Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Tourism in Varna Black sea area – current situation and prospects for development

Tourism in Varna Black sea area – current situation and prospects for development ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 Acta Scientifica Naturalis Former Annual of Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen: Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geography Journal homepage: https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/asn/asn-overview.xml Sevdzhan Sabrieva Department for Information, Qualifications and Continuing Education, Bishop Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen, 1 Dr. Boris Bozhkov Str., 9010 Varna, Bulgaria Abstract: Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries of the new millennium. Bulgaria is a destination with an extremely large variety of natural and anthropogenic tourism resources and a relatively well-developed tourism sector of the economy, which brings significant income to the country's economy. Varna tourist region is one of the leaders in the development of tourism, both for sea vacations and specialized types of tourism. Despite the great potential of the country and the researched tourist areas in particular, there are a number of problems related to uneven tourist development, seasonality, deteriorated tourist infrastructure and the quality of the services offered. The purpose of this paper is to study the current state of tourism and the opportunities for its development in the region. Keywords: tourism, tourist area, Varna, Black Sea, development Introduction The Conception for tourist zoning of Bulgaria approved in 2015 distinguishes nine tourist areas. One of the most significant for Bulgarian tourism is the Varna Black Sea tourist region with the city of Varna as its center. For the purposes of this research, the region will be briefly referred to as the Northern Black Sea Coast, and the terms mentioned are used interchangeably. In addition to the Northern Black Sea Coast, the region also includes part of the eastern Stara Planina, part of Ludogorie and Dobruja. This tourist area includes 25 municipalities: ▪ Avren, Aksakovo, Beloslav, Byala, Varna, Vetrino, Valchi dol, Devnya, Dolni chiflik, Dulgopol, Provadia and Suvorovo from Varna region; Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 ▪ Balchik, General Toshevo, Dobrich, Dobrich (village), Kavarna, Krushari, Tervel and Shabla from Dobrich region; ▪ Veliki Preslav, Kaspichan, Novi Pazar, Smyadovo and Shumen from Shumen district. It is divided into two sub-districts - Varna Black Sea and Dobrudja Black Sea, and the administrative center is the city of Varna. The Northern Black Sea region is mainly specialized in sea and sports tourism. Its extended specialization also includes cultural and cognitive tourism, festival, business, health and ecotourism (Table 1). Table 1. Territory of the Northern Black Sea tourist region [1] TOURIST AREA OF NORTHERN BLACK SEA Main specialization Marine and sports tourism Advanced specialization 1. Marine recreational tourism 2. Sports tourism 3. Cultural-historical and festival tourism 4. Business tourism (MICE) 5. Health tourism (all types) 6. Ecotourism Control Center Varna Areas Municipalities 1. Varna (the whole district) Avren, Aksakovo, Beloslav, Byala, Varna, Vetrino, Valchi Dol, Devnya, Dolni Chiflik, Dulgopol, Provadia, Suvorovo 2. 2. Dobrich (the whole district) Balchik, General Toshevo, Dobrich, Dobrich village, Kavarna, Krushari, Tervel, Shabla 3. Shumen (part) Veliki Preslav, Kaspichan, Novi Pazar, Smyadovo, Shumen Tourist resources are an extremely important determinant of the tourist territory and the considered tourist area in particular. They largely determine its popularity, image and reputation [2]. The natural tourist resources and especially the Black Sea coast are of leading importance for the development of tourism in Varna Black Sea Tourist Region. Here is the longest sandy beach along the entire Black Sea coast at the mouth of Kamchia River and Fundakliyska River, Dolni Chiflik municipality. Due to the significant overexploitation of natural tourist resources, especially during the summer season, attention is increasingly being directed to the full utilization of anthropogenic tourist resources. Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 Through them, it is expected not only to expand the tourist supply and to diversify the stay of tourists, but also to overcome at least partially the problem of seasonality. The purpose of this article is to study and analyze the state of tourism in the region and to outline the prospects for future development of the industry. Current state of tourist resources The area is characterized by diverse natural resources, rich cultural traditions and historical heritage dating back to the Thracian times. In Varna Black Sea there is a wide network of protected areas - natural landmarks, reserves, maintained reserves, protected areas, natural parks, primarily related to the preservation of biodiversity and natural phenomena. Table 2. Number and categories of protected areas in the Varna Black Sea region [3] Area Natural Reserves Maintained Protected Natural Parks reserves areas landmarks Varna 1 1 4 28 6 Dobrich 1 1 12 2 Shumen 1 1 3 13 1 Total 2 3 8 41 10 Varna Regional Environment and Water Inspection covers a region rich in protected areas in the districts of Varna and Dobrich. There are a total of 51 protected areas with a total area of 8862.2218 ha in the territory controlled by the inspection. There are a total of 40 protected areas on the territory of Varna region - 1 reserve, 4 maintained reserves, 1 natural park, 28 protected areas and 6 natural landmarks (Table 2). The protected areas in the district are the following: - reserves - Kamchia; - maintained reserves – Valchi transition, Kirov dol, Varbov dol, Kalfata; - natural parks – Golden Sands; - protected areas - Rakitnik, Petricha, Slaveykova Gora, Yatata, Tulumova Cave, Aladzha Monastery, Snezhanska Koria, Vodenitsike, Orlov Kamak, Pobiti Kamani, Liman, Pregrada, Kazashko, Churushishteto, the Great Rock, Royashka Rock, Big and Small Bulo, Goat River, Forest hut, Debelets, Dabovete, Solnik, Mihov dol, Tsar-Boris mullet, Probitii kamak - Tsar Boris mullet, Sunday-leaved Easter; Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 - natural attractions - Upper and Lower Kaplaja; A field of white mantis; A field of Urum tulip, Kuza skoka, Sini vir, Chudnite skali. Natural parks, protected areas and natural landmarks are of the greatest importance for ecotourism. Of the listed protected areas on the territory of the district, the Golden Sands Natural park, the Aladzha Monastery Protected area, the Pobiti kamani Protected area, and the Chudnite Skali Natural landmark are of interest to tourists. There are a total of 16 protected areas (1 reserve - Kaliakra, 1 maintained reserve - Baltata, 12 protected areas, 2 natural attractions) and 3 protected areas - Suha Reka, Shabla Lake Complex, Harsovska Reka on the territory of the Dobrich region (Table 2). Protected areas on the territory of the district are following: Durankulak Lake, Shabla Lake, Bustard Valley, Yailata, Orlova Mogila, Rositsa, Loznitsa, Bezhanovo, Botanical Garden - Balchik, The steppes, Blatno kokiche, Suha reka, Aromatna matiola. Natural sights, objects of ecological tourism, are the Alexandria forest, Arboretum. The Kavarna beach offers excellent opportunities for the development of ecological tourism. Conditions for observing and photographing the flora and fauna are offered by the Ikantalaka, Bolata, Avligate, and Yaylata areas. Characteristic for the region of Kavarna municipality are the steppe vegetation and the rare species listed in the red book. The three freshwater lakes, Shabla, Ezeretsko, and Durankulak, have a wide variety of rarely encountered species of flora and fauna. The newly opened Green Education Center in Shabla offers extremely diverse services. It was built in the period April 2009 - April 2011. The main goal of the center is to increase the level of awareness and knowledge regarding the sustainable management and protection of the natural and cultural-historical heritage of Shabla Municipality. The mineral waters in the region of the Northern Black Sea coast are suitable for use as factors for the protection of human health through prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and recreation. An important factor and significant advantage for the development of the resorts along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is the abundance of warm mineral springs of different composition, mud spas, etc., which offer good conditions for balneotherapy and recreation. The warm mineral waters that gush forth in abundance in the resorts of Golden Sands, St. Konstantin and Elena, Varna and the region of Kamchia river provide the opportunity to develop balneological, spa and wellness centers. There are conditions to expand medical tourism in Tuzlata resort area. It is located 4 km east of Balchik. The region is a famous center for mud healing. There are many warm mineral springs, but it also has a golden-yellow sandy beach and a coastal area convenient for bathing and swimming. This is a suitable place for the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, diseases of the peripheral Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 nervous system and the spinal cord, gynecological diseases, chronic eczema, psoriasis, chronic prostatitis, etc. The territory of Shumen region favors the development of ecological tourism. On the territory of the district there is a natural park, protected areas, which are of interest to fans of this type of alternative tourism. The following protected areas are located on the territory of the district (1 natural park, 1 reserve, 3 protected reserves, 13 protected areas, 1 natural landmark) (Table 2): - Reserves: Bukaka; - Maintained reserves: Patleyna, Dervisha, Momin grad; - Nature park: Shumensko Plateau; - Protected areas: Kanyona, Mogilata, Marashka koria, Chibukliyata, Dabovete, Blatno kokiche in the villages of Kochovo and Osmar, Cherven bozhur, Chelekliata, Debeletsa, Madara rocks, Wild carob, Horse chestnut; - Natural landmark: Skoka. According to data from the National Institute for Immovable Cultural Heritage (NIHN), the region has 2,938 cultural monuments. They are unevenly distributed with nearly half of the sites located in Varna region. As for the sites of national importance, Shumen region has the leading role. In the district also the National Historical and Archaeological Reserve (NIAR) Madara is situated, which is recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site. There are 16 museums in the region, and they are approximately evenly distributed over its territory (Table 3). Dobrich region has the most museum exhibits, and Varna region reports the most visits to the museums. There is a positive permanent trend for an annual increase in the number of visitors to the museums in the region, the most noticeable of which is in Varna region. The significant drop in visits in 2020 is due to the COVID pandemic (Table 4). Table 3. Museums by 2021 [4] Scope Museums Visits Exhibits Bulgaria 184 2 915 125 7 624 159 Northern Black Sea 18 443 968 640 990 Region Varna 8 134 831 183 127 Dobrich 6 174 780 250 014 Shumen 4 134 357 207 849 Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 Table 4. Museum visits by region for the period 2016-2021 [4] Regions/years 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Northern Black Sea Region 651 476 670 891 696 243 328 773 640 990 Varna 244 705 287 335 303 868 84 674 183 127 Dobrich 212 176 198 537 192 241 136 866 250 014 Shumen 194 595 185 019 200 134 107 233 207 849 Visits of tourists to museums 350 000 300 000 250 000 200 000 150 000 100 000 50 000 Varna Dobrich Shumen 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Figure 1. Visits of tourists to museums in the regions for the period 2017-2021 The Varna region has a diverse and rich cultural and historical heritage [5]. There are 1,466 immovable cultural assets in the district, which represents 45.5% of all tourist sites in the region. This means that almost half of these anthropogenic tourism resources are located on the territory of Varna region. Of these, 21 are of national importance. A large part of the significant cultural sites falls within the territory of Varna municipality. Of great importance for the development of cultural tourism and its varieties are Varna Chalcolithic Necropolis, the Roman Baths /Varna municipality/; the archaeological excavations of the city of Marcianopolis, the Ancient Amphitheater, the Episcopal Basilica /Devnya municipality/; the medieval fortress "Ovech", "Prehistoric salt pans" /Provadia municipality/. The municipality of Avren has 85 monuments of regional and local importance. Of interest are the ancient settlements and mound necropolises near the villages of Benkovski and Bolyartsi, the medieval rock monastery "Keshishlik", the medieval fortress "Petrich Kale" /national cultural monument/, "Yordan Noev" house-museum. Other important cultural and historical sites in the district are the fortress "Mihluz Kale" /Aksakovo municipality/, the historical area "Tepavitsa" /Beloslav municipality/. There are 153 Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 community centers and 2 regional libraries on the territory of Varna region, which are available to Bulgarian visitors. The cultural events held in the Dobrich region are mostly of local and regional importance. Educational trips on the territory of the district are mainly aimed at getting to know the historical, architectural and ethnographic sights that are offered to tourists. The main visited sites are strictly concentrated on the territory of the municipalities of Balchik, Kavarna and the town of Dobrich [6]. There are 863 immovable cultural values in the region, which represents 29.4% of the cultural values in the region. Of these, 8 are of national importance and two reserves. Of the immovable cultural valuables of national importance the following stand out: the National Archaeological Reserve "Yailata" /Kavarna municipality/; the ancient and medieval fortress "Kaliakra" and the adjacent water area of the village of Bulgarevo, Kavarna municipality; "Palace" architectural and park complex, the ancient temple "Cybela" - archaeological site included in the category of national importance since 2010 /Balchik municipality/, the prehistoric settlement "Shabla - Durankulak", Shabla municipality, etc. The rock monasteries in the village of Onogur are with great potential but still unexplored, Tervel municipality. The museum exhibits in Dobrich region are 240,000 stored in 7 museums. The most visited are the Historical and Ethnographic Museum in Balchik; the City History Museum, "Dobrudja and the Sea" Exposition /Kavarna city/, the Regional Historical Museum and its exhibits in the city of Dobrich, the Historical Museum in the city of Tervel. The Shumen region has diverse and rich anthropogenic resources [7]. An example of this is the old capitals of Pliska, Veliki Preslav, Shumen Fortress, the "Founders of the Bulgarian State" monument, the world-famous "Madara Horseman", Tombul Mosque, etc. According to the data of the National Institute for Immovable Cultural Heritage /NINKN/ [8], there are 629 declared immovable cultural valuables /21.4% of the immovable valuables in the region/ on the territory of the district. Of them, 1 is of world importance, 147 are of national importance, including 4 archaeological reserves. Here is located the only monument of world importance in the region - the Hungarian Horseman, which is on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage list. Out of the eight reserves in the region, four are located on the territory of Shumen region. These are the territories of the Inner City of Pliska, the medieval city of Preslav, the area east of the village of Madara, and the monumental complex "1300 Years of Bulgaria". Tourist attractions are concentrated in the vicinity of or in the regional center, the city of Shumen. There is a strong disproportion in the development of tourism in the district, concentrated mainly in the municipalities of Shumen, Veliki Preslav and Kaspichan [9]. Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 Available Accommodation In Varna Black Sea region, 17% of the accommodation places in 2022 are located. According to this indicator, the region ranks second after Burgas Black Sea region. In 2022, there is an increase in accommodation places by 47 compared to the previous year 2021 (Table 5, and Table 6). The leading position belongs to Varna region, followed by Dobrich region, the lowest share has the Shumen region. More than 2/3 of the accommodation places are concentrated in Varna region. The sea holiday tourism determines this distribution. The predominant type of accommodation is hotels, while lodges and campsites are insignificantly represented. Regarding the distribution of accommodation and overnight stays, similar figures are observed. (Table 5, and Table 6). Table 5. Means of shelter, accommodation and overnight stays in Varna Black Sea region in 2021 [10] Areas Places of Number of Number of overnight stays accommodation beds Varna 401 59 599 9 076 589 Dobrich 155 26 795 3 551 980 Shumen 75 1 540 495 901 Total 631 87 934 4 056 957 26.3% of the beds in the accommodation facilities are concentrated in Varna Black Sea Coast region, i.e. ¼, which shows substantial concentration. Again, the hotels in Varna region take the leading position, while Shumen region’s participation is insignificant. Almost half of the beds in the accommodation facilities are located in 5-star hotels [10]. Table 6. Means of shelter, accommodation and overnight stays in Varna Black Sea region in 2022 [10] Areas Places of Number of Number of overnight stays accommodation beds Varna 405 62 201 10 453 953 Dobrich 187 29 159 4 626 814 Shumen 86 1 787 532 251 Total 678 93 147 15 613 018 Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 In 2022, 22.8% of the overnight stays in the country were in this region. The overnight stays of Bulgarian citizens are 13.2% of the total number in the country. 31.2% of the overnight stays here were made by foreign citizens. Overnight stays are unevenly distributed in the area. They are concentrated in the districts of Varna and Dobrich. (Table 8) In 2022, an increase in overnight stays was observed both in the entire region and in the separate districts in the region. (Table 7, and Table 8) The most overnight stays are made in July and August. June and September are also "strong" months. The extreme influence of the seasonal factor, typical of sea tourism, has a negative impact on the use of the accommodation facilities, significantly reducing its profitability. During the summer months, high-class accommodation is preferred due to the high quality of the services offered, as well as their variety. The ones of middle category are less often chosen, and the low category ones are the least popular despite their lower prices. Therefore, there is a disproportion between the demand and the supply of high-class accommodation. The presence of a large number of low-quality accommodation places does not lead to an increased demand for them. In the winter months, on the contrary, low-quality accommodation is the most preferred. This is related to the predominance of Bulgarian tourists during the winter months. The withdrawal of foreigners during the off-season sharply lowers the tourist demand for high-class accommodation [11]. Table 7. Number of overnight stays, people staying overnight and revenue from overnight stays in Varna Black Sea region in 2021 [10] Areas Number of overnight Number of people Revenue from overnight stays staying overnight stays - BGN Total Number of Total Number Total Number of foreigners of foreigners foreigners Varna 3 335 420 2 338 715 816 901 478 180 223 778 737 172 462 Dobrich 1 216 325 758 171 320 504 167 969 93 275 712 61 196 888 Shumen 63 473 9 996 35 248 3 927 2 673 393 513 854 Total 4 615 218 3 106 882 1 172 653 650 076 319 727 842 234 173 In 2022, a total of 1,400,002 stayed overnight in the region, which is 18.4% of all overnight stays in the country. In 2022, the number of overnight stays was 227,349 more than in 2021. 11.6% of Bulgarian citizens stayed overnight in the region and 28.4% of foreigners stayed overnight in the country (Table 7, and Table 8) Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 Table 8. Number of overnight stays, people staying overnight and revenue from overnight stays in Varna Black Sea region in 2022 [10] Areas Number of overnight Number of people Revenue from overnight stays staying overnight stays - BGN Total Number of Total Number Total Number of foreigners of foreigners foreigners Varna 4 037 641 3 111 757 1 009 708 660 942 308 990 773 215 000 Dobrich 1 399 375 894 649 347 872 206 010 103 919 024 68 760 Shumen 75 908 12 768 42 422 5 627 3 660 244 730 Total 5 512 924 4 019 174 1 400 002 872 579 416 570 790 284 490 From the bar chart in Figure 2, it is clear that the number of overnight stays is the largest in the districts of Varna and Dobrich, while in the district of Shumen this indicator is insignificant. Following the values of the last 6 years, a significant drop can be noticed in 2020, which is observed in the districts of Varna and Dobrich. The reason for the big drop is the COVID-19 pandemic that has influenced the whole world. After 2021, there is an increase in the values of the studied indicator, but they are still lower than in 2017 (Fig. 2). Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 Number of people who stayed overnight 1 400 000 1 200 000 1 000 000 800 000 600 000 400 000 200 000 Varna Dobrich Shumen 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Figure 2. Total overnight stays in the region for the period 2017-2022 In Varna Black Sea region, there is an increase in revenue in 2022 compared to 2021 (Table 7, and Table 8). 24.9% of the revenues in the country are generated in the region. According to this indicator, the region takes the second place after Burgas Black Sea region. In the Northern Black Sea region, 19.8% of the revenues from overnight stays are generated by Bulgarians and 28.2% of the revenues from overnight stays by foreigners. As with the other indicators, Varna and Dobrich regions are the leaders in the region in terms of revenue from overnight stays. Problems and guidelines for the development of tourism in the region Despite the huge potential for the development of tourism in the region, there are also a number of problems. We can single out the following ones as the most important: - Available unexploited natural and anthropogenic tourism resources; - Territorial disproportions in terms of tourism development in the region; - Insufficient funds for advertising and promotion of tourism in the region; - There are no regional marketing studies of the tourist market; - Lack of communication and coordination between institutions; - Local authorities do not work sufficiently for the development of tourism; - Some of the information centers do not function effectively; - Deteriorated general infrastructure; - Part of the accommodation facilities and health facilities need renovation and modernization; - Low quality of offered tourist services; Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 - Lack of personnel in tourism; - A large part of those employed in the sector have low education and qualification; - The polluted environment is a serious obstacle for the development of tourism. Varna Black Sea region has rich natural, cultural and historical heritage, favoring the development of different types of tourism. In addition to the traditional, mass sea vacation tourism, there are opportunities for the development of cultural, medical, business, congress, ecological and rural tourism. As guidelines for better development of special types of tourism in the region, the following can be pointed out: - Improving the available infrastructure and offering quality services; - Better utilization of the available tourist resource potential; - Increasing tourism culture and creating greater awareness of tourism; - Supporting the development of activities in tourism through funding from programs and projects; - Inclusion in the tourist product of unexplored natural and anthropogenic resources in the region; - Offering tourist packages for a combined tourist product; - Attracting tourists from the Black Sea region by offering cultural performances and programs. Conclusion Tourism has a significant share and influence on the general socio-economic development of the region. This is due to the coastal territory where the most attractive natural recreational resources are located. The development of tourism in the region is very uneven, the districts of Varna and Dobrich are significantly ahead of Shumen in terms of tourism development. The natural and anthropogenic features and resources of the region create prerequisites for the development of a year-round and diverse tourist product, i.e. cultural, balneological, conference-related, ecological, rural, which can be optimally used. But they are still not exploited enough, as they remain in the shadow of sea tourism. The Northern Black Sea coast has real opportunities to become a leading destination for cultural tourism. It is necessary to create conditions for the use of this potential, such as the implementation of a national and regional policy oriented towards cultural tourism, well-prepared staff, diversification of the services offered, development and preservation of regional creativity, traditions and crafts, advertising to assert the region as an attractive tourist destination. Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 References [1] Vasileva, V.; Kabakchieva, D.; Sabrieva, S., Anthropogenic tourist resources of Bulgaria. Chimera, Shumen, 2020. [2] Kabakchieva, D., Tourism. Communication. Reputation. Shumen University press, Shumen, 2019. [3] https://www.moew.government.bg/bg/kontakti/regionalni-inspekcii-po-okolnata-sreda-i-vodite/. [4] www.nsi.bg (23.05.2022). [5] Varna Regional Development Strategy 2014-2020, 2021-2027. [6] Dobrich District Development Strategy for the period 2014-2020, 2021-2027. [7] Shumen District Development Strategy 2014-2020, 2021-2027. [8] http://ninkn.bg/ (21.10.2019). [9] Vasileva, V., The current state of tourism in the Shoumen region, International Journal Knowlege, 2016, 15(2), 832-839. [10] www.nsi.bg. [11] Vasileva, V.; Sabrieva, S., Tourist infrastructure and superstructure. Chimera, Shumen, 2019. Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Acta Scientifica Naturalis de Gruyter

Tourism in Varna Black sea area – current situation and prospects for development

Acta Scientifica Naturalis , Volume 10 (1): 13 – Mar 1, 2023

Loading next page...
 
/lp/de-gruyter/tourism-in-varna-black-sea-area-current-situation-and-prospects-for-jvbTNtGpNX

References

References for this paper are not available at this time. We will be adding them shortly, thank you for your patience.

Publisher
de Gruyter
Copyright
© 2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo
eISSN
2367-5144
DOI
10.2478/asn-2023-0008
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 Acta Scientifica Naturalis Former Annual of Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen: Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Geography Journal homepage: https://content.sciendo.com/view/journals/asn/asn-overview.xml Sevdzhan Sabrieva Department for Information, Qualifications and Continuing Education, Bishop Konstantin Preslavsky University of Shumen, 1 Dr. Boris Bozhkov Str., 9010 Varna, Bulgaria Abstract: Tourism is one of the fastest growing industries of the new millennium. Bulgaria is a destination with an extremely large variety of natural and anthropogenic tourism resources and a relatively well-developed tourism sector of the economy, which brings significant income to the country's economy. Varna tourist region is one of the leaders in the development of tourism, both for sea vacations and specialized types of tourism. Despite the great potential of the country and the researched tourist areas in particular, there are a number of problems related to uneven tourist development, seasonality, deteriorated tourist infrastructure and the quality of the services offered. The purpose of this paper is to study the current state of tourism and the opportunities for its development in the region. Keywords: tourism, tourist area, Varna, Black Sea, development Introduction The Conception for tourist zoning of Bulgaria approved in 2015 distinguishes nine tourist areas. One of the most significant for Bulgarian tourism is the Varna Black Sea tourist region with the city of Varna as its center. For the purposes of this research, the region will be briefly referred to as the Northern Black Sea Coast, and the terms mentioned are used interchangeably. In addition to the Northern Black Sea Coast, the region also includes part of the eastern Stara Planina, part of Ludogorie and Dobruja. This tourist area includes 25 municipalities: ▪ Avren, Aksakovo, Beloslav, Byala, Varna, Vetrino, Valchi dol, Devnya, Dolni chiflik, Dulgopol, Provadia and Suvorovo from Varna region; Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 ▪ Balchik, General Toshevo, Dobrich, Dobrich (village), Kavarna, Krushari, Tervel and Shabla from Dobrich region; ▪ Veliki Preslav, Kaspichan, Novi Pazar, Smyadovo and Shumen from Shumen district. It is divided into two sub-districts - Varna Black Sea and Dobrudja Black Sea, and the administrative center is the city of Varna. The Northern Black Sea region is mainly specialized in sea and sports tourism. Its extended specialization also includes cultural and cognitive tourism, festival, business, health and ecotourism (Table 1). Table 1. Territory of the Northern Black Sea tourist region [1] TOURIST AREA OF NORTHERN BLACK SEA Main specialization Marine and sports tourism Advanced specialization 1. Marine recreational tourism 2. Sports tourism 3. Cultural-historical and festival tourism 4. Business tourism (MICE) 5. Health tourism (all types) 6. Ecotourism Control Center Varna Areas Municipalities 1. Varna (the whole district) Avren, Aksakovo, Beloslav, Byala, Varna, Vetrino, Valchi Dol, Devnya, Dolni Chiflik, Dulgopol, Provadia, Suvorovo 2. 2. Dobrich (the whole district) Balchik, General Toshevo, Dobrich, Dobrich village, Kavarna, Krushari, Tervel, Shabla 3. Shumen (part) Veliki Preslav, Kaspichan, Novi Pazar, Smyadovo, Shumen Tourist resources are an extremely important determinant of the tourist territory and the considered tourist area in particular. They largely determine its popularity, image and reputation [2]. The natural tourist resources and especially the Black Sea coast are of leading importance for the development of tourism in Varna Black Sea Tourist Region. Here is the longest sandy beach along the entire Black Sea coast at the mouth of Kamchia River and Fundakliyska River, Dolni Chiflik municipality. Due to the significant overexploitation of natural tourist resources, especially during the summer season, attention is increasingly being directed to the full utilization of anthropogenic tourist resources. Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 Through them, it is expected not only to expand the tourist supply and to diversify the stay of tourists, but also to overcome at least partially the problem of seasonality. The purpose of this article is to study and analyze the state of tourism in the region and to outline the prospects for future development of the industry. Current state of tourist resources The area is characterized by diverse natural resources, rich cultural traditions and historical heritage dating back to the Thracian times. In Varna Black Sea there is a wide network of protected areas - natural landmarks, reserves, maintained reserves, protected areas, natural parks, primarily related to the preservation of biodiversity and natural phenomena. Table 2. Number and categories of protected areas in the Varna Black Sea region [3] Area Natural Reserves Maintained Protected Natural Parks reserves areas landmarks Varna 1 1 4 28 6 Dobrich 1 1 12 2 Shumen 1 1 3 13 1 Total 2 3 8 41 10 Varna Regional Environment and Water Inspection covers a region rich in protected areas in the districts of Varna and Dobrich. There are a total of 51 protected areas with a total area of 8862.2218 ha in the territory controlled by the inspection. There are a total of 40 protected areas on the territory of Varna region - 1 reserve, 4 maintained reserves, 1 natural park, 28 protected areas and 6 natural landmarks (Table 2). The protected areas in the district are the following: - reserves - Kamchia; - maintained reserves – Valchi transition, Kirov dol, Varbov dol, Kalfata; - natural parks – Golden Sands; - protected areas - Rakitnik, Petricha, Slaveykova Gora, Yatata, Tulumova Cave, Aladzha Monastery, Snezhanska Koria, Vodenitsike, Orlov Kamak, Pobiti Kamani, Liman, Pregrada, Kazashko, Churushishteto, the Great Rock, Royashka Rock, Big and Small Bulo, Goat River, Forest hut, Debelets, Dabovete, Solnik, Mihov dol, Tsar-Boris mullet, Probitii kamak - Tsar Boris mullet, Sunday-leaved Easter; Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 - natural attractions - Upper and Lower Kaplaja; A field of white mantis; A field of Urum tulip, Kuza skoka, Sini vir, Chudnite skali. Natural parks, protected areas and natural landmarks are of the greatest importance for ecotourism. Of the listed protected areas on the territory of the district, the Golden Sands Natural park, the Aladzha Monastery Protected area, the Pobiti kamani Protected area, and the Chudnite Skali Natural landmark are of interest to tourists. There are a total of 16 protected areas (1 reserve - Kaliakra, 1 maintained reserve - Baltata, 12 protected areas, 2 natural attractions) and 3 protected areas - Suha Reka, Shabla Lake Complex, Harsovska Reka on the territory of the Dobrich region (Table 2). Protected areas on the territory of the district are following: Durankulak Lake, Shabla Lake, Bustard Valley, Yailata, Orlova Mogila, Rositsa, Loznitsa, Bezhanovo, Botanical Garden - Balchik, The steppes, Blatno kokiche, Suha reka, Aromatna matiola. Natural sights, objects of ecological tourism, are the Alexandria forest, Arboretum. The Kavarna beach offers excellent opportunities for the development of ecological tourism. Conditions for observing and photographing the flora and fauna are offered by the Ikantalaka, Bolata, Avligate, and Yaylata areas. Characteristic for the region of Kavarna municipality are the steppe vegetation and the rare species listed in the red book. The three freshwater lakes, Shabla, Ezeretsko, and Durankulak, have a wide variety of rarely encountered species of flora and fauna. The newly opened Green Education Center in Shabla offers extremely diverse services. It was built in the period April 2009 - April 2011. The main goal of the center is to increase the level of awareness and knowledge regarding the sustainable management and protection of the natural and cultural-historical heritage of Shabla Municipality. The mineral waters in the region of the Northern Black Sea coast are suitable for use as factors for the protection of human health through prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and recreation. An important factor and significant advantage for the development of the resorts along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is the abundance of warm mineral springs of different composition, mud spas, etc., which offer good conditions for balneotherapy and recreation. The warm mineral waters that gush forth in abundance in the resorts of Golden Sands, St. Konstantin and Elena, Varna and the region of Kamchia river provide the opportunity to develop balneological, spa and wellness centers. There are conditions to expand medical tourism in Tuzlata resort area. It is located 4 km east of Balchik. The region is a famous center for mud healing. There are many warm mineral springs, but it also has a golden-yellow sandy beach and a coastal area convenient for bathing and swimming. This is a suitable place for the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, diseases of the peripheral Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 nervous system and the spinal cord, gynecological diseases, chronic eczema, psoriasis, chronic prostatitis, etc. The territory of Shumen region favors the development of ecological tourism. On the territory of the district there is a natural park, protected areas, which are of interest to fans of this type of alternative tourism. The following protected areas are located on the territory of the district (1 natural park, 1 reserve, 3 protected reserves, 13 protected areas, 1 natural landmark) (Table 2): - Reserves: Bukaka; - Maintained reserves: Patleyna, Dervisha, Momin grad; - Nature park: Shumensko Plateau; - Protected areas: Kanyona, Mogilata, Marashka koria, Chibukliyata, Dabovete, Blatno kokiche in the villages of Kochovo and Osmar, Cherven bozhur, Chelekliata, Debeletsa, Madara rocks, Wild carob, Horse chestnut; - Natural landmark: Skoka. According to data from the National Institute for Immovable Cultural Heritage (NIHN), the region has 2,938 cultural monuments. They are unevenly distributed with nearly half of the sites located in Varna region. As for the sites of national importance, Shumen region has the leading role. In the district also the National Historical and Archaeological Reserve (NIAR) Madara is situated, which is recognized by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site. There are 16 museums in the region, and they are approximately evenly distributed over its territory (Table 3). Dobrich region has the most museum exhibits, and Varna region reports the most visits to the museums. There is a positive permanent trend for an annual increase in the number of visitors to the museums in the region, the most noticeable of which is in Varna region. The significant drop in visits in 2020 is due to the COVID pandemic (Table 4). Table 3. Museums by 2021 [4] Scope Museums Visits Exhibits Bulgaria 184 2 915 125 7 624 159 Northern Black Sea 18 443 968 640 990 Region Varna 8 134 831 183 127 Dobrich 6 174 780 250 014 Shumen 4 134 357 207 849 Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 Table 4. Museum visits by region for the period 2016-2021 [4] Regions/years 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Northern Black Sea Region 651 476 670 891 696 243 328 773 640 990 Varna 244 705 287 335 303 868 84 674 183 127 Dobrich 212 176 198 537 192 241 136 866 250 014 Shumen 194 595 185 019 200 134 107 233 207 849 Visits of tourists to museums 350 000 300 000 250 000 200 000 150 000 100 000 50 000 Varna Dobrich Shumen 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 Figure 1. Visits of tourists to museums in the regions for the period 2017-2021 The Varna region has a diverse and rich cultural and historical heritage [5]. There are 1,466 immovable cultural assets in the district, which represents 45.5% of all tourist sites in the region. This means that almost half of these anthropogenic tourism resources are located on the territory of Varna region. Of these, 21 are of national importance. A large part of the significant cultural sites falls within the territory of Varna municipality. Of great importance for the development of cultural tourism and its varieties are Varna Chalcolithic Necropolis, the Roman Baths /Varna municipality/; the archaeological excavations of the city of Marcianopolis, the Ancient Amphitheater, the Episcopal Basilica /Devnya municipality/; the medieval fortress "Ovech", "Prehistoric salt pans" /Provadia municipality/. The municipality of Avren has 85 monuments of regional and local importance. Of interest are the ancient settlements and mound necropolises near the villages of Benkovski and Bolyartsi, the medieval rock monastery "Keshishlik", the medieval fortress "Petrich Kale" /national cultural monument/, "Yordan Noev" house-museum. Other important cultural and historical sites in the district are the fortress "Mihluz Kale" /Aksakovo municipality/, the historical area "Tepavitsa" /Beloslav municipality/. There are 153 Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 community centers and 2 regional libraries on the territory of Varna region, which are available to Bulgarian visitors. The cultural events held in the Dobrich region are mostly of local and regional importance. Educational trips on the territory of the district are mainly aimed at getting to know the historical, architectural and ethnographic sights that are offered to tourists. The main visited sites are strictly concentrated on the territory of the municipalities of Balchik, Kavarna and the town of Dobrich [6]. There are 863 immovable cultural values in the region, which represents 29.4% of the cultural values in the region. Of these, 8 are of national importance and two reserves. Of the immovable cultural valuables of national importance the following stand out: the National Archaeological Reserve "Yailata" /Kavarna municipality/; the ancient and medieval fortress "Kaliakra" and the adjacent water area of the village of Bulgarevo, Kavarna municipality; "Palace" architectural and park complex, the ancient temple "Cybela" - archaeological site included in the category of national importance since 2010 /Balchik municipality/, the prehistoric settlement "Shabla - Durankulak", Shabla municipality, etc. The rock monasteries in the village of Onogur are with great potential but still unexplored, Tervel municipality. The museum exhibits in Dobrich region are 240,000 stored in 7 museums. The most visited are the Historical and Ethnographic Museum in Balchik; the City History Museum, "Dobrudja and the Sea" Exposition /Kavarna city/, the Regional Historical Museum and its exhibits in the city of Dobrich, the Historical Museum in the city of Tervel. The Shumen region has diverse and rich anthropogenic resources [7]. An example of this is the old capitals of Pliska, Veliki Preslav, Shumen Fortress, the "Founders of the Bulgarian State" monument, the world-famous "Madara Horseman", Tombul Mosque, etc. According to the data of the National Institute for Immovable Cultural Heritage /NINKN/ [8], there are 629 declared immovable cultural valuables /21.4% of the immovable valuables in the region/ on the territory of the district. Of them, 1 is of world importance, 147 are of national importance, including 4 archaeological reserves. Here is located the only monument of world importance in the region - the Hungarian Horseman, which is on the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage list. Out of the eight reserves in the region, four are located on the territory of Shumen region. These are the territories of the Inner City of Pliska, the medieval city of Preslav, the area east of the village of Madara, and the monumental complex "1300 Years of Bulgaria". Tourist attractions are concentrated in the vicinity of or in the regional center, the city of Shumen. There is a strong disproportion in the development of tourism in the district, concentrated mainly in the municipalities of Shumen, Veliki Preslav and Kaspichan [9]. Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 Available Accommodation In Varna Black Sea region, 17% of the accommodation places in 2022 are located. According to this indicator, the region ranks second after Burgas Black Sea region. In 2022, there is an increase in accommodation places by 47 compared to the previous year 2021 (Table 5, and Table 6). The leading position belongs to Varna region, followed by Dobrich region, the lowest share has the Shumen region. More than 2/3 of the accommodation places are concentrated in Varna region. The sea holiday tourism determines this distribution. The predominant type of accommodation is hotels, while lodges and campsites are insignificantly represented. Regarding the distribution of accommodation and overnight stays, similar figures are observed. (Table 5, and Table 6). Table 5. Means of shelter, accommodation and overnight stays in Varna Black Sea region in 2021 [10] Areas Places of Number of Number of overnight stays accommodation beds Varna 401 59 599 9 076 589 Dobrich 155 26 795 3 551 980 Shumen 75 1 540 495 901 Total 631 87 934 4 056 957 26.3% of the beds in the accommodation facilities are concentrated in Varna Black Sea Coast region, i.e. ¼, which shows substantial concentration. Again, the hotels in Varna region take the leading position, while Shumen region’s participation is insignificant. Almost half of the beds in the accommodation facilities are located in 5-star hotels [10]. Table 6. Means of shelter, accommodation and overnight stays in Varna Black Sea region in 2022 [10] Areas Places of Number of Number of overnight stays accommodation beds Varna 405 62 201 10 453 953 Dobrich 187 29 159 4 626 814 Shumen 86 1 787 532 251 Total 678 93 147 15 613 018 Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 In 2022, 22.8% of the overnight stays in the country were in this region. The overnight stays of Bulgarian citizens are 13.2% of the total number in the country. 31.2% of the overnight stays here were made by foreign citizens. Overnight stays are unevenly distributed in the area. They are concentrated in the districts of Varna and Dobrich. (Table 8) In 2022, an increase in overnight stays was observed both in the entire region and in the separate districts in the region. (Table 7, and Table 8) The most overnight stays are made in July and August. June and September are also "strong" months. The extreme influence of the seasonal factor, typical of sea tourism, has a negative impact on the use of the accommodation facilities, significantly reducing its profitability. During the summer months, high-class accommodation is preferred due to the high quality of the services offered, as well as their variety. The ones of middle category are less often chosen, and the low category ones are the least popular despite their lower prices. Therefore, there is a disproportion between the demand and the supply of high-class accommodation. The presence of a large number of low-quality accommodation places does not lead to an increased demand for them. In the winter months, on the contrary, low-quality accommodation is the most preferred. This is related to the predominance of Bulgarian tourists during the winter months. The withdrawal of foreigners during the off-season sharply lowers the tourist demand for high-class accommodation [11]. Table 7. Number of overnight stays, people staying overnight and revenue from overnight stays in Varna Black Sea region in 2021 [10] Areas Number of overnight Number of people Revenue from overnight stays staying overnight stays - BGN Total Number of Total Number Total Number of foreigners of foreigners foreigners Varna 3 335 420 2 338 715 816 901 478 180 223 778 737 172 462 Dobrich 1 216 325 758 171 320 504 167 969 93 275 712 61 196 888 Shumen 63 473 9 996 35 248 3 927 2 673 393 513 854 Total 4 615 218 3 106 882 1 172 653 650 076 319 727 842 234 173 In 2022, a total of 1,400,002 stayed overnight in the region, which is 18.4% of all overnight stays in the country. In 2022, the number of overnight stays was 227,349 more than in 2021. 11.6% of Bulgarian citizens stayed overnight in the region and 28.4% of foreigners stayed overnight in the country (Table 7, and Table 8) Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 Table 8. Number of overnight stays, people staying overnight and revenue from overnight stays in Varna Black Sea region in 2022 [10] Areas Number of overnight Number of people Revenue from overnight stays staying overnight stays - BGN Total Number of Total Number Total Number of foreigners of foreigners foreigners Varna 4 037 641 3 111 757 1 009 708 660 942 308 990 773 215 000 Dobrich 1 399 375 894 649 347 872 206 010 103 919 024 68 760 Shumen 75 908 12 768 42 422 5 627 3 660 244 730 Total 5 512 924 4 019 174 1 400 002 872 579 416 570 790 284 490 From the bar chart in Figure 2, it is clear that the number of overnight stays is the largest in the districts of Varna and Dobrich, while in the district of Shumen this indicator is insignificant. Following the values of the last 6 years, a significant drop can be noticed in 2020, which is observed in the districts of Varna and Dobrich. The reason for the big drop is the COVID-19 pandemic that has influenced the whole world. After 2021, there is an increase in the values of the studied indicator, but they are still lower than in 2017 (Fig. 2). Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 Number of people who stayed overnight 1 400 000 1 200 000 1 000 000 800 000 600 000 400 000 200 000 Varna Dobrich Shumen 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Figure 2. Total overnight stays in the region for the period 2017-2022 In Varna Black Sea region, there is an increase in revenue in 2022 compared to 2021 (Table 7, and Table 8). 24.9% of the revenues in the country are generated in the region. According to this indicator, the region takes the second place after Burgas Black Sea region. In the Northern Black Sea region, 19.8% of the revenues from overnight stays are generated by Bulgarians and 28.2% of the revenues from overnight stays by foreigners. As with the other indicators, Varna and Dobrich regions are the leaders in the region in terms of revenue from overnight stays. Problems and guidelines for the development of tourism in the region Despite the huge potential for the development of tourism in the region, there are also a number of problems. We can single out the following ones as the most important: - Available unexploited natural and anthropogenic tourism resources; - Territorial disproportions in terms of tourism development in the region; - Insufficient funds for advertising and promotion of tourism in the region; - There are no regional marketing studies of the tourist market; - Lack of communication and coordination between institutions; - Local authorities do not work sufficiently for the development of tourism; - Some of the information centers do not function effectively; - Deteriorated general infrastructure; - Part of the accommodation facilities and health facilities need renovation and modernization; - Low quality of offered tourist services; Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 - Lack of personnel in tourism; - A large part of those employed in the sector have low education and qualification; - The polluted environment is a serious obstacle for the development of tourism. Varna Black Sea region has rich natural, cultural and historical heritage, favoring the development of different types of tourism. In addition to the traditional, mass sea vacation tourism, there are opportunities for the development of cultural, medical, business, congress, ecological and rural tourism. As guidelines for better development of special types of tourism in the region, the following can be pointed out: - Improving the available infrastructure and offering quality services; - Better utilization of the available tourist resource potential; - Increasing tourism culture and creating greater awareness of tourism; - Supporting the development of activities in tourism through funding from programs and projects; - Inclusion in the tourist product of unexplored natural and anthropogenic resources in the region; - Offering tourist packages for a combined tourist product; - Attracting tourists from the Black Sea region by offering cultural performances and programs. Conclusion Tourism has a significant share and influence on the general socio-economic development of the region. This is due to the coastal territory where the most attractive natural recreational resources are located. The development of tourism in the region is very uneven, the districts of Varna and Dobrich are significantly ahead of Shumen in terms of tourism development. The natural and anthropogenic features and resources of the region create prerequisites for the development of a year-round and diverse tourist product, i.e. cultural, balneological, conference-related, ecological, rural, which can be optimally used. But they are still not exploited enough, as they remain in the shadow of sea tourism. The Northern Black Sea coast has real opportunities to become a leading destination for cultural tourism. It is necessary to create conditions for the use of this potential, such as the implementation of a national and regional policy oriented towards cultural tourism, well-prepared staff, diversification of the services offered, development and preservation of regional creativity, traditions and crafts, advertising to assert the region as an attractive tourist destination. Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License ASN, Vol. 10, No 1, Pages 84–96, 2023 References [1] Vasileva, V.; Kabakchieva, D.; Sabrieva, S., Anthropogenic tourist resources of Bulgaria. Chimera, Shumen, 2020. [2] Kabakchieva, D., Tourism. Communication. Reputation. Shumen University press, Shumen, 2019. [3] https://www.moew.government.bg/bg/kontakti/regionalni-inspekcii-po-okolnata-sreda-i-vodite/. [4] www.nsi.bg (23.05.2022). [5] Varna Regional Development Strategy 2014-2020, 2021-2027. [6] Dobrich District Development Strategy for the period 2014-2020, 2021-2027. [7] Shumen District Development Strategy 2014-2020, 2021-2027. [8] http://ninkn.bg/ (21.10.2019). [9] Vasileva, V., The current state of tourism in the Shoumen region, International Journal Knowlege, 2016, 15(2), 832-839. [10] www.nsi.bg. [11] Vasileva, V.; Sabrieva, S., Tourist infrastructure and superstructure. Chimera, Shumen, 2019. Corresponding author: s.sabrieva@shu.bg Full Paper DOI: 10.2478/asn-2023-0008 ©2023 Sevdzhan Sabrieva, published by Sciendo This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Public License

Journal

Acta Scientifica Naturalisde Gruyter

Published: Mar 1, 2023

Keywords: tourism; tourist area; Varna; Black Sea; development

There are no references for this article.