Public-Private Partnership on Eco Tourism in Bulgaria

Public-Private Partnership on Eco Tourism in Bulgaria

Sofia Echo Com, 05.07.2006

The Environment and Water Affairs Ministry and the National Tourism Board would work on a system for evaluating hotels and issuing ecological certificates, Environment Minister Djevdet Chakurov said. The project will be prepared by a work group including both ministry and board representatives. The group would evaluate hotels throughout the country, Chakurov said. The certificate will be given to those venues which introduce selective waste collection systems and use energy and water saving technologies. Additional points would be given for environmental protection initiatives. The Environment Ministry would allocate some of PUDOOS governmental programme funds for the setting up of water purifying stations near the seaside and of new drainage systems. The Cabinet plans to spend over eight million leva on environmental protection projects. The government plans to turn eco-paths into tourism destinations. The project would be executed through public-private partnership, by improving the infrastructure near the paths and launching advertising campaigns, Chakurov said. see source