Rila Monastery Nature Park Management Plan - part - usaid

February 2004
2.7.2 The Moderate Visitor Use Sub-zone
Background and rationale
This sub-zone is designed to provide a wider range of visitors with a more intimate
experience with nature, using the tourist infrastructure and services already made
available by the Park. The necessity of efficient visitor flow management in the
Buffer zone of Rila Monastery Forest reserve and Holy sites proximity in the park is
an important reason for this particular sub-zone.
Purpose of the ModerateVisitor Use Sub-zone
The purpose of the Moderate-Visitor Use Sub-zone is to serve the tourist flow in such a
way as to ensure the conservation of biodiversity, and of the religious and cultural
heritage. The sub-zone shall be designed to provide information and interpretation
services to tourists.
Description
The sub-zone covers the territory along the southern sides of the Rilska River and Rila
Monastery Reserve. To the east it starts after the confluence of the Iliyna and Rilska
Rivers, on the west continues to and includes Kirilova Polyana. The sub-zone includes
the territory along the Iliyna River from approximately 500m to the east from the
confluence of the Iliyna and Rilska Rivers to the Kravarski dol – Cheresha locality trail.
The total zone area is 419.4 ha.
The sub-zone comprises the following components, described in terms of their basic
functions:
1. Long-term rest and recreation facilities
• Hotels
- Hotel Rilets (180 beds);
• Camping sites
- At present, the number of camping sites and corporate recreational
facilities belonging to the zone are located in Bivolarnika, Kirilova
Polyana and Yavora areas, and Kravarski dol (Appendices 3 and 23)
• Tent camp sites
- At Bivolarnika locality;
- At Tiha Rila, along the path from the river terrace.
2. Same-day recreation/picnic sites
• At Obedishte locality;
• At Bivolarnika locality, on the south Rilska river bank;
• At Studenata Cheshma locality;
• At Kirilova Polyana.
Regimes of the ModerateVisitor Use Sub-zone
All human activities and acts are strictly forbidden, with the exception of those as per
Paragraph 1.1.1, the general regimes applied to the Tourist zone and the following:
Rila Monastery Nature Park
Management Plan-Draft
2004 - 2013
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