The Tourism Potential of the Bulgarian Danube Region

Successful performance on potential tourism markets requires that regions which are both sufficiently large and easily recognizable to Bulgarian and foreign tourists be presented. It is a common objective of the European Commission and the governments of the fourteen EU countries along the Danube to enhance the cooperation and communication between local citizens by designing a Danube Strategy that will integrate the markets within the EU and promote interregional and international cooperation. Sustainable tourism development, which has become a major priority for Bulgaria, requires the efficient exploitation of the tourism potential of the country and active intercultural collaboration. It also entails developing integrated cross-border and transnational projects to design a common Danube Tourism Strategy, develop a common tourism market and initiate a range of initiatives to promote Danube tourism products in different spheres of tourism - cultural, wine, agricultural, cruise, balneo, spa and wellness, biking and hiking. Some of the key activities within the framework of the Danube Tourism Strategy include improved infrastructure planning and development; establishing the Danube region as a European tourism brand and a major destination; promoting cultural tourism and cultural exchange; developing eco-tourism and active tourism. The Concept about Tourism Zoning of Bulgaria has identified nine tourism regions in the country. One of them is the Danube region where more than a quarter of all Bulgarian municipalities are situated. This paper studies the dynamics of the major indicators of tourism development in the Danube tourism region in the period from 2010 to 2015. We review current trends and conduct a factor analysis of changes in receipts from overnight stays. We also identify key factors which contribute to or hinder tourism development in the region. The paper compares the indicators of the region with the indicators of the other tourism regions in the country and highlights a major strategic issue, i.e. the noticeable contrast in the development of different regions in Bulgaria.