BULGARIA TOURISM ADMINISTRATIVE AND TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION

The Bulgarian Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism has the responsibility to implement the state policy in the field of tourism and to co-ordinate the activities of the ministries and other institutions towards its implementation. The major priorities of its activities are the inter-state relations in the field of tourism, the regulatory provision for tourist activities, development of the tourist product, assisting the activities of the regional, local and branch tourist organisations, national marketing and advertising, marketing research, analyses and forecasts for the tourist market.

The functions of the Bulgarian Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism with regard to tourism are:

1. to lay down the strategic objectives and priorities in the field of tourism policy and design programmes, short-term concepts for their implementation; planning and implementation of a common strategy for development of tourism;
2. to develop and participate in the discussion on drafts of regulations with regard to the tourism sector and take the necessary measures to ensure the legislative framework for development of the Bulgarian tourism;
3. to organize the negotiations and coordinate the implementation of bilateral or multilateral agreements concerning technical and economic cooperation in tourism; to promote collaboration between the respective stakeholders with regard to investments in tourism sector;
4. to represent the Republic of Bulgaria and coordinate the fulfilment of the country’s obligations in regard to its membership in the international bodies and tourism organizations; to participate in development, assessment and follow the implementation of programmes and projects financed by the European Union and international organizations;
5. to formulate, develop and control the implementation of the Annual Program for spending the state funds designed for tourism development, including the Annual Marketing Program;
6. to support the activity of attracting investments and implement projects for tourism development at national regional and local level; to cooperate in fulfilment of measures for construction and maintenance of the tourism infrastructure;
7. to organize and supervise the work of the economic counsellors in the representative offices in foreign countries; to promote the Bulgarian tourism and cultural heritage abroad and to coordinate the activity of the Bulgarian cultural institutes and associations;
8. to conduct, together with the competent departments, the state policy with regard to the training and improving the professional skills in tourism sector;
9. to cooperate with the national administrations, regional and local authorities regarding the implementation of their activities in the field of tourism; to organize joint activities related to development and promotion of tourism offer.
10. to implement methodical guidance of the activity of the regional and the local tourist information centres;
11. to establish, organize and maintain the tourist information system, including the National Tourist Register;
12. to promote the quality of tourist product; to implement registration of tour operators, tourist agencies activity and classification of establishments providing tourist accommodation, food and entertainment in the cases stipulated by the Tourism Act;
13. to provide guidelines regarding the activity of the Expert Commission for Registration of Tour Operators and Tourist Agents (ECRTTA) and the Expert Commission for Classification of Tourist Sites (ECCTS) and organize and manage their activities;
14. to provide information services and support the participation of Bulgarian companies at fairs and tourism events;

 The National Tourist Council (NTC) functions as a governmental consultative body under the authority of the Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism. It aims to assist in the implementation of a national tourism policy.

The members of the National Tourist Council are representatives of the tourism-related ministries and institutions, national, regional, local and branch tourist associations, associations of air, land and water carriers, nationally represented associations of the consumers in the Republic of Bulgaria. The consultative tasks and activities of the NTC are as follows:

• to approve the national funding support for tourism marketing including the annual programme for national tourist advertisement;
• coordinating the implementation of the national tourist advertisement;
• analysis of the implemented promotional activities and appraisal of the efficacy of tourist seasons;
• making recommendations on designed concepts and programmes for tourism development, as well as proposing measures for improving the control in tourism sector with respect to raising the overall quality of the whole range of tourist services in Bulgaria;
• giving opinion on draft regulations with regard to provision of tourist activities;
• discussing the issues related to tourist infrastructure, foreign investments in tourism, fulfilment of charter programmes, consumer protection.

National level

The Bulgarian Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism is headed by the Minister. He has three deputies; one of them is in charge of tourism sector in the country. There are also two Directors of Directorates (Tourism Policy; Marketing, Advertising and Information in Tourism). According to the Tourism Act the Ministry manages the National Tourist Council.The Minister determines the number of the members of the National Tourist Council and issues regulations for its organisation and activity.

The Tourist Associations are established on territorial and professional principle and they can be:

1. National, regional and local (e.g. Bourgas Regional Tourist Association, Stara Planina Regional Tourist Association, Varna Tourist Chamber, Pirin Tourism Forum etc.);

2. Branch and product associations (e.g. Bulgarian Association of Tourist Agencies, Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association, Bulgarian Tourist Chamber; Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism; Bulgarian Association for Rural and Ecological Tourism, Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism, etc.);

Tourist Associations, in compliance with their statutes:

• coordinate interests, actions and activities of authorities, organizations and companies related to tourism development;
• realize the connection with public authorities responsible for tourism and represent its members;
• cooperate with tourist information centres or bureaux;
• participate in the development of strategies and programmes for tourism development at national, regional and municipality level and ensure their implementation;
• carry out consulting and marketing activities;
• participate in ECRTTA and ECCTS;
• support the process of improving professional skills in the sector;
• support the improvement of the quality of tourism products and service and work for the protection of consumer interests;

Regional level:

Regional authorities (the regional governor and the regional administration) are in charge of implementing the state policy in tourism on the territory of the region by:

• organising, jointly with the tourist associations, development of a strategy and programmes for tourism development and coordinating their implementation. The strategy and the programmes are a part of the Regional plan for regional development and are worked out on the basis of the national priorities for tourism development, as well as in compliance with the regional and local tourist resources and needs;
• coordinating with the mayors and other regional governors in the region the implementation of the National Strategy for tourism development.

According to the Law on Regional Development the regional council for regional development assist the regional governor in carrying out his duties.

Local level:

According to the Tourism Act the municipal administrations are the institutions responsible for tourism development at local level. Local authorities are the mayor and the municipal council. The mayor has almost the same duties as the Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism at local level. He is in charge of establishing and managing the Local Tourist Council. It has a consultative role and functions in the municipalities that develop tourism. The advisory council discusses issues related to tourism at local level, including the collection and spending of the tourist fee, infrastructure and tourism product development, marketing, tourist information services, etc. Local Tourist Council includes, from one side representatives from the local administration, and from the other – local tourist associations, non-profit organizations, whose activities are related to the tourism development in the municipality, local business players and consumers associations.

The Local Tourist Council works out a programme and proposes it to the Municipal Council. The aim of the programme is to support tourism development in the municipality. It includes measures and activities for construction and maintaining the infrastructure in the municipality area, protection of the green areas and cultural heritage, setting up Tourist Information Centers, performance of promotion activities and advertisement of the local tourist sites in the country and abroad. The Municipal Council adopts this programme considering the priorities of the national strategy and in compliance with the local tourist resources and needs.