QUAESTUS MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH JOURNAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURIST DESTINATION ON EXAMPLE OF BOTEVGRAD MUNICIPALITY Dessislava ALEXOVA Abstract: The survey includes a study of the potential for sustainable tourist development of Botevgrad Municipality and the opportunities for destination planning and management. The main accents are focused on theoretical formulations as system methods for territorial development of tourist destination, implementation of European indicators and criteria for sustainable tourist development in local level and practical researches which includes proposals for tourist micro-regionalization of Botevgrad Municipality, tourist brand creation, improvement of administrative capacity and infrastructure, sustainable tourism products supply. The proposals are on the basis of the sustainable tourism potential of Botevgrad Municipality. Their aim is to contribute to the transformation an industrial municipality into an attractive tourist destination. Keywords: sustainable development, tourist resources, regional development, branding, tourist micro-regionalization, destination management INTRODUCTION Botevgrad municipality administratively belongs to the Sofia region and consists of 13 settlements - the municipal center Botevgrad and 12 villages. According to the National Spatial Development Concept, the municipal center - Botevgrad has a key position in the development of the main meridian axes in the north-south direction and plays an important role in the development of the western axis (Vidin - Sofia - Kulata), part of the European transport corridor № 4. The municipality is still a developing tourist destination, whose tourist resources are not used effectively, and most tourist sites are not sufficiently developed, which requires the implementation of a comprehensive product policy of a local level. In view of this, an in-depth scientific research has been undertaken on the opportunities for sustainable development of tourism in the municipality including applying well-established methodologies and European practices. The research objective of the present work is the development and implementation of mechanisms for sustainable tourism development at a 45 QUAESTUS MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH JOURNAL local level based on the analysis and assessment of the resource potential in Botevgrad Municipality The objective of the study is the sustainable development of tourism in the municipality of Botevgrad and its positioning as an attractive tourist destination. Conserved nature, plant and animal diversity, as well as protected areas are a basic prerequisite for the development of mountain, adventure and eco-tourism. Historical and religious monuments are the basis for a comprehensive offering of cultural and religious tourism. The resources of Botevgrad Municipality are not yet rationally used for the sustainable development of alternative types of tourism, despite the crossroads position of the region and good transport accessibility with the capital. The subject of this work is the study, analysis and definition of opportunities for sustainable tourism development at a local level as a model that can be multiplied to be used in other developing tourist destinations. To achieve the research goal, a set of general and private methods corresponding to the interdisciplinary and heterogeneous nature of the study are used: methods of analysis and synthesis, cameral method (literary review, official information sources, etc.), cartographic method (for spatial analysis of the surveyed objects and phenomena within the studied municipality), geographic methods of research: spatial analysis of the resource potential, localization of the surveyed sites. The main approaches are the systemic, related to the systemic character of the territorial system for recreation and tourism at the local level and the empirical, used for gathering the necessary, in volume and character, primary quantitative and qualitative information. The research methods used are based on a deductive approach. An approach of studies and systematization of information on literary sources and planning documents has also been used; collecting, processing, systematizing and interpreting statistical data and documents; critical analysis method and expert assessment; comparative analysis method; scientific analysis and synthesis; field observation. The stated research argument is that the achievement of a sustainable development of a tourist destination at a local level is possible only by systematically using and applying the criteria and indicators for analysis and evaluation of tourism potential, clearly defining and following the strategic objectives and priorities for sustainable development for the development of the tourist destination of Botevgrad. The main limiting factors of the study are the lack of previous systematic research studies, the lack of traditions in the field of tourism and the 46 QUAESTUS MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH JOURNAL fact that the municipality has never worked proactively for the development of the sector, as there are no updated registers of the categorized tourist sites. There is no monitoring of tourist visits and sufficient statistical information, and the available data is partial and shows that an important part of the tourist sites in the municipality are still in the gray sector. I. ANALYSIS AND EVALUATION OF THE TOURIST POTENTIAL OF BOTEVGRAD MUNICIPALITY The analysis and evaluation of the tourism potential for sustainable tourism development of Botevgrad Municipality includes a study of the external and internal factors of the environment, which influence the development of tourism, as well as analysis and assessment of its potential (tourist, material, human, financial resources). The positive and negative political, economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts of tourism, as well as technological factors related to the modern development of tourism. Some trends in the sector's development and consumer behaviour have also been studied. The survey outlines the opportunities and constraints for sustainable tourism development and its place in the macroeconomic framework. As a result of the study of the internal factors of the environment, the interaction of tourism with the other economic sectors in the municipality, its integration and its role in the overall microeconomic framework has been defined. 1. Analysis and evaluation of tourism resources in the municipality of Botevgrad The tourism resources are generally identifiable with the conditions and factors that determine the tourist development and influence the tourist process. They are an essential part of the recreational factors of tourism. Recognized as an important quality of tourism resources in the context of sustainable development is that after their use by tourists, their qualities are preserved, not lost or destroyed and their utilization should add to the conditions of resource use in general: technical feasibility, economic necessity, social need and sufficient research. (Vodenska, Asenova, 2011) The analysis of natural resources shows that the Botevgrad municipality has a predominantly favourable geographic location, mild climate and good transport accessibility, which implies the successful development of various forms of tourism, but there are also limiting factors that have a negative influence: temperature inversions and the typical for the Botevgrad valley fog. Water resources are not particularly rich, but there 47 QUAESTUS MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH JOURNAL are opportunities for fishing tourism. Botevgrad Municipality has a rich biodiversity, but this is not well studied and hinders ecotourism affordability. The protected areas of the soils included in the European Natura 2000 network are also of limited importance for tourism. Anthropogenic tourist resources are man-made and have the qualities of satisfying healing, recreational, cognitive, business or entertainment needs, which attract tourists. Botevgrad Municipality has a variety of objects of the metropolitan cultural heritage: archaeological, historical and religious. However, a small number of them are attractive and accessible to tourists, which necessitates the municipal leadership to take measures to improve their functioning. Attractive cultural and historical monuments from Botevgrad are: The Botevgrad Historical Museum, The Clock Tower, Monument-Ossuary of the Botev’s Chetniks, the three monasteries, the fortress "Bojenishki Urvich". Potential for the sustainable development of cultural tourism after restoration, improvement of accessibility and tourist interpretation have archaeological sites such as medieval churches and monasteries on the territory of the municipality, remains of fortresses, etc. Potential for development is the offering of attractions related to the crafts as well as the construction of technological reception spaces in the Historical Museum Botevgrad, the Chitalishte, the town library and some sports facilities. The events of the municipal calendar are of key importance for the promotion of the region as a tourist destination and can be used as a tool for popularizing and imposing the tourist brand of Botevgrad. The methodology for assessing tourism resources is closely linked to the Europe 2020 strategy's main priorities for sustainable growth, through more resource-efficient promotion of a greener and more competitive economy and inclusive growth - achieving social and territorial cohesion, cohesion through effective integration