Cultural and historical tourism develops on the basis of tourism products, mainly exploiting anthropogenic tourist resources. It acts as a means of making direct contact, knowing and understanding the information incorporated in each site and phenomenon, and as a result – disseminating spiritual and cultural values. The studied type of tourism is characterized by a certain degree of specialization. Its focus on increasing the awareness and culture of tourists who practice it predetermines higher requirements in structuring the packages and organizing the trips, and to the degree of information provision of the guide service.

Bulgaria as a destination, occupying approximately 2 % of the territory of Europe, surprises every visitor with its over 40 thousand immovable cultural monuments, of which 10 of global importance; 36 cultural reserves, 160 monasteries; 10 national, 13 departmental, 29 regional and 91 municipal museums and 40 municipal galleries[1]. Seven Bulgarian cultural sites are included in the list of UNESCO as cultural sites of global importance. These are: Kazanlak Tomb (dated back in the 4th-3rd century BC), Thracian Tomb near the village of Sveshtari near Razgrad, Madara Horseman with inscriptions from the early 18th century (of which creation there are still only hypotheses), Rila Monastery (10^th century), Boyana Church with its unique murals from 1259, Ivanovo Rock Churches near Ruse (11th–14th century) and the Ancient City of Nesebar. Of no less importance are 15 state cultural institutes, 1 municipal opera, 4 municipal philharmonic orchestras, 7 chamber orchestra ensembles, municipal choirs, about 24 brass orchestras and 20 folklore ensembles. In Bulgaria 43 state and 11 municipal theatres and a large number of theatre formations are active.

Even only part of the enumerated resources is a significant precondition for Bulgarian orientation towards cultural and historical tourism. Guests of the country can see traditional Bulgarian businesses such as wine production, rose oil production and others, participate in a course for traditional Bulgarian crafts such as embroidery, knitting, carving, pottery and others, or study the authentic Bulgarian folklore.

In order to know the various crafts and to present short demonstration /courses/, various programs are developed in the open-air Etara Ethnographic Museum near Gabrovo, old quarter Varosha in Blagoevgrad, Kulata Ethnographic Complex in Kazanlak, and in Sofia, Bansko, Samokov, village of Chuchuligovo, region of Dobrich and elsewhere.

For lovers of arts a rich cultural calendar and opportunities to visit prestigious international festivals in the field of theatre, cinema, opera, ballet and others are offered in the municipalities across the country.

Generally, the product of rural tourism is consumed in small-scale tourist sites. Rural tourism is considered an effective approach for regional development because it contributes to increasing the market value of land in the corresponding rural areas. It improves the regional infrastructure, creates employment and additional income for the local population, provides additional entertainment and convenience, facilitates agricultural production, promotes the protection of cultural and historical heritage and local traditions and crafts, encourages interest in obtaining education and learning foreign languages, limits the negative effects of the mass nature of tourism.

The roots of Bulgarian spirit and nature can be found in the Bulgarian village, which has largely preserved the peculiarity of Bulgarian traditions. The attractive natural environment, preserved folklore, customs and crafts, architectural reserves, traditional cuisine and famous Bulgarian hospitality make the rural vacation increasingly preferred by tourists. All this favors opportunities for the development of rural tourism.

In Bulgaria two large regions of rural tourism have already been clearly outlined: the Fore-Balkan and Balkan Mountain and the Rhodope Mountains. In recent years a number of villages, located not far from the seaside resorts, have been developing in this regard.

In Bulgarian villages tourists are received as guests and can feel as a friend or an exploring adventurer. They can identify themselves with the local population, engage in agricultural activities, undertake hiking tours, horse riding and tours by horse-drawn carts, participate in craft activities such as woodworking, carving, textile, pottery, weaving, and take a canvas, clay pot or another object made by their own hands and bring it home. If interest is shown, conditions are created for the guest to join culinary courses, taste wine, study the Bulgarian folklore or watch family and religious holidays.

The preserved traditions in the natural way of agricultural production are clearly impressive to tourists. Manual mowing and milking, production of homemade cheese and yellow cheese, making yogurt, making jams and marmalades are the tourist product of Bulgarian villages. Most of the village farmers grow various vegetables, fruit trees, wine grape varieties and breed many domestic animals and birds. This determines the diversity of domestic production of wines, “rakiya” brandies, local delicacies and of course – the famous homemade Bulgarian yogurt.

One of the first definitions of ecotourism was formulated by the International Ecotourism Society /TIES/ in 1991 and assumes that: Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. A characteristic feature of ecological tourism is the requirement to offer diverse and highly individualized product. Through its development regions with preserved natural resources are promoted.

Bulgarian nature provides exceptional opportunities for enriching the Bulgarian tourist product. In the country there are three national parks – Rila, Pirin and Central Balkan and 11 nature parks. There are also 55 reserves, of which 17 are biosphere and 35 are maintained; 536 are protected areas and 349 are natural sites[2]. Protected areas in Bulgaria are 989 and cover approximately 5,2 % of the country, as in the period from 2004 to 2014 they increased by 0,3 % (4,9 % of the country until 2004[3]). In the network of protected areas 22 sites are of international importance, among which are for example: 2 sites of UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage List – Pirin National Park and Srebarna Lake; 5 wetlands under the Ramsar Convention – Arkoutino, Atanasovo Lake, Shabla Lake, Durankulak Lake and Srebarna Lake; biosphere reserves. The existence of such resource variety creates conditions for the development of various types of specialized tourism such as observation of birds and plants, rock climbing, speleological tourism and others.

As a science Balneology studies mineral waters, their physicochemical properties and their physiological effects on the human organism. The therapeutic use and prophylactic effects of mineral waters are subject to balneotherapy as a section of Balneology. Balneology and balneotherapy are complex scientific disciplines that which bring together knowledge from the field of chemistry, physics, geology, hydrology, meteorology, physiology and a set of clinical, functional and morphological medical disciplines. Their integration aims to clarify the nature and healing importance of mineral waters.

Spa tourism is a traditional element of the image of Bulgaria as a country[4]. The tradition to use the healing properties of water and natural resources stems from the Thracians, who were known as skilled healers. Today there are in the country many spa, climatic and mud-cure centers along the Black Sea Coast and inland – Hisar, Kyustendil, Bankya, Pavel Banya, Narechen, Varshets, Burgas Mineral Baths, Albena, Sozopol, Balchik, Haskovo Mineral Baths, Separeva Banya, Dryanovo and others.

Spa hotels and their highly qualified personnel offer a wide range of traditional and therapeutic procedures, as well as SPA and wellness[5] services and programs. Among the most popular are:

ü    classic mineral water baths,

ü    underwater and non-traditional massages,

ü    healing physical exercises,

ü    traditional acupuncture,

ü    Chinese energy hydro massage,

ü    aromatherapy,

ü    mud-cure applications,

ü    anti-stress programs,

ü    balneocosmetics, sauna,

ü    diet programs and others.

Parallel with therapy and prevention, opportunities are offered for various sports - tennis, biking, jogging, hiking tours in a mountain environment and others.

In the late 80’s and early 90’s of the past century a new trend entered into the history of active tourism, called extreme sports (tourism) – a combination of sport practices with an increased risk, non-standard thinking and behavior. Of paramount importance to tourists who practice extreme sports is the desire to explore the limits of human possibilities.

Extreme travel or tourism products can be divided into three subtypes, depending on the environment in which they are practiced – air, water and land. Each subtype can further be divided into subtypes, according to the natural characteristics for practicing the sport. Their diversity is complemented by the possibility to combine two or more subtypes of extreme experiences[6].

The term hunting tourism is used to denote travel and temporary stay outside the permanent residence to exercise a hunting sport. It also includes management of the specialized technical base and organization of the stay of foreign and domestic tourists – hunters and fishers. As a business, hunting tourism developed actively in the 60’s and 70’s of the 20^th century. International hunting tourism is highly effective and not practiced widely, but is a source of foreign currency revenues and helps to extend the tourism season. Hunting is sectional and is guided by specially trained employees – game breeders, also called jagers. International and national fees are paid for hunting and hunting trophies.

Game farming in Bulgarian is represented by fallow deer, roe deer, wild goat, wild boars, beers, wood grouse, rabbits, partridges, pheasants, red deer and others. The fish wealth of the country is also big and diverse. The following freshwater species are known: carp, trout, catfish, European perch, whitefish, common nase and others, which are offered by the fish farms Ribaritsa, Cherni Vit, Belogradchik, Montana and others. In the Black Sea subject to fishing tourism are the species cod, turbot, sea bass, bluefish, mullet, leaping mullet and others. In 2013 Bulgarian wild boar received more than 50 gold medals and Bulgarian red deer is one of the best across Europe.

In 2014 4500 foreign hunters hunted in Bulgaria, as most of them are traditional visitors. According to information of Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Foods Valentina Marinova, the current results show BGN 4.5 million proceeds from trophies – revenues from international hunting tourism. In addition, it should be borne in mind that revenues are also generated from alternative tourism and organized photohunting[7].

Among the wild variety of tourism forms developed in our country stands ornithological tourism. A number of routes along the two main migration routes passing over the country – ViaPontica and ViaAdriatica are offered as a specialized product. Almost 70 % of the birds inhabiting the European continent can be observed in Bulgaria.

Ornithological important places in Bulgaria declared by the international conservation organization Bird Life International are 114. They are of global or regional importance and conserve birds. For example, 12 habitats of rare species of the bird diversity of international importance /pygmy cormorant, heron, spoonbill, ferruginous duck, Egyptian vulture, black stork, long-legged buzzard and others/ are located along the Bulgarian section of the Danube River. Bird species typical of steppe areas can be observed along the Black Sea Coast. In late summer flocks of pelicans, flying birds of prey, little grebes and great cormorants, different species of seagulls and terns are attractive to observe. There are also species which can be observed inland. Common pheasant, for example, can be seen near Tundzha River.

[1]Culture Development Strategies and Policies in the period 2011-2020. Part One: Situation analysis of sector Culture and ensuing actions to optimize and develop it, p. 2, information is available on: www.strategy.bg/FileHandler.ashx?fileId=1547.

[2]According to data of the Executive Environment Agency, http://eea.government.bg/bg/bio/nem.

[3]Matev, Iv., I.Uzunov, St. Kovachev, D.Ganeva, D.Ganev, 2004, Ecology, PENSOFT Press , p. 177.

[4]Mineral water is called the Bulgarian Time Machine – there are in Bulgaria 900 mineral springs at 135 locations, formed thousands of years ago; our country is one of the most favored in this regard.

[5]Spa and Wellness tourism, which is associated with all cure and beautification procedures that are offered in spa centers in our country, has recently emerged. The potential for development of this type of tourism is huge and at the same time related to a particular culture of leisure consumption and of combat that has recently emerged in our country. It is a matter of time that SPA tourism gains the position that it deserves and services in the industry reach an international level.

[6]Can combine diving among coral reefs, diving among sharks, paragliding, rafting with other adventurous options such as rock climbing, canyoning, exploring underwater caves, etc.

[7]Valentina Marinova, Ministry of Agriculture and Foods: There is a growth of foreigners who hunt in Bulgaria, 19.03.2014, the news are available on: http://focus-radio.net/?action=news&id=734497.