Achieving sustainability by alternative forms of tourism 

In order to achieve success in the development of alternative tourism and efficiency in the manifestation of the principles of sustainable development in tourism, a reliable legal framework is required. The vision of alternative tourism should contribute to the recognition of its role within the international and national policies in relation to four key areas, in particular: environment, government authorities, agriculture and culture

Regulations governing environmental protection, sustainable development and sustainable tourism have been developed and adopted in countries such as: USA, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, India, Thailand, Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, Namibia, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Russia, Estonia, Romania. Bulgaria is among them. In nomenclature terms these are documents of the international and national legislation and in particular conventions, directives, lows, strategies, programs, plans, action plans, statutes and charters. Among the more important are[1]: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Convention on the Conservation of European Wild Fauna and Flora and of Natural Habitats, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, Frame Convention on Climate Change of 1992, Convention to Combat Desertification of 1989, European Landscape Convention, etc., Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna, Council Directive 79/409/ЕЕС of 2 April 1999 on the Conservation of Wild Birds, etc.

In the Bulgarian legislation sustainable development and alternative forms of tourism are mentioned in documents such as: Law on Tourism, Environmental Protection Act, Protected Areas Act, Biodiversity Act, Law on Waste Management, Regional Development Act, Monuments of Culture and Museum Act, National Strategic Reference Framework of the Republic of Bulgaria (for the programming period 2007-2013), National Strategy for Biodiversity Conservation (of April 1995), National Strategy for Sustainable Development of Tourism in Republic of Bulgaria (2009-2013 and 2014-2030), National Environmental Strategy and Action Plan (2000-2006 and 2009-2018), Management Plans for National and Nature Parks adopted by decisions of the Council of Ministers, Cultural Heritage Conservation Plans, Regional Development Plans, Regional Development Strategies (of the individual administrative districts), Municipal Development Plans, Municipal Programs (for environmental protection, for tourism development), etc.

In the situation so depicted there could be effective laws, only if the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders in the process are clearly defined, while ensuring the right to information and public participation, because for the application of the principles of sustainable development in tourism the institutional basis and mechanisms are important, which balance the legislative, administrative, market and civil instruments for regulation of sustainable development.

Incentives for tourism carried out according to the principles of sustainable development are an important aspect for the future of the tourism sector. These could be: tax incentives, low-interest loans; instruments that have a desirable, voluntary nature and are constantly updated – Code of Conduct, Standards of Best Practices, awards and other. To ensure the success of alternative tourism in Bulgaria and as an expression of the principles of sustainable development in tourism, it is necessary to widely support the activities aimed at overcoming backwardness and impoverishment of the population (Principle 5), restricting unsustainable production practices (Principle 8), developing mechanisms for responsibility in the case of environmental pollution (Principle 13), preventive measures (Principle 15), and mostly for adopting economic instruments to apply the polluter pays principle (Principle 16)[2].

Moreover, in the Bulgarian conditions of development of sustainable tourism practices, the main instrument to achieve effective results is regulation, combined with an approved process for controlling and monitoring of the tourist activities, aimed at ensuring the management and enforcement of the regulations to create conditions to monitor the implementation of set objectives and the degree of impact on the natural and social environment.

An effective practice for achieving positive results in alternative tourism is also the certification and introduction of eco-labels[3]. Their implementation is emerging as a major trend in ensuring transparency and understanding of the process for tourism consumers, accompanied by broad publicity. Leading is the idea for ensuring consumer expectations, while ensuring reliability of standardized services. Moreover, potential consumers, who are highly educated and wealthy, tend out of habit to seek and rely on expert opinion in the form of a mark, sign or certificate[4].

[1]For more detail, refer to Kirilov, St., 2011, Stankova, M., Kirilov, St., 2011, Neofit Rilski University Press, Blagoevgrad

[2]Simeonova, P, Specifics in the manifestation of the principles of sustainable development in tourism, Eighth National Symposium Quality, competitiveness, sustainable development, University of National and World Economy, S., p. 254.

[3]The main value of an eco-label is its recognition by consumers and customers. The example with VISIT (Voluntary Initiatives for Sustainability in Tourism) – an umbrella of 10 European eco-labels, should be taken as a standard: a joint promotion system with common principles, will try to increase the total market share.

[4]Certification as a voluntary instrument is used in management so as to raise the bar in the product standards of environmental and social quality in the development of tourism.