The “Balkan Velo Trail – BVT 13” PROJECT: The “Balkan Velo Trail – BVT 13” PROJECT: „The Balkan Velo Trail – BVT 13” RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS OF THE TOURIST POTENTIAL AND THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE TOURISM IN THE COMMON CROSS- BORDER REGION OF BULGARIA AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA GEOGRAPHICAL COVERAGE: DISTRICT OF BLAGOEVGRAD, DISTRICT OF KYUSTENDIL (BULGARIA), EAST PLANNING REGION, SOUTHEAST PLANNING REGION (FORMER YUGOSLAV REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA) PROJECT: „THE BALKAN VELO TRAIL – BVT -13”, APRIL 2011 Table of Contents 1. EXISTING TOURIST RESOURCES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TOURISM IN THE TARGET AREAS .......................................................................... 4 1.1 DISTRICT OF BLAGOEVGRAD ............................................................................................. 4 1.1.1 Municipality of Bansko ........................................................................................................ 5 1.1.2 Municipality of Belitsa ........................................................................................................ 9 1.1.3 Municipality of Blagoevgrad ............................................................................................. 10 1.1.4 Municipality of Gotse Delchev .......................................................................................... 13 1.1.5 Municipality of Garmen ..................................................................................................... 17 1.1.6 Municipality of Kresna ...................................................................................................... 20 1.1.7 Municipality of Petrich ...................................................................................................... 23 1.1.8 Municipality of Razlog ...................................................................................................... 25 1.1.9 Municipality of Sandanski ................................................................................................. 29 1.1.10 Municipality of Satovcha ................................................................................................. 32 1.1.11 Municipality of Simitli ..................................................................................................... 33 1.1.12 Municipality of Strumyani ............................................................................................... 35 1.1.13 Municipality of Hadzhidimovo ........................................................................................ 37 1.1.14 Municipality of Yakoruda ................................................................................................ 38 1.2 DISTRICT OF KYUSTENDIL ................................................................................................ 39 1.2.1 Municipality of Bobov Dol ................................................................................................ 39 1.2.2 Municipality of Boboshevo ................................................................................................ 40 1.2.3 Municipality of Kocherinovo ............................................................................................. 41 1.2.4 Municipality of Kyustendil ................................................................................................ 42 1.2.5 Municipality of Nevestino ................................................................................................. 44 1.2.6 Municipality of Rila ........................................................................................................... 45 1.2.7 Municipality of Sapareva Banya ........................................................................................ 46 1.2.8 Municipality of Dupnitsa ................................................................................................... 48 1.2.9 Municipality of Treklyano ................................................................................................. 49 1.3 EAST PLANNING REGION ( MACEDONIA) ...................................................................... 50 1.3.1 Municipality of Berovo ...................................................................................................... 50 1.3.2 Municipality of Vinica ....................................................................................................... 53 1.3.3 Municipality of Delchevo .................................................................................................. 54 1.3.4 Municipality of Zarnovci ................................................................................................... 57 1.3.5 Municipality of Karbinci .................................................................................................... 57 2 1.3.6 Municipality of Kochani .................................................................................................... 58 1.3.7 Municipality of Makedonska Kamenica ............................................................................ 59 1.3.8 Municipality of Pehchevo .................................................................................................. 60 1.3.9 Municipality of Probishtip ................................................................................................. 62 1.3.10 Municipality of Cheshinovo-Obleshevo .......................................................................... 63 1.3.11 Municipality of Shtip ....................................................................................................... 63 1.4 SOUTH-EAST PLANNING REGION .................................................................................... 66 1.4.1 Municipality of Bogdanci .................................................................................................. 66 1.4.2 Municipality of Bosilovo ................................................................................................... 68 1.4.3 Municipality of Valandovo ................................................................................................ 70 1.4.4 Municipality of Vasilevo ................................................................................................... 72 1.4.5 Municipality of Gevgelija .................................................................................................. 74 1.4.6 Municipality of Dojran....................................................................................................... 76 1.4.7 Municipality of Konche ..................................................................................................... 79 1.4.8 Municipality of Novo Selo ................................................................................................. 80 1.4.9 Municipality of Radovish .................................................................................................. 83 1.4.10 Municipality of Strumica ................................................................................................. 84 2. ANALYSIS OF THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES OFFERED IN THE TOURISM SECTOR WITHIN THE CROSS-BORDER TARGET REGION. TOURISM MARKET TENDENCIES. .... 87 3. ANALYSIS OF SUPPLY IN THE SECTOR AND THE MARKET EXPANSION OPPURTUNITES .............................................................................................................................. 94 3.1 DISTRICT OF BLAGOEVGRAD ........................................................................................... 94 3.2 DISTRICT OF KYUSTENDIL ................................................................................................ 96 3.3 EAST PLANNING REGION ................................................................................................... 98 3.4 SOUTH-EAST PLANNING REGION .................................................................................... 99 3 1. EXISTING TOURIST RESOURCES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE FORMS OF TOURISM IN THE TARGET AREAS 1.1 DISTRICT OF BLAGOEVGRAD Blagoevgrad District is situated in the Southwest part of the Republic of Bulgaria. To the south the district borders with the Republic of Greece; to the west with the Republic of Macedonia; to the east – District of Pazardzhik and District of Smolyan; to the north – District of Kyustendil; Blagoevgrad encompasses the valleys of Struma River and Mesta River as well as the mountain ridges of Rila, Pirin, Rodhopi, Slavyanka, Belasitsa, Ograzdhen, Maleshevska and Vlahina. Blagoevgrad covers an area of 6 449 km2 which puts after the districts of Bourgas and Sofia. Blagoevgrad District includes a total of 14 municipalites, 96 communities and 280 settlements. The Border Checkpoints of Kulata, Zlatarevo, Stanke Lisichkovo and Ilinden are also located on the territory of the district. The total population of Blagoevgrad is 335.000 inhabitants. The administrative center of the district is the city of Blagoevgrad with a population of 80 000 people. The city of Blagoevgrad is located in the valley of the Struma River at an altitude of 360 meters between the mountain ridges of Rila and Vlahina mountains. Blagoevgrad is situaded just 31 km of the border with FYROM; 83 km of the border with Greece; 88 km of the border with Serbia. The capital city of Sofia is sitated just 96 km of the city of Blagoevgrad. In the vicinity of Blagoevgrad are the international winter resrots of Bankso (57 km.), Borovets (83), as well as the summer resorts of the Aegen Sea (185 km.). The international transport coridor E-79 which is part of the Pan-European