In early June, Ms. Nevena Arnautska, member of the Management Board of Sozopol Foundation, participated in a National Round Table on topic: “Special types of tourism – Challenges and Perspectives” organized by the Department of “Tourism” at the Agricultural University, city of Plovdiv. The international non-governmental organisation is very active in the implementation of activities for the safeguarding of natural and cultural heritage, the provision of accessible environment for people with disabilities, the development of cultural tourism as one of the leading specialized types of tourism. The commitment of the organization toward these areas is extremely strong and taking into account the opportunities and potential which is at the disposal of such events, the Foundation seeks to attend them, taking an active part in the discussed topics and bringing out the best practices and ideas.
The event was held under the patronage of the Rector of the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, prof. dr. Christina Yancheva. Official guest was Ms. Irena Georgieva – Deputy Minister of the Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria.
The aim of the event was to bring together leading scientists, explorers, researchers, and teachers to provide the results of their scientific work and to share their experience in all aspects of specialized types of tourism. The forum gave the opportunity to the scientific community to present and discuss the results of their research with representatives of the tourism branch and the NGO sector. The given presentations are on various topics – the spiritual prerequisites for the development of rural tourism and the use of smart devices, cultural, religious and medical tourism, festival events, the segmentation of the tourist market in the country, the peculiarities of different destinations, etc.
Ms. Arnautska prepare a scientific article specially for the event, which was published in Scientific Works of the Agricultural University – Plovdiv, vol. LX, b. 1, Academic Publishing of Agrarian University, Plovdiv, 2016. The theme of the article was: „Conservation of the cultural heritage as a challenge facing the sustainable destination development“. The topic is highly relevant and meaningful both in Bulgaria and in the European and global scale. The reasons for the development of the topic is expressed in the desire to prove that the process of preservation of cultural heritage and diversity, application of innovative concepts in the respective subjects and the correct use of items of cultural heritage supports the process of sustainable development of destinations.
Cover page of the Scientific Works of Agrarian University, Plovdiv, 2016, vol. LX, b. 1,Academic Publishing of Agrarian University, Plovdiv, 2016