“The Last Black Sea Piratesâ€: the Case of Kara Dere, Bulgaria
Author: Anna Ivanova Georgieva
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Abstract
The paper identifies whether ecotourism at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is endangered by the excessive construction of tourist resorts. The essay defines ecotourism, concentrates on the advantages and disadvantages of Bulgarian ecotourism and presents the different standpoints of stakeholders related to the construction project near a natural area in Bulgaria, called Kara dere.
Key words: ecotourism, construction project, natural environment, different standpoints, politicians, investors, tourists, local communities
Discussion paper:
Is ecotourism at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast endangered by the excessive construction of tourist resorts: the case of Kara dere?
Wearing and Neil (2012, p.9) state that fundamentally ecotourism “involves travel to relatively undisturbed or protected natural areas, fostering understanding, appreciation and conservation of the flora, fauna, geology and eco-systems of an areaâ€. In the recent years, the ecotourism professionals recognise it as a tool for sustainable development (Page and Dowling, 2002). Moreover, the term ecotourism has not only been used as a definition related to the principles of sustainability but it also refers to a market segment (Georgiev, 2010). However, in some cases due to poor planning and management, it might fail to benefit the indigenous communities and can provide social tension and environmental degradation leaving the tourists dissatisfied (Bangkok Post, 1997, in Cooper et al., 2008).
The eco tourist visits the natural protected areas for the purpose of appreciation, participation and sensitivity, and uses the natural environment in a non-consumptive way contributing to the given area through labour or financial means (Ziffer, 1989, cited by Fennell, 2003, in Georgiev, 2010). However, the paper raises the question - are tourists at Kara dere the typical eco tourists?
In the post-communist period, the structure of Bulgarian tourism is not much different from the one created during that period - it is mostly dominated by seaside tourism. Bulgaria has great resources for development of environmental and ecotourism, however, the indiscriminate construction at the seaside and the emergence of more mass-oriented forms of tourism have resulted in the environmental destruction of the Black Sea region (Nasheva-Kiosseva and Hickey, 2011; Zaharinov, 2011). Other disadvantages associated with Bulgarian ecotourism are: unawareness of local communities about the importance of natural resources; lack of trained staff in the principles of ecotourism; lack of effective communication system within the supply chains; lack of management and planning activities undertaken by national governments (Nasheva-Kiosseva and Hickey, 2011). Therefore, is it actually possible for ecotourism in Bulgaria to become a well-established niche type of tourism?
The essay focuses on a natural area in Bulgaria called Kara dere, a perfect place for development of ecotourism, where one of the last pristine beaches at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is located (Bulgarian Beaches, 2013; BTV News BG, 2014b). The whole area is listed in Natura 2000, a European network of nature protected areas which is oriented towards the protection of naturally unspoiled regions (European Commission, 2014; Georgiev, 2010). However, a recently announced construction project near Kara dere, including three hotel resorts has triggered the controversy (Angelov, 2014).
Some Bulgarian political figures as key stakeholders were not willing to discuss their involvement in the consideration of the project. However, in March 2014, the Environment Minister of Bulgaria Iskra Mihaylova made a contradictory statement that a building project for Kara dere did not exist, there were simply intentions. According to Minister Mihaylova, such project could only be accepted if it complies with all the environmental laws (Dossev, 2014). Considering this, does it necessarily mean that if the construction project proves to be harmless for the natural environment, investors should be enabled to start the building works? The clear, brief and emotionally-induced view of tourists may be possible answer to this question – tourists at Kara dere were strongly against the construction works as they had strong sentiment for the pristine area identifying it as “their own place†(Varna Utre, 2014).
Simultaneously, part of the local residents shared opinions in favour of the resorts` construction while others took the opposite position (BTV News BG, 2014a). The supporters of the project were certain that it will boost employment in the region and will bring order at Kara dere as according to local people the main tourists at the pristine beach were only alcohol and drug abusers violating the peace. In contrast, locals who were against the project did not believe that the resort will bring benefits to the local community as it was very likely to be of a closed type (BTV News BG, 2014b). In addition, travel agents hinted that they did not see great benefit in the type of tourism which such project would provoke in the area (Varna Utre, 2014). The investors, as other key stakeholders who have spent financial resources expected high return on their investment (Varna Utre, 2014). However, the lack of transparency on the identities of investors in the project has provoked many doubts (Bivol BG, 2014).
Overall, according to Hussein (2014), there is still not clear vision of whether the general public either supports or rejects the construction project due to the fact that only small number of people was partaking in the street protests whereas larger number has discussed the issue online. That is why, further research on this relatively new topic needs to be conducted in order to determine the public`s opinion. Yet, it should be noted that after myriad discussions in the last two months it was concluded that the resort will be built only if the environmental inspection proves it is harmless to the nature (CONB, 2014).
All the disadvantages of Bulgarian ecotourism in tandem with the multilateral opinions of stakeholders related to the project do not create clear vision on whether future construction works should be encouraged or banned. In conclusion, it could be said that ecotourism at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, particularly in the case of Kara dere, is endangered by the excessive construction of tourist resorts.
References:
Wearing, S and Neil, J. (2012) Eco Tourism Impacts potentials and possibilities, 2nd ed., Routledge
Georgiev, G. (2010) Rural and Ecotourism Development in Scope of Bulgarian Tourism. Scientific Annals of the'Alexandru Ioan Cuza'University of Iasi: Economic Sciences Series [online]. [Accessed 15 April 2014]. Available at: http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=c2331648-94b3-49be-8038-7be776af2e55%40sessionmgr4001&vid=1&hid=4209&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=sih&AN=57276764
Nasheva-Kiosseva, N. and Hickey, R. (2011) A user-friendly method for monitoring ecotourism trends in Bulgarian pilot regions based on the results of the biodiversity conservation and economic growth (BCEG) project 1st International Conference on Tourism Management and Tourism Related Issues: Conference Proceedings [online]. European Institutes for Advanced Study. [Accessed 14 April 2014]. Available at: http://eprints.nbu.bg/1001/
The paper identifies whether ecotourism at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is endangered by the excessive construction of tourist resorts. The essay defines ecotourism, concentrates on the advantages and disadvantages of Bulgarian ecotourism and presents the different standpoints of stakeholders related to the construction project near a natural area in Bulgaria, called Kara dere.
Key words: ecotourism, construction project, natural environment, different standpoints, politicians, investors, tourists, local communities
Discussion paper:
Is ecotourism at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast endangered by the excessive construction of tourist resorts: the case of Kara dere?
Wearing and Neil (2012, p.9) state that fundamentally ecotourism “involves travel to relatively undisturbed or protected natural areas, fostering understanding, appreciation and conservation of the flora, fauna, geology and eco-systems of an areaâ€. In the recent years, the ecotourism professionals recognise it as a tool for sustainable development (Page and Dowling, 2002). Moreover, the term ecotourism has not only been used as a definition related to the principles of sustainability but it also refers to a market segment (Georgiev, 2010). However, in some cases due to poor planning and management, it might fail to benefit the indigenous communities and can provide social tension and environmental degradation leaving the tourists dissatisfied (Bangkok Post, 1997, in Cooper et al., 2008).
The eco tourist visits the natural protected areas for the purpose of appreciation, participation and sensitivity, and uses the natural environment in a non-consumptive way contributing to the given area through labour or financial means (Ziffer, 1989, cited by Fennell, 2003, in Georgiev, 2010). However, the paper raises the question - are tourists at Kara dere the typical eco tourists?
In the post-communist period, the structure of Bulgarian tourism is not much different from the one created during that period - it is mostly dominated by seaside tourism. Bulgaria has great resources for development of environmental and ecotourism, however, the indiscriminate construction at the seaside and the emergence of more mass-oriented forms of tourism have resulted in the environmental destruction of the Black Sea region (Nasheva-Kiosseva and Hickey, 2011; Zaharinov, 2011). Other disadvantages associated with Bulgarian ecotourism are: unawareness of local communities about the importance of natural resources; lack of trained staff in the principles of ecotourism; lack of effective communication system within the supply chains; lack of management and planning activities undertaken by national governments (Nasheva-Kiosseva and Hickey, 2011). Therefore, is it actually possible for ecotourism in Bulgaria to become a well-established niche type of tourism?
The essay focuses on a natural area in Bulgaria called Kara dere, a perfect place for development of ecotourism, where one of the last pristine beaches at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast is located (Bulgarian Beaches, 2013; BTV News BG, 2014b). The whole area is listed in Natura 2000, a European network of nature protected areas which is oriented towards the protection of naturally unspoiled regions (European Commission, 2014; Georgiev, 2010). However, a recently announced construction project near Kara dere, including three hotel resorts has triggered the controversy (Angelov, 2014).
Some Bulgarian political figures as key stakeholders were not willing to discuss their involvement in the consideration of the project. However, in March 2014, the Environment Minister of Bulgaria Iskra Mihaylova made a contradictory statement that a building project for Kara dere did not exist, there were simply intentions. According to Minister Mihaylova, such project could only be accepted if it complies with all the environmental laws (Dossev, 2014). Considering this, does it necessarily mean that if the construction project proves to be harmless for the natural environment, investors should be enabled to start the building works? The clear, brief and emotionally-induced view of tourists may be possible answer to this question – tourists at Kara dere were strongly against the construction works as they had strong sentiment for the pristine area identifying it as “their own place†(Varna Utre, 2014).
Simultaneously, part of the local residents shared opinions in favour of the resorts` construction while others took the opposite position (BTV News BG, 2014a). The supporters of the project were certain that it will boost employment in the region and will bring order at Kara dere as according to local people the main tourists at the pristine beach were only alcohol and drug abusers violating the peace. In contrast, locals who were against the project did not believe that the resort will bring benefits to the local community as it was very likely to be of a closed type (BTV News BG, 2014b). In addition, travel agents hinted that they did not see great benefit in the type of tourism which such project would provoke in the area (Varna Utre, 2014). The investors, as other key stakeholders who have spent financial resources expected high return on their investment (Varna Utre, 2014). However, the lack of transparency on the identities of investors in the project has provoked many doubts (Bivol BG, 2014).
Overall, according to Hussein (2014), there is still not clear vision of whether the general public either supports or rejects the construction project due to the fact that only small number of people was partaking in the street protests whereas larger number has discussed the issue online. That is why, further research on this relatively new topic needs to be conducted in order to determine the public`s opinion. Yet, it should be noted that after myriad discussions in the last two months it was concluded that the resort will be built only if the environmental inspection proves it is harmless to the nature (CONB, 2014).
All the disadvantages of Bulgarian ecotourism in tandem with the multilateral opinions of stakeholders related to the project do not create clear vision on whether future construction works should be encouraged or banned. In conclusion, it could be said that ecotourism at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, particularly in the case of Kara dere, is endangered by the excessive construction of tourist resorts.
References:
Wearing, S and Neil, J. (2012) Eco Tourism Impacts potentials and possibilities, 2nd ed., Routledge
Georgiev, G. (2010) Rural and Ecotourism Development in Scope of Bulgarian Tourism. Scientific Annals of the'Alexandru Ioan Cuza'University of Iasi: Economic Sciences Series [online]. [Accessed 15 April 2014]. Available at: http://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=c2331648-94b3-49be-8038-7be776af2e55%40sessionmgr4001&vid=1&hid=4209&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=sih&AN=57276764
Nasheva-Kiosseva, N. and Hickey, R. (2011) A user-friendly method for monitoring ecotourism trends in Bulgarian pilot regions based on the results of the biodiversity conservation and economic growth (BCEG) project 1st International Conference on Tourism Management and Tourism Related Issues: Conference Proceedings [online]. European Institutes for Advanced Study. [Accessed 14 April 2014]. Available at: http://eprints.nbu.bg/1001/