co ll ab o ra ti o n , b u t th e n ee d f o r ta rg et ed j o in t ef fo rt s is p o in te d o u t. T h er e is n o fo rm al st ru ct u re fo r co ll ab o ra ti o n . T h er e is an in fo rm al as so ci at io n o f S o fi a re si d en ts , w h o o w n h o u se s in th e v il la g e, w h ic h su p p o rt s th e re st o ra ti o n o f th e ch u rc h . 2 2 In v o lv em en t o f lo ca l au th o ri ti es an d su p p o rt ( p u b li c p ro je ct s) M is u n d er st an d in g an d la ck o f in te re st fr o m lo ca l au th o ri ti es , m ai n ly d u e to th e sm al l n u m b er o f p er m an en t p o p u la ti o n a n d u n cl ar it y ab o u t th e co n tr ib u ti o n o f to u ri sm . T h e ro le o f lo ca l g o v er n m en t is u n d er es ti m at ed . M is u n d er st an d in g a n d l ac k o f in te re st f ro m lo ca l au th o ri ti es , m ai n ly d u e to th e sm al l n u m b er o f p er m an en t p o p u la ti o n . T h e ro le o f lo ca l g o v er n m en t is u n d er es ti m at ed . M u n ic ip al a u th o ri ti es s h o w r es tr ai n t to h el p b u t n o t in te rf er e. T h e ro le o f lo ca l g o v er n m en t is u n d er es ti m at ed . 2 3 M ar k et in g a ct iv it ie s A b o u t h al f o f th e en tr ep re n eu rs w o rk w it h in te rm ed ia ri es , m o st o ft en to at tr ac t fo re ig n to u ri st s. H al f o f th e si te s d o n o t ad v er ti se i n a n y w ay . T h er e ar e tw o in fo rm at io n b ro ch u re s is su ed ab o u t th e v il la g e. In ad d it io n to b ro ch u re s, ac co m m o d at io n p o ss ib il it ie s ar e p ro m o te d o n t h e In te rn et . T h e to u ri st v il la g e w o rk s w it h to u r-o p er at o rs e n ti re ly o n t h e d o m es ti c m ar k et . F o r b o th a cc o m m o d at io n s it es i n fo rm at io n is a v ai la b le o n t h e In te rn et , an d o n e o f th em d is tr ib u te s p ri n te d l ea fl et s as w el l. O n ly tw o g u es t h o u se s w o rk w it h in te rm ed ia ri es , b o th fo r th e d o m es ti c an d th e in te rn at io n al m ar k et . N o co m m o n b ro ch u re ab o u t th e v il la g e is is su ed an d le af le ts ar e p ri n te d o n ly fo r tw o si te s. A b o u t 7 5 % o f th e si te s p ro v id e in fo rm at io n o n t h e In te rn et . 2 4 L im it in g f ac to rs o f d ev el o p m en t D ef ic ie n cy o f to u ri st i n fr as tr u ct u re a n d p ro p er h ea lt h ca re , im p ai re d n at u ra l en v ir o n m en t an d lo st t ra d it io n s, d if fi cu lt a cc es s fr o m t h e v il la g e to t h e m ai n a tt ra ct io n s. L ac k o f p er m an en t lo ca l p o p u la ti o n s. In su ff ic ie n t in fo rm at io n an d ad v er ti si n g , d if fi cu lt ac ce ss to th e v il la g e, li m it ed su p p ly o f to u ri st se rv ic es , la ck o f k n o w le d g e an d sk il ls to d el iv er to u ri st se rv ic es , la ck o f at tr ac ti v e si g h ts an d ev en ts , st at e o f th e v il la g e en v ir o n m en t. 2 5 P ri o ri ty f u tu re a ct iv it ie s Im p ro v em en t o f g en er al in fr as tr u ct u re , p ro te ct io n a n d m ai n te n an ce o f to u ri st r es o u rc es , cr ea ti o n o f n ew a tt ra ct io n s an d d ev el o p m en t o f ad d it io n al s er v ic es . P re se rv at io n an d m ai n te n an ce o f to u ri st re so u rc es , cr ea ti o n o f n ew at tr ac ti o n s an d d ev el o p m en t o f ad d it io n al se rv ic es , en h an ce m en t o f ad v er ti si n g a ct iv it ie s. Im p ro v em en t o f g en er al in fr as tr u ct u re , p ro te ct io n an d m ai n te n an ce o f to u ri st re so u rc es , im p ro v em en t o f q u al it y o f se rv ic es i n r es ta u ra n ts a n d a cc o m m o d at io n fa ci li ti es .
