Dzheni Madzharov – Ph.D

Bulgaria

Assoc. Prof. Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia, Bulgaria

 

The creation of domestic and international tourism represents a favorable opportunity for the economic development of any country. The success of this economic activity depends both on the set general goals and objectives, and on their implementation. An important condition for the successful, sustainable development of tourism and, accordingly, the economy of a country, is the planned and purposeful use of available sources. This approach implies a planned transition from an existing economic structure to a new one in which tourism begins to occupy an important place. This transition is related to the following changes: implementation of imperative economic changes; growing share of the tourism industry in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP); job growth; increase in the income of the population and others. Of particular importance in the process of development of the tourism industry is the establishment of well-thought-out and feasible goals and objectives for changing the existing economic model. This is directly related to the application of ways of using the landscape and the natural environment to protect it, as well as preserving the demographic structure of the population. In case of non-compliance with such requirements, the change can lead to adverse impacts, where the development of the tourism industry, apart from economic benefits, can create problems of a different nature.

 

In my report, I will present several of the main favorable and unfavorable aspects in the development of the Bulgarian tourism industry, over the last 30 years, paying attention to the shortcomings and mistakes made in the use of basic factors that underlie the successful development of this industry. I hope that sharing this knowledge will be of benefit to Chinese colleagues who are sympathetic to the development of tourism in Tibet.