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The review has been launched by the OECD LEED Trento Centre for Local Development in co-operation with the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and its country mission in Bulgaria. It was an opportunity for policy makers at national and sub-national levels in Bulgaria to debate with international experts in refining the SME and tourism policy design and delivery.

The main objectives of the review:

• To contribute to upgrade the capacity of local and regional policy makers and practitioners to support sustainable tourism development in their areas and to enhance the competitiveness of (small) tourism enterprises, by addressing the necessity to improve the quality and the added value of the tourism offer and products.

• To focus on the fostering of tourism diversification and entrepreneurship through the development of alternative tourism, for example rural and agro-tourism. Bulgaria is still lacking alternatives to mass tourism which has been strongly developing in the recent period.

The issues analysed:

• Policies for fostering SMEs & entrepreneurship development in support of alternative tourism, by focusing on strengths and weaknesses of current approaches to alternative tourism development; developing entrepreneurial learning/skills and business support mechanisms; added value of the tourism offer; a comparison with international good practice; 

• Key policy challenges and needs in support of alternative tourism development in the next 10 years, by focusing on strengths and weaknesses of current approaches to alternative tourism development; on the link of competitiveness, new product development, quality and the overall destination offering; on the comparison with international good practices.

• Policies for enhancing alternative tourism development, by focusing on strengths and weaknesses of current approaches to alternative tourism development; on opportunities and threats of development of  alternative tourism possibilities (agri-tourism, rural-tourism, etc.); on the comparison with international good practice.

The roundtable

The preliminary results were discussed during a practitioner round table in Sofia (June 2007).

Download the seminar's agenda

Download speakers' presentations

The report

This document provides the full review panel report on Fostering SME and Entrepreneurship Development in the Tourism Sector in Bulgaria” and is the result of an active review of alternative tourism policies design and delivery in Bulgaria, with a special focus on the two regions of Stara Planina and Bansko.

Download the final report

For more information either visit USAID-Bulgaria or contact the OECD.