Joint Valorisation Strategy
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Business Support Centre for Small and Medium Enterprises 7000 Ruse, Kresna str., Phone/Fax: +359 82 821472 http://bsc.smebg.net/ [email protected] Project “Sustaining Rural Tourism in the Giurgiu-Ruse Area Through its Cultural Heritage” Project code: ROBG-502 Financed under the Interreg V-A Romania-Bulgaria Programme JOINT VALORISATION STRATEGY 2019 The content of this document does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union. www.interregrobg.eu Table of contents Introduction ..................................................................................... 5 Rural tourism definitions and concepts .......................................................... 6 1. Study of Ruse-Giurgiu region sustainable development potential .................... 8 1.1 The potential of Ruse region settlements to establish and maintain sustainable rural tourism ......................................................................................................... 10 1.1.1 Overview of the tourism potential of Ruse region ................................... 10 1.1.2 Survey among the local stakeholders and organisations - summary .............. 16 1.1.3 Study among the tour operators, agents and experts - summary ................. 17 1.1.4 Accommodation in Ruse region ......................................................... 19 1.1.5 Settlements in Ruse region with the greatest tourism potential .................. 19 1.2 The potential of Giurgiu county settlements to establish and maintain sustainable rural tourism .................................................................................................. 23 1.2.1 Overview of the Giurgiu County ........................................................ 23 1.2.2 Tourist potential of the Giurgiu County – summary ................................. 25 2. Study on the opportunities .............................................................. 27 2.1 Strengths and opportunities of the settlements in Ruse regions ....................... 28 2.1.1 Ivanovo ..................................................................................... 28 2.1.2 Pepelina ................................................................................... 30 2.1.3 Ryahovo .................................................................................... 32 2.1.4 Karan Varbovka ........................................................................... 34 2.1.5 Nisovo ...................................................................................... 35 2.1.6 Cherven .................................................................................... 37 2.1.7 Mechka ..................................................................................... 39 2.1.8 Nikolovo ................................................................................... 40 2.1.9 Basarbovo .................................................................................. 41 2.1.10 Ekzarh Yosif .............................................................................. 43 2.1.11 Study on Ruse region opportunities – summary ..................................... 44 2.2 Strengths and opportunities of the settlements in Giurgiu county .................... 47 2.2.1 Comana .................................................................................... 47 2.2.2 Herasti ..................................................................................... 48 2.2.3 Izvoarele ................................................................................... 49 2.2.4 Draganescu ................................................................................ 50 2.2.5 Letca Noua ................................................................................ 51 2.2.6 Gostinu ..................................................................................... 52 2.2.7 Oinacu ..................................................................................... 53 2.2.8 Clejani ..................................................................................... 54 2.2.9 Slobozia .................................................................................... 55 2.2.10 Balanoaia ................................................................................. 56 2.2.11 Study on Giurgiu county opportunities – summary ................................. 57 3. Risks and threats analysis ............................................................... 59 3.1 Risks and threats to rural tourism development in the settlements of Ruse region . 60 3.2 Risks and threats to rural tourism development in the settlements of Giurgiu county .................................................................................................................. 67 4. Development objectives ................................................................. 68 5. Investment priorities ..................................................................... 72 5.1 Investment priorities under Strategic objective 1 ........................................ 72 5.2 Investment priorities under Strategic objective 2 ........................................ 74 5.3 Measures, recommendations and stakeholders under the strategic objectives ...... 76 5.3.1 Measures under Strategic objective 1 ................................................. 77 5.3.2 Measures under Strategic objective 2 ................................................. 80 5.4 Consistency with the objectives and priorities of other strategic and programming documents for the region ................................................................................... 86 6. A common road map for rural tourism development in Ruse-Giurgiu region. Recommendations and responsibilities................................................................ 88 Introduction This document is developed under the procedure “Development of Joint Valorisation Strategy” within the framework of the Project “Sustaining Rural Tourism in the Giurgiu-Ruse Area Through its Cultural Heritage“, project code ROBG-502, financed under Interreg V-A Bulgaria-Romania Programme. The task has been carried out under a contract between the Business Support Centre acting as the contracting organisation and Promola Ltd. acting as the implementing party, concluded on 14 January 2019, for a period of six months. The joint strategy has been developed by using the data provided by the project partners, which was collected during the documentation phase in order to: • conduct an exhaustive research of the potential of the wider Giurgiu-Ruse region to attract tourists by focusing mainly on the needs and expectations of those who are interested in the rural destinations; • examine how small and less known places (such as the selected rural communities in the study) can develop a strong trade mark and a regional brand through the experiences and products that can be offered; • analyse the extent and ways to mitigate the risks and threats, so that these places become tourist destinations themselves; • offer objectives that are to be achieved jointly by all local stakeholders; • identify investment priorities and opportunities for private initiatives which can contribute to the achievement of the development objectives; • provide recommendations for clear guidelines on short-term/mid-term actions and a common roadmap for rural tourism development within the region; This document is available in Bulgarian language (on which it has been drafted) and in English language. Rural tourism definitions and concepts The Word Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)1 states on its official website that “tourism can and must play a significant role in delivering sustainable solutions for the people, the planet, the prosperity and peace. In 2015 tourism was the third economic sector in the world by export earnings, which is 10% of the world GDP and 30% of the outsourcing services, as well as provides one in 10 jobs worldwide. Tourism has the potential to contribute directly or indirectly to the all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals". The Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism2 gives the following definitions: ➢ Rural tourism and agricultural tourism are types of alternative tourism. They are historically linked to the post-war recovery of West Europe, namely France, where providing the farmers with support in the area of tourism has led to keeping the population in rural areas and their revival. Rural tourism is characterised with staying in rural environment (a house or a nearby camp, other accommodation facility), communicating with the host farmers and access to the farm. It can be in the form of transit, e.g. a stay within a round trip or a weekend stay, or even a one-week stay. In both cases the tourists expect to be involved in the daily life of the household: to pick up fruits and vegetables or herbs, to cook traditional meals, to participate in the local customs and festivals, to watch or be trained in local crafts, folk and agricultural traditions. These activities are usually complemented by various types of active or cultural tourism (trekking, mountain biking, horse riding, visits to monasteries, museums, archaeological and other sights, craft school), and very often, a mixture of them. ➢ Sustainable tourism appears to be a continuation of the sustainable development concept (Rio, 1992). It results from the cares that have been taken for the endangered areas on the entire planet, and in particular, for the tropical forests. At the same time, sustainable tourism also covers the urban areas and villages, as well as the cultural and architectural