Patterns of Development of Mountain Tourist Centers In Bulgaria

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Abstract

Mountain areas in Bulgaria occupy about 48 % of its territory. Tourism in the mountains began in the end of the nineteenth and the early twentieth century, and at the fall of the millennium, the number of tourist centers in the mountains is more than 50. The historical development of mountain tourism centers largely reflects the socioeconomic transformations in the country—the dramatic change after World War II with the nationalization and the introducing of centralized system of planning, construction, and management of resorts, through the phase of privatization of tourism enterprises and separate facilities in the 90s after the fall of socialism in 1989, and the period of transition to market economy with the boost of private initiative in tourism till nowadays.

The aim of this chapter is to identify and analyze the existing patterns of development of mountain tourist centers in Bulgaria. The patterns are defined based on a number of criteria set in groups to outline respectively their physical structure—genesis and type (resort, resort area, complex, settlement), altitude and size, environment (tourist resources in use and specialization) and spatial structure (planning and development), capacity of tourism facilities; the economic structure—level of tourism development and market significance, type of privatization and property structure, origin of investment (endogenous and exogenous), distribution of costs and benefits of development, management and marketing; the sociocultural structure—origin of employees, local community involvement, etc. The positive and negative characteristics of the patterns identified are pointed out.

Some political factors limiting or supporting the development of mountain tourist centers are discussed, as well as the existing conflicts in regards to the lack of balance between development and conservation, between the capacity for accommodation and the ski zones, etc. Recommendations are made about the future development of mountain tourist centers in the country.

Keywords

Mountain tourist centers Development structures 
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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Geography of Tourism DepartmentSofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”SofiaBulgaria

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