INNOVATIVE GREEN PRACTICES IN SUPPORT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BULGARIAN TOURISM PRODUCT

Abstract

The priority role of tourism in generating economic benefits for countries and job creation has focused on
supporting a number of strategic documents and frameworks in the scope of sustainable tourism development and in
particular the green economy. One of the last major initiatives is the Glasgow Declaration, adopted in November
2021, committed to the Decade of Climate in Tourism. On the one hand, the covid crisis has had serious negative
effects on the global tourism industry, and on the other, it has deepened our awareness of the inextricable link
between human health and ecosystem protection, in particular biodiversity, nature pollution and climate change. In
the process of overcoming the negative consequences, Bulgarian tourism should find new consumers, create new
partnerships and transform itself in readiness for new joint initiatives. The paper focuses on all initiatives in support
of good "green" practices in the sphere of tourism and Bulgaria's aspirations to join European measures aimed at
achieving the goals of the circular economy. The purposeful state policy, in support of synergy effects and symbiosis
between the related industries, is in the direction of development and utilization of the still unused potential of our
country. The pursuit of such goals would strengthen cross-sectoral cooperation and would lead to overcoming the
image of Bulgaria as a destination for mass tourism.
The diffusion of eco-innovation in tourism and supporting industries is at the heart of achieving the economic and
social well-being of society. The "green" idea directly corresponds to the ideas of sustainable development in
tourism and the circular economy. In this line of thought, the report presents trends in the tourism business and new
preferences for green and sustainable products; the promotion of sustainable tourism practices; shared efforts to
implement the Glasgow Declaration commitments.