Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 18, Suppl. 1, pp 498-506, 2020 Copyright © 2020 Trakia University Available online at: http://www.uni-sz.bg

ISSN 1313-3551 (online) doi:10.15547/tjs.2020.s.01.081

TRENDS IN THE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF

K. Petrov*

Department of Regional Development, Faculty of Management and Administration, University of National and World Economy /UNWE/, , Bulgaria

ABSTRACT The report examines the socio-economic condition of the Republic of Bulgaria. Some sectors of the Bulgarian economy have been analysed, taking into account their regional peculiarities and revealed serious structural weaknesses. The problem of the effectiveness of the country's financial management was also highlighted, reflecting the dependence on the country's external financing. Another major drawback in the economic development of the country is the state of the transport infrastructure and the maximum utilization of its potential, which inevitably affects the regional integration and local socio-economic development. The report shows the evolution of understandings for rural regions in Bulgaria. They are unified by the area in which they develop – rural regions. They offer opportunities for rest and recovering in environment which is absolutely opposite to the one in their urban and industrial area. In this scope are examined the economic structure of regional development and rural areas in these territories, territorial differences (variety) in the change of employment and unemployment, the role of the demographic situation as a factor in the sustainable development.

Key words: economic, regional, integration, reforms, rural regions, rural area

INTRODUCTION Development. Taking into account the It was only at the turn of the century that problems of regional development at the a dramatic change in Bulgarian regional national level do not find their irreversibility policy occurred. With the dynamic generated and consistency. This creates some difficulties by the strengthening of Bulgaria’s European in formulating regional development policies perspective the first Regional Development and especially in properly defining the Act was adopted in 1999 and, with it, a new priorities of individual regions. After 2007, approach to regional policy emerged, with Bulgaria became a full member of the the introduction of important changes in European Union, which brought to the fore the the regional administrative structure, the need to adapt our regional policy to that of the institutions of regional policy, and the planning Union. So, it is clear from the review of the of regional interventions. The institutional development of regional policy in Bulgaria that changes of the 1999 Act also allowed a more this can be rather easily divided into four integrated policy approach to emerge, and sub-periods: the late central planning period, policy emphasis to shift from ad hoc where some territorial policies were redistribution to enhancing administrative incorporated in the wider planning of sectoral capacities at the regional and local levels. and industrial policies; the transition period Following, the first integrated national regional developments were slow and largely dictated programs were developed, initiating the first by national needs and internal constraints; the Operational Program for Regional accession period, where the role of the EU ______became more central and policy design and *Correspondence to: Kamen PETROV, Vice-Dean implementation started becoming in Faculty of Management and Administration, ‘Europeanized’ and the post-accession period, University of National and World Economy , where regional policy obtains a clear European Department of Regional Development UNWE - form and structure. Even though the Sofia 1700 Sofia, Student Town, Sofia, Bulgaria, legislative framework of Bulgaria’s regional [email protected]. [email protected] 498 Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 18, Suppl. 1, 2020

PETROV K. policy is harmonized with the Europe’s particularly those relating to backwardness, twelve years after the country became an polarization, and spatial un-connectedness. EU member, it hasn’t shown a big progress Owing to such developments Bulgaria’s in reaching even the EU average levels. regional and spatial problems exhibited a Overall, then, even at this period of strong combination of characteristics of polarization, policy development, policy design and peripheral backwardness, and spatial un- implementation was problematic (1). Some connectedness and localized (sub-regional) elements of over-commitment to EU-like inequality. These characteristics are rather structures (e.g., the design of policies at the clearly depicted in the spatial patterns of NUTS-2 level), combined with a notably inequality in terms of regional incomes in the thick and complex institutional architecture, country (4). poor national finances to support an effective regional policy, and an emphasis on national METHODS AND RESULTS growth over the aim of tackling disparities, Municipalities in Bulgaria meant that regional policy failed to address the main regional problems of the country,

Figure 1. Тhe administrative-territorial structure of the municipalities in Bulgaria Source: NSI (Bulgaria)

The need for territorial and spatial optimal functioning of the socio-economic development measures for settlements. system in the individual country. Socio- Territorial development is a multifaceted economic territorial system means economic complex activity aimed at establishing rules and socially efficient combinations of and dependencies in organizing environmental interrelated elements of society, purposeful protection. Its evolution is part of the functioning of a particular territory as units of biological and social development of every public / in that direction and territorial division individual. This environment is both a of labor and integration of labor (3). Main boundary and a link between society and elements of the socio-economic territorial nature. The structure of the territory creates systems an object of material production and conditions and different rules (including legal that of non-production sphere them with ones) are formulated about it, because it is a demographic resources. The economic system reflection of both human beings - as a higher is made up of people and institutions, including thinking being and as a biological species that their attitude to production resources, such as lives in a socially organized system. The through ownership. The monitoring of the identification of problems with territorial development of a settlement network is a division in the modern state is linked to the recognized need, both in its past development, process of zoning or territorial division. for the identification of past processes and Territorial division is often linked to the problems that have arisen, as well as for its

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PETROV K. future development and the creation of functional hierarchical system of settlements as forecasts using socio-economic development. polycentric and its relatively uniform location The settlement network is the created structure throughout the country with a view to of settlements connected with functional, acquiring a sustainable and open character is spatial and virtual connections of different an open problem to overcome. The intensity between settlements. The study of presentation of the problem central - peripheral settlements and their links has always been a territories is one of the main ones in regional key point in all survey studies (2). The policy. stabilization and improvement of the

Figure 2. Rural areas in Bulgaria LAU 1 level (geographical scale 1: 1000000) Source: National concept spatial development (2013-2025)

The study of these regional structures through They are for improving the urban environment, the municipal territorial unit is another transport and road infrastructure. This makes important point in regionalism. The strengthening urban policies in the The EU is municipality is seen as a system that needs to one of the main policy objectives after 2021. be in a balanced and sustainable state in order Reversing this trend will require a shift in to overcome the imbalances of socio-economic approach and philosophy. Cities are places development and territorial aspect. By its where many are concentrated challenges, nature, regional policy is defined as a complex present and future, and are key locations for policy which, through the totality of economic, making Europe's economies stronger, more legislative, administrative actions of state and environmentally and socially engaged. There local governments, aims accelerating regional are groups of conditions that affect territorial economic growth and overcoming regional planning. First of all, these are natural and disparities development (5). The integrated geographical factors. The most important is regional policies are identified as an relief. According to the experts in Bulgaria appropriate mechanism for the development of there is an optimal distribution of the territory. urban areas, which is why they are supported The low, hilly and mountainous terrain are by a number of Community initiatives: almost evenly distributed. The average altitude URBAN (1994–2006), URBACT (2007– of 470m is also optimal. Mineral resources, 2013), Leipzig Charter sustainable European water resources, historical factors and the level cities (2007) and more. Furthermore, there was of development of science and technology are low absorption of the EC OP Competitiveness important for the development of the territory funding (€1,162 million), the main source of (6). The territorial arrangement is subject to public funds available for upgrading and certain principles. These are the basic modernizing Bulgaria’s economy over the principles that are relevant for all aspects of 2007-2013 cycle. Until 2021 are opened by the territorial organization: the principle of projects under the Operational Program democracy, of complexity, of the contradiction "Regions for Growth" 2014-2020. Through between state, municipal and personal under the Operational Program over 400 interests, of the combination of sectoral and infrastructure projects will be implemented, territorial interests, of balance. Ensuring the including the major projects of the resilience of the settlement network and municipalities of Stolichna, , Varna, building a quality settlement environment, Bourgas, Rousse, and . guaranteeing favorable socio-economic and 500 Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 18, Suppl. 1, 2020

PETROV K. environmental development, is a priority task object of the model of the territorial-urban for the integrated regional development structure of the country and planning regions. policies and territorial structure and is the

Figure 3. Division of municipalities by economic, spatial and territorial development Source: NSI (Bulgaria)

Connection of regional development and economic efficiency. Substantial and rural development in Bulgaria. persistent income and unemployment The careful focus on regional development differentials lead to inflationary pressures for brings to the fore its dichotomy. It is related to the national economy, as upward price the formation of two fields for regional impact. movements in the better-off areas are not These are the urbanized territories and their counter-balanced by deflationary movements adjacent areas on the one hand and on the other in poorer areas. In general, negative socio- the rural areas and the carrying out of economic processes are observed in the rural agricultural activity in them. In Bulgaria, the areas of Bulgaria. A shrinking and aging implementation of regional policy is a complex population makes obsolete entire layers of the process that combines the concentration of public service infrastructure – lack of young efforts by the state to support individual families means lack of children, lack of industries (7). However, this approach is children makes obsolete kindergartens, schools partially successful because it does not in and community centres. The closing of schools practice set out the general objectives of cuts down jobs for teachers and pediatricians, regional development for both urban areas and reduces the workload for dentists and rural areas. In practice, the deficit in terms of diminishes the use of public and private setting common territorial objectives related to transport, etc. The impacts from the negative the population, settlements and the regional socio-economic and demographic trends are economy in territorial terms leads to emerging reinforced by the trends in agriculture. First of regional imbalances. In this respect, the rural all, Bulgarian agriculture is functioning areas in Bulgaria are most affected and in a significantly below its potential, and at present difficult economic situation. In the rural areas the country is not selfsufficient in almost any of the country there is a deficit from the of agriculture product, except for the output of implementation of effective regional policies. grain and oil-bearing industrial crops, where This deficiency of regional policy is of huge surpluses are regularly observed each course important on theoretical grounds, year. Besides these efficiency considerations, given the fact that persistent regional however, in the context of transition the imbalances raise issues not only of economic deficiency of regional policy is particularly cohesion and social justice, but also of important due to one of the ‘stylized’

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PETROV K. characteristics of the very transition process, sustainability entering the local socio- namely the fast and stark widening of regional economic system. The delayed development of disparities. The rural areas of the country are agriculture in economic sense and according to rapidly losing their labour force, a fact which thenumber of employed was identified as a impedes the utilization of the potential for basic tendency in rural regions development. economic growth in these areas. The The level of social dialogue in the agro- knowledge, skills and abilities of the remaining economy can and should be improved given workforce are decreasing. This process is the importance of the sector for the light associated with increasing poverty and processing industry and the rural economy in decreasing purchasing power in rural areas; general. which leads to a shrinking demand for, and consumption of goods and services; this makes New projects to improve regional it even harder for the emergence of new development in Bulgaria. businesses – especially in the tertiary sectors of In territorial termsр Bulgaria may accept the the economy(8). At hindsight, this made a poor project approach as efforts focused on building situation worse, arguably contributing to the large infrastructure enable regional widening of regional disparities and connectivity in North-South direction, and then intensifying problems of asymmetry and to focus towards the regional economy backwardness for the less developed areas of development. This can be done by attracting the country. Rural areas include most of the strategic investors or creating conditions to EU and nearly half of its population. They support the production specific for the regions provide living space and a means of of the country, this specific approach is crucial livelihood for millions of people, much of for the regional development of Bulgaria. the food, a number of basic raw materials for Largely in this profile should start from the the industry as well as recreation space, Danube coast. Looking more globally attractive to visitors. The specific character of Bulgarian Danube coast as an important part of rural areas within the EU is determined by the national territory is necessary to bring out their social and cultural identity. Every rural the specific features of this coastal territory area has a unique geographical location, associated with its geopolitical and geo- natural resources, history, ethnic composition economic dimensions. Development of the of the population, religion and traditions, route of the 7th Euro corridor in the region is urban network, economic potential. Every the most important element for its rural area is unique in terms of its infrastructure development and its functional geographical location, its natural resources, linkage of , Ruse and Danube history, ethnic composition of the population, ports. Their technical and technological religion and traditions, urban network, modernization will allow developing economic potential. intelligent transport systems in the whole region and also that of the Atlantic destinations Agriculture is an integral part of the economy from the Rhine-Main-Danube to the Black Sea – it provides the raw materials to be processed and further to Caucasus-Central Asia and the and marketed by various value adding chains Far East to the Middle East and North Africa. in the food industry, but also in various other An important component of its infrastructure sectors of the light processing industry – development is building a parallel (in along the cosmetics, pharmacy, textiles, hide and leather Danube river) a high-speed road, very production, and in turn is used by clothing and important for further economic linking the shoemaking industries, etc. While larger urban Danube riparian areas of the district. For their centers can have the capacity to export goods project, cold the EU Danube Strategy and services not originating or associated with important is participation of Danubian agriculture, forestry and fishery, smaller rural municipalities of the region in its settlements rarely can do so, because they lack implementation. Needed is also to create a the similar concentration of human capital with legal opportunity for the development private diverse knowledge and skills. In the case of ports in the Black Sea and the Danube. rural economies, money from exported raw Together with a simplification of procedures in materials is indeed like the influx of oxygen the construction of new ports, expanding the rich blood to the limbs of a body. The greater existing ones, and the abolition of the the quality of the local produce and the degree institution of the right to use water body. The of added value, the greater the amount of main problem standing in front of a building 502 Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 18, Suppl. 1, 2020

PETROV K. new or expanding existing public transport Silistra and regions, in it quickly the ports and those mentioned in 107-109 sustained economic growth should be imitate LSSIWPRB (marinas, fishing ports and special (3). It is also necessary to pay special attention purpose) is rooted in the status of the seabed to North coast. Emerging new challenges, (also the bed and a flood plain of the River especially considering the emerging new Danube). This determines the inability for the "North-South" pattern of regional relations construction and expansion of the port, which mainly in direction requires the search for is not owned by the state. Since the business news creative solutions for regional has clearly manifested the desire to overcome development (4). Recently becomes urgent existing legal obstacle currently is absolute, for need of question is building new port terminals construction of new or expansion of existing hot of feasibility of the implementation of the ports - municipal and private property. For second industrial port in the Northern Black example, is necessary to build new grain port sea coast. Localization this port may be mostly on the Danube River at Aydemir near Silistra. by , but this area lies within the "Natura The size of the port terminal should be at least 2000"zone. However, this can create 4 berths and storage with a total capacity of conditions to examination of be realized 68 000 tons. We need the government to natural extension of the European Transport commit to building a new inlet and path Corridor №8 Varna should be finished soon to asphalting of part of the existing to the future Constanza and eventually to Ukraine and port terminal. The planned turnover volume of Moldova. On the Romanian side is good to grain is 150,000 tons after the start of finish the highway Constanta-Varna on the operation at full capacity of the base. In these Bulgarian one to create a link from the Hemus amounts will be 70% cereals and 30% oilseeds. highway after Aksakovo over towards Upon adoption of any legislative approach to Romanian border and to connect to Romanian overcome the problem is to find a balance howay in the border. The realization of this between intense to public and the private project is necessary to strengthen transport investors. Possibility, people who wills to build traffic on the 8th Euro corridors within the a port with a property which is between more country through the port Constanta Bulgaria to owners is more than acceptable for the safety be integrated into this new geo-economic area. and security of shipping and the For similar project and its realization is macroeconomic logic. To overcome this appropriate adoption of new spatial problem, the State should at some point to development solutions (5). This means that withdraw the rights to build new ports, which apart from the construction of express road is would mean adopting approach "first in time is necessary to modernize railway links to stronger in law." This approach is fully in line direction -Kardam-Constanta mostly fair competition and do not fit fully into the by their electrification reaching a maximum modern community. Another possibility to speed of 140-160 km. The significant role in overcome that disadvantage is the creation on the regional development of this region may objective criteria, with the result that it can be have Rousse, due to its strong gravitational determined which owners to grant rights and potential of Ruse and its implications to which - not. The State can hardly control the , Svishtov, Levski, Biala and other process through detailed development plan for municipalities. This would give Ruse need a violations macroeconomic logic can hardly real gravitational potential to influence the become a reason to give up coordination of the dynamics and direction of movement labour plan (8). Strategic importance may have resources (labour force), the direction of the Northeastern Bulgaria. First it has to be dominant vector of both cultural and renovated electrification and double the educational ties, and those under the railway line Ruse-Varna. Samuel-line Silistra administrative, legal, communal services to the is seeking an opportunity to build speed road in population in North Central Region Planning the direction of Silistra-Shumen-Rishki Pass- such overall strengthening the role of Ruse is . An important condition regional logical and reasoned. Ruse also has crucial development is the certification of airports in update on the construction of the route of the and Silistra in international 9th Euro corridors in the country. In this terminals, for cargo and low-cost civil flights. respect, the update of the master plan of Ruse Thus Bulgarian State must prepare the new contents construction of new railway track to Economic Development Plan for the period Danube Bridge I, which is displaced by urban 2020- 2030 whit a special attention to Dobrich, area also, planning a new bridge to replace the Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 18, Suppl. 1, 2020 503

PETROV K. old one in 15-20 years. Then it is important and urban axis through extra modernization that building of the speed road Ruse - Gorna and construction of high-speed road Ruse- Oryahovitsa on a new route, in my opinion Byala-Pleven-Jablanica. In practice, economic outside urban areas and settlements. In the new specialization of the central parts of Northern conditions, is necessary for Bulgaria region is strengthening the industry: to become a major transport hub in northern engineering, chemical, food and light one. Bulgaria where you will meet themselves Their technological and territorial restructuring "Hemus" highway, alternative paths to Pleven nowadays take place and has prospects for and the new express road in the direction of future development of dis territory (4). The upper Gorna Oryahovitsa-Lyaskovetz- sustainable development of the processing Sheremetya-Malak Chiflik-Debelec to be industry is possible, according to production carried traffic along , whit the traditions of the population in the period of most important turns detour of and economic transition, a developed resource base specially road tunnel under the Pass. In and availability of markets for their produce. It practice, infrastructure development of Central is also important to bring rural problems to the Bulgaria especially the routes of the European fore. In Northern Bulgaria there was a clear transport corridors, will directly and indirectly specialization and zoning in the vegetable influence the whole northern Bulgaria, and production (near Danube’s areas and along the later it will came direct relation for the rivers Yantra, Ruse Lom, Osam, Vit), grain technical modernization of ports Somovit, cultivation (northern and central areas, Danube , road Nikopol-Pleven-- plain, Ludogorie), and that of perennial crops and multi highway tunnel Troyan-Hr. Pole. and potatoes, and also the environmental Thus, it will give a new horizon of transport pastoralism fore and Stara Planina.

Figure 4. The separate regional economic centers of Bulgaria. Source: NSI (Bulgaria)

In South Bulgaria it is necessary to pay more For its construction were used favorable attention to the main roads improving. The Balkan valleys between the Balkan and Central road between highway was built south in the Forest. In this direction it is necessary to create foothills of the Balkan Mountains to connect conditions for economic interaction on both Sofia and - the shortest link of those sides of the Balkan Mountains mainly through two cities of a great economic importance for the establishment of join factories and the development of infrastructure, industry and companies, as well as putting the competitive agriculture, in the settlements of the whole advantages of settlements in both parts of this region. The transition between Sofia Plain and range. At national level changes in the Law on - valley is done with the Regional Development shut contain a special mountain pass through the Galabets saddle. program for the development of the Balkan

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PETROV K. region. The municipalities of , The tendency to increase the share of the urban , , , Kotel, population leads to the transformation of cities , Troyan, will be into economic and administrative centers, as influenced on their regional development and well as to places where the main functions of measuring the priorities for their regional the human life cycle - habitation, work, economy. In this direction we can go towards recreation, servicing and related technical the development of regional industrial clusters infrastructure - are prioritized. This defines the to consolidate further economic territory of the great importance of cities in terms of the Balkan region. This means that the use of its development of the national territory as a cultural, historical and natural potential for the whole, but at the same time causes the development of regional economy creates concentration of a number of problems related opportunities for investment and construction to the use of their territory - overbuilding, of facilities that may have significant potential, environmental pollution, scarcity of green which is a prerequisite for sustainable spaces, lack of places for parking, providing development of regional economy. Thus, for certain comfort and habitation, providing the regional economic development in social infrastructure facilities, as well as Southern Bulgaria it turned out to be important building and maintaining networks and to attract investments, especially in the technical infrastructure facilities. All of this industry, which created conditions for its brings to the fore the issues of sustainable stabilization and development. The effect of urbanization, and in particular of sustainable the construction of the Maritza and Trakia urban management. In recent years, in highways was important, but a number of other Bulgaria, as a result of increased infrastructure projects were not implemented. anthropogenic impact, some of the large and There are still deficits in terms of the medium-sized cities are expanding their development of alternative traffic routes and territorial scope beyond their construction the improvement of regional accessibility in a boundaries, exporting their economic and number of territories in Southern Bulgaria (5). social functions to a wider territory, covering Another major problem remains the the lands of several settlements. In this way, to deteriorating demographic situation in southern a certain extent, the planned space of the city Bulgaria, as well as environmental challenges. almost coincides with the planning of the The appearance of the coronavirus also slowed territory of urban land. We distinguish several down the modernization of the Bulgarian types of proximity in a spatial aspect: regions. Regarding regional development, the cognitive, organizational, social, institutional, implementation of projects such as the Black and geographic (2). Sea Highway, the doubling of the Plovdiv- Burgas railway, the construction of a two-lane Market growth, market size and access to tunnel under Shipka, the widening of the Stara international and regional markets are among Planina passes, as well as the improvement of the most important factors that can influence water supply and sewerage in most settlements the choice of location for investment by in Bulgaria. companies, followed by the quality of the business environment, including the In recent years, the areas around the capital availability of skilled labor, suppliers and and respectively the South-West planning adequate infrastructure. Embedding Bulgarian region have developed the most. In practice, regions in the economy at the international there are a number of problems to solve that level cannot be done by delivering products at can have a negative impact on the regional competitive prices without sufficient and good development of the country. Focus is also quality electricity, telecommunications and toward the most developed area of Bulgarian transport networks and without the presence of Southwest Region, where the only developed other key factors such as mass access to area is that of Sofia as whole the once drinking water. This means that regional , and are development of Bulgarian territory must its worsen or stalled. At the same time the focused and adequacy, and leads to improved analysis of socio-economic indicators for the well-being of our environment. So that the implementation of regional development plans participation of large corporations in indicate that Southern Regions need also concessions such as "build - acquisition – serious economic change. service" or management contracts to become real and to create conditions for permanent Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 18, Suppl. 1, 2020 505

PETROV K. presence of economically active persons in the heterogeneous spatial connectivity of its local Bulgarian regions to be develop branch and economies. The overall prospects for specialized Bulgarian regional economy. The sustainable socio-economic development and support for all productive business and/or for regional development in application view of improvement of public facilities should be the supranational European policies in the next accompanied with a horizontal requirement programming period where the goals and that the businesses or public services achieve objectives of period 2021- 2027 can be greater energy efficiency or become energy achieved only in strong and competitive independent after the support is over. This will economies able to support national investments be a great contribution to the competitiveness in research and constant innovation, as well as of businesses in the medium and long term, but in the knowledge and practical skills of the will also open and preserve green jobs local people. associated with the planning, construction and upkeep of the respective facilities (6). REFERENCES Territorial coherence policies should take into account and stimulate the potential for spatial 1. Boschma, R. and K. Frenken (2015), interaction. For this purpose, it is necessary to Evolutionary Economic Geography. Papers build institutional frameworks at the regional in Evolutionary Economic Geography # level to coordinate effectively the process of 15.18. regional development. 2. Bachev, H., Ivanov, B., Toteva D., & Sokolova, E. (2017) Agrarian sustainability CONCLUSION in Bulgaria – economic, socialand The aim of conducting regional policy is ecological aspects. Bulgarian Journal of related to finding opportunities for purposeful Agricultural Science, 23(4), 519-525. impact on the territory through tools and 3. Vladev, I. Trends in spatial distribution and activities that should highlight the regional population density of the following development as a national priority of the Вulgarian socio-economic territorial contemporary modern state. Practically systems: Shumen, Novi pazar, , regional development means a balance and .//Proceedings of the ХІІІ between the priorities of municipalities Сonference „Natural Sciencesʼ2015“ districts and planning regions and search for 4. Capello R., P. Nijkamp (Eds.), 2009, the most important issues for them solving Handbook of regional growth and related to national priorities and development theories, Edward Elgar understandings of development regions as 5. Marinov, P., (2018) Natural Resource separate territorial communities. Regarding Potential in the Rural Areas of the South globalization of trade in agricultural goods, Central Region, Plovdiv, Fast Print Books, and climate change – it appears that Bulgaria pp. 103-106 still has to prepare for climate related 6. Dimitrov, P., M. Stoyanova. (2016). Long- challenges, as its irrigation system and run forecasting of the SPA and wellness vulnerability to droughts and floods continues tourism development in Bulgaria. to be high. As the role of the external factor 7. Patarchanov,P, Em Patarchanova, V. has been dramatically transformed over the Zarkov,. The need for a new logic in the years, Bulgaria may have to look into its own regionalization of the national space. domestic limitations and constraints to find the Proceedings of the International scientific appropriate institutional and socio-political and practical conference “Bulgaria of configurations that will facilitate the regions’2018”. University of agribusiness harmonious development of the national and rural development, Plovdiv 19 – 21 component of regional policy and the October, 2018. 91-104 efficient operation of the chosen regional 8. Patarchanova, Em. (2012) Socio - interventions, so as to effectively tackle the Economic Patterns and Trends in Rural continuing problems of polarisation, Development in EU, Journal of Settlements backwardness and unconnectedness that and Spatial Planning, vol. 3, No. 2, 2012, characterise the Bulgarian sub-national Cluj University Press, Cluj-Napoca, economic space. Regional and sub-regional Romania, p. 151-155 inequalities is one of the main problems for regional and national development in Bulgaria appears to be related to the very weak and 506 Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 18, Suppl. 1, 2020