1. Health, Ecology and Tourism

2. The Health, Ecology and Tourism Consortium was founded in 2002 year
The Health, Ecology and Tourism Consortium was founded in 2002 year. The HECOT Consortium is an association of 6 small structures situated in Sofia and Samokov. It has been created to support foreign Tourist agencies, tour operators, business organizations to promote their services and tourist packages in Bulgaria. We are founded as a non governmental organisation and are focused on the tourism development as a national phenomenon and national Bulgarian treasury to the contrast of the already approved in the public space in Bulgaria branch and regional approaches towards the problems in the field of tourism.

3. MAIN ACTIVITIES FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: • Marketing analyses • SWOT-analyses • Effectiveness evaluation • Financial evaluation • Entrepreneurial evaluation • Concept elaboration • Management consulting • Personnel training • Quality controlling • Development planning • Ecological aspects/eco labelling • Linkage-Studies (interdisciplinary observations) • Marketing strategies/plans • Marketing budget elaboration

4. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES: • Informational-reservation system • Tour DM for a database to support a tourist’s information search • Delivery of relevant ., context-sensitive , tailored information to tourists wherever they are • Application of our services on mobile devices • Supporting a multifaceted u-commerce, where U stands for ubiquitous, universal, unique, and unison. • Internet-discussion club • Internet reference system • Internet tourism directory • E-almanac of the Bulgarian tourism • E-payment • Exchange of “demand supply in the field of tourism

5.   Our team    The HECOT Consortium is as an upgrade transition expert body of the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association. It has implemented more than 10 projects with the assistance of international organization such as the European Union Commission (EU), die Gesellschaft für technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), the British Know-How Fund, the American Agency for International Development (USAID), the PHARE Programme, die Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft (CDG), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and others.

6. Bulgarian tourism statistics:   §Тhe total number of foreign tourist arrivals in Bulgaria in 2016 year is 8 252 thousand - an increase of 16,2% compared to 2015 year. Other EU countries are the most important source market for Bulgaria with a share of 61,0% of all international arrivals. §The total revenue from international tourism in 2016 year is over million euro. The growth compared to is 15,7%. §Domestic tourism grows fast in 2016 year. The total number of nights spent by Bulgarian citizens in accommodation establishments with ten or more beds is thousand. The growth compared to 2015 is 12,3%. The number of arrivals of Bulgarian citizens in accommodation establishments with 10 or more beds is thousand. The growth compared to 2015 year is 11,6%. §The direct contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP was BGN million (3.3% of total GDP) in 2015, and is forecast to rise by 3.9% in 2016, and to rise by 5.3% pa, from , to BGN millions (4.0% of total GDP) in  

7. §The total contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP was BGN 10 502
  §The total contribution of Travel & Tourism to GDP was BGN million (12.1% of GDP) in 2015, and is forecast to rise by 3.2% in 2016, and to rise by 4.7% pa to BGN mln. (14.0% of GDP) in   §In 2015 Travel & Tourism directly supported jobs (3.1% of total employment). This is expected to rise by 2.6% in 2016 and rise by 2.9% pa to jobs (4.5% of total employment) in   §In 2015, the total contribution of Travel & Tourism to employment, including jobs indirectly supported by the industry, was 11.2% of total employment ( jobs). This is expected to rise by 1.7% in 2016 to jobs and rise by 1.2% pa to jobs in 2026 (14.0% of total).  

8. Competitive advantages of Bulgaria as investment destination in tourism   *Bulgaria has a potential to become a four season touristic destination. *Bulgarian tourism product offers highly competitive prices for hotel accommodation in comparison to other EU countries. * Bulgaria attracted 8.2 million foreign tourists for 2016 – more than its own population. In 2016 г. Bulgaria has registered the biggest growth in the sector in the EU – 15% growth in revenues, 18% growth of accommodations, 16% growth of the international arrivals. *Bulgaria is one of the most interesting locations for the filming industry nowadays *Bulgaria is very rich in some natural resources like mineral water – more than 600 sources are known, of which very low percentage are in use. There are a lot of opportunities to develop the SPA industry in Bulgaria. *Bulgaria offers excellent opportunities for cultural tourism – more than 40 000 cultural landmarks The Ministry would like to attract more investments in cultural tourism, congress tourism and SPA tourism in order to boost the development of the other sub-sectors.

9. PROJECTS

10. 1.The Association Health-ecology-tourism ", in cooperation with the foundation “Partners –Bulgaria”, worked to realize the program "Ethnic integration and resolution of conflicts” – / / 2.The project “Together towards changes through the sport” / / was financed by the United State Agency for International Development (USAID). The project was designed to develop sustainable structures for the multiethnic and multi stakeholders cooperation, as well as to support the economic initiative and development of the group’s skills. Thus, the aim was to create the necessary capacities, bringing out a positive change in the city. 3.Europass- New Hospitality Project-:” New Hospitality Europass” / / represents the conclusive output of the project “Analysis and Development of a European System of Qualifications and Competences in the Hospitality Sector for Transparency and Recognition Without Borders - New (No–borders European Workers) Hospitality, financed by the European Commission as part of the Leonardo da Vinci Programme, procedure B, The Europass Curriculum Vitae format can be downloaded, in any of the official languages of the European Union, from the Internet site

11. 4.A partner in the project “Planning of the local Economic Development of Samokov Municipality”. The main goal of the project is to was to analyze the main trends in the economic development of Samokov Municipality and toutline the problems and perspectives for development and growth. Therefore, it was concentrated on the creation of opportunities for the achievement of the following objectives: - Attracting investments - Creating new job opportunities - Boosting the local economy The natural conditions in Samokov Municipality favour the development of tourism, making it one of the few sites in Bulgaria that has the potential to develop internationally important winter tourism. Borovets is the biggest mountain resort in Bulgaria, located on the northern slopes of the Rila mountain only 10 km away from the town of Samokov and 73 km away from Sofia.

12. 5.A Partner in the project “ Prevention of emotional and behavioural difficutlties in kids” , realized by the Foundation “ Partners- Samokov” Read it easy Read it easy Socrates Lingua 1 Promotion of Language Learning Sector: - Tourists - Business people Age: - Adults - from young adults to elderly people 7.A Partner in the Project – Prevention campaign- development of a Strategy for the creation of job opportunities for the rome community in the city of Samokov- financed by the “Bulgarian Center for not-for-profit LAW” 8.A Partner in the Project “ Positive approaches for the prevention of the kids violence.”, in cooperation with the Foundation “Partners- Bulgaria” / /

13. 9.Restoration of iconography of Zahari Zgograf in the nunnery of Samokov Avalanche beacon check station at Borovets Mountain Resort Upper station of gondola lift- Yastrebets

14. Partners

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