ANALYTICAL REPORT CAPACITY OF THE MUNICIPALITIES OF BANSKO, BELITSA, RAZLOG AND YAKORUDA FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF ACTIVITIES RELATED TO ALTERNATIVE TOURISM IN A CROSS-BORDER REGION Part One 1. General Characteristics of the region а. Territory, towns, natural assets The four municipalities are located at the foot of the Pirin and Rila Mountains and in the Western-most part of the Rhodope Mountains. Their total area is 1,568 sq. km. and there are 5 towns and 31 villages situated there, including high in the mountains. The infrastructure is relatively good and ensures access to all settlements. The local roads are being renovated as per the adopted municipal pans. There is Internet in place, which ensures good conditions for modern communications. The region is mountainous and includes reserves, protected territories and National Parks. The area is rich in water resources: rivers, high-mountain lakes, waterfalls (the most famous one being the Sv. Nikola Waterfall – Municipality of Bansko). There are also many thermal springs, the majority of them being unique. The Banya village, located along the Razlog – Yakoruda road, is one of the richest settlements in Bulgaria in terms of thermal water – 72 springs have been found with various temperature and composition. Along the course of the Dobrinishka River, there is the mineral water pool built in ancient times and known as Rimskoto Banche (the Roman Bath). There are two thermal water deposits in the Municipality of Belitsa – one of them with low-mineralised water suitable for daily use and the other – with water suitable for treating locomotor problems. The natural rock formations – wonders of nature, which are the subject of various legends, are also numerous and varied. The most famous of them are: The Steps (Stapalata) – marble formations in the area of Bansko; Pirostiata (the Trivet) – in the area of the Mesta village where three granite pillars support a semi-spherical plate with a diameter of about two meters; Svatbata (The Wedding) – occupies an area of 13.2 ha along the Bansko – Osenovo village road; the megalithic Thracian sanctuary Sv. Georgova skala (St. George’s Rock) – near Bachevo village; Kyoshkata – a karst spring and a cave near Razlog, etc. This region is famous with the varied flora and fauna, protected species from the plant and animal world: more than 127 endemic species and 130 herbs and wild flowers. Large territories of the Rila and Pirin Mountains are declared national parks and protected territories, many reserves have been established and all this helps preserve the natural wealth. The only reserve for dancing bears is located in the region, the only edelweiss greenhouse, the largest biosphere reserve in Bulgaria – Bayuvi Dupki-Dzhindzhiritsa. The natural resources are a wealth, which perceived as such by both the local authorities and the population. The natural resources are in the basis of development of 1 various tourism services and this has been addressed in the strategic development documents of all municipalities. The tourism sector development is a priority. There are many eco paths passing near the natural sights, conditions exist for organising photo safaris, bird and animal watching and exploration of rare plants. b. Demographic characteristics for 2016, work force, employment and unemployment, education The total population as of 31 December 2016 was 52,825 inhabitants 1, living respectively in the Municipality of Bansko – 12,189, Belitsa – 9,350, Razlog – 21,150 and Yakoruda – 10,136. The population of the region is relatively evenly distributed according to gender (Table 1.). There is a trend of gradual ageing with the exception of the Municipality of Belitsa (Table 3.). As a whole the population of the region is decreasing, which is a result of both the demographic crisis and the increased mobility? The educational level is presented in Table 2. The majority of the people have primary and general (secondary) education. The share of people with education lower than elementary is high – every fourth person living in the municipalities of Belitsa and Yakoruda. Among them there are people who have never been to school. Table 1. Population in the Municipalities Bansko, Belitsa, Razlog and Yakoruda by Gender Municipality Population total Male Female Bansko 12189 48,62% 51,38% Belitsa 9350 49,79% 50,21% Rrazlog 21150 48,66% 51,34% Yakoruda 10136 48,66% 51,345 Total 52825 Sources:Civil Registration and Administrative Services Directorate General,2016 With regard to the active population, there is relatively favourable distribution per municipalities (Table 3), however the employment conditions are different. The main occupation is similar – wood processing, food industry, agriculture and services related to tourism. In the Municipalities of Bansko and Razlog, there are more employment opportunities, the unemployment is close to the country average, while in the Municipalities of Belitsa and Yakoruda it comes to more than 80% of the active population. People live in 1 As per data from the Civil Registration and Administrative Services Directorate General 2 poverty there. They make their living from their own farms, occasional sale of local food products at the local markets – forest fruit jams, dairy products – curds, cheese, milk. Some people are engaged in retail trade, mainly to satisfy the needs of the local population. There are 2 professional gymnasiums in the region (Professional Gymnasium of Tourism and Food Technologies in Razlog and Professional Agriculture Gymnasium in Bansko), as well as 2 secondary schools with transport profile in Razlog and with electric engineering profile in Bansko. At the Professional Gymnasium of Tourism and Food Technologies there are classes where tourism is taught and classes for acquiring the “cook” profession. The students have practical training in the tourism sector, through which they acquire their first labour skills. In Razlog, there is also the Bratia Kanazievi Secondary School, also known as the Razlog Gymnasium, where the classes are with profiles in foreign languages and computers. A big part of the graduates continues their education mainly at the South-Western University and at other higher education schools. In the other towns and villages there are elementary and primary schools, as well as kindergartens. It is typical for the region that as a rule there are no drop-out students, 100% of the children are covered and are cared for/taught at the kindergartens and schools. Table 2 Population by Working Age in the Municipalities: Bansko, Belitsa, Razlog and Yakoruda Municipality Population – total Under Working Working Age(%) Over Working Age (%) Age (%) Bansko 12189 14,33 57,63 27,21 Belitsa 9530 21,18 59,10 19,72 Rrazlog 21150 12,63 57,67 25,06 Yakoruda 10136 17,94 59,93 22,13 Sources: National Statistical Institute, Labour Office, Civil Registration and Administrative Services Directorate General,2016 Table 3. Graduates in the Municipalities Bansko, Belitsa, Razlog and Yakoruda (per cent of the population over 7 age) Municipality University and Secondary, incl. Primary school Under Primary equivalent vocational school school, incl. never (VIII- grade) institutes been to chool Bansko 16,1 45,5 26,4 12,1 3 Belitsa 8,0 28,0 39,1 25,0 Rrazlog 13,4 44,0 23,2 12,0 Yakoruda 8,5 34,9 35,1 21,5 Sources: National Statistical Institute, Census ,2011 The community centre (chitalishte) network is another part of the educational infrastructure. The community centres have been preserved as cultural and educational centres, initiators of various educational activities. Modern community centres are extending their functions and are turning into one of the communication channels with various communities outside of the town or the village. In some of the smaller settlements, the community centre remains the only educational institution. с. Cultural and historical heritage – the most prominent sights, status through the prism of tourism The whole region is studded with numerous cultural monuments – Thracian sanctuaries, consecrated grounds and churches, remnants of a Thracian settlement, fortresses, necropolises, mounds, etc. There are numerous archaeological finds of ancient, late ancient and medieval settlements. A Roman road passed through the region connecting Philipoppolis and the Maritsa River valley with one of the main roads of the Roman Empire – Via Egnatia. Another road that passed through the region is the one connecting the Rila Monastery with the Zograf Monastery in Athos. Remains of a Thracian fortress were discovered in the Velyov Egrek area (Municipality of Razlog). The archaeological explorations in the Razlog valley show that life here was well evidenced as far as the Neolithic-eneolithic age of the 6th-4th millennium BC. The oldest archaeological finds date from the late Bronze and early Iron Age (3rd-2nd millennium BC). Numerous archaeological sites have been discovered and registered, some of them have been explored but this is still to be done for the majority of them. It is important to note that most of the archaeological findings are not known to tourists and explorers outside of Bulgaria. Therefore, they have a potential for development of tourism services. Only some of them – the most famous ones – are mentioned below. On the Sv. Ivan Height, a Thracian sanctuary of the fire has been studied – used for cult practices during later ages, as well. During the archaeological excavations in the Karagonsko Area, a part of a necropolis from late antiquity has been discovered with a Roman legionary buried in one of the graves. During ploughing in the Dobrokyovitsa area, a grave was accidentally discovered belonging to a healer of the 2nd century with the necessary instruments for his activity. In the Stolovatets area near Razlog, there is a finding dated back to around 2,400 BC and defined as a temple sanctuary of the Sun. One of the valuable findings is a Mycenae perfume vessel from the late Bronze Age (13th century BC), discovered during excavations performed by archaeology students from the New Bulgarian University, the Ludwig 4 Maximilian University in Munich and the Regional Historical Museum in Blagoevgrad.