Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan - part - usaid

February 2004
2.7 The Tourism Zone
Background and rationale
Rila Monastery NP is among those protected areas in Bulgaria that are most popular
as tourist destinations. It draws about half a million visitors a year, who seek
opportunities for recreation, wildlife encounters, or a visit to Rila Monastery. The
formation of such zone corresponds to the requirements of PAA (Art.19) and the
Ideal objects of the park – 1.4.1; 1.4.2; 1.5.2, etc. The formation of the zone aims to
enrich and diversify the tourist experience, to ensure tourist security, to provide
accomodation and food services, parking, information, atractions, and facilities for
sport and relaxation. All tourist activities can be open for contract assignment, for
generating income for the owner and the park development. The implementation of
such contracts while also including local authorities will provide the local population
more employment opportunities and will ensure their support in protection the
spiritual and nature values of the park.
Description, physical and geographic characteristics
The area immediately surrounding Rila Monastery is a starting point for several major
tourist routes across Rila Mountain. The Tourism Zone is characterized by its varied
terrain and substantial altitude differential, providing an opportunity for tourists to
cross very different terrains within a short hiking distance: deep river valleys and
gorges, centennial forests, mountain ridges, rocky peaks (most of them towering over
2,500m above sea level), and glacial lakes. The Tourism Zone covers a total area of
724.5 ha; it comprises a variety of infrastructure components such as: entry and exit
points; tourist routes; observation points; chalets and lodges; single-day recreation
facilities; marking and signage; and boards and signs (cautionary, instructional,
informational). In combination with the prescribed regime and regulations applying to
that zone, the above listed elements are designed to ensure an optimum re-distribution
of the tourist flow while conserving existing practices and meeting tourist
expectations.
Depending on the extent of tourism use, the Tourism Zone is divided into three subzones:
1. High visitor use sub-zone;
2. Moderate visitor use sub-zone;
3. Low visitor use sub-zone.
Four general regimes apply to the entire territory of the Tourism zone, while sitespecific
regimes have been identified for the sub-zones.
General regimes applying to the Tourism Zone
All human activities and acts are strictly forbidden, with the exception of those as per
Paragraph 1.1.1 and the following:
Rila Monastery Nature Park
Management Plan-Draft
2004 - 2013
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