The ecotourism and rural tourism are becoming more and more popular in the European and Bulgarian market. Well preserved nature, authentic rural areas and traditions in the wine making are only a part of the prerequisites for development of alternative tourist products in the district of Dobrich as well as the Municipality of Antonovo. Unfortunately, in the last years there is a growing lack of economic opportunities for realization so the development of every successful business initiative in the field should be encouraged.

This project was aimed at pointing the attention to alternative tourism as a perspective branch of the economy. The activities that were designed by the project involved two main target groups - unemployed people who can be assisted in finding a new job, and representatives of the small and middle business who are currently working in that niche but need improvement of their management skills as well as new ideas or consultation.

The organized teaching sessions aroused great interest in the participants with its new approach and practice-oriented subjects. The development of the teaching plan was done by very serious experts in the field, both European and Bulgarian that had a long and rich work experience in teaching disciplines like Entrepreneurship and Tourism. A new handbook "Standards for service in establishments of eco and rural tourism" was prepared. It showed the demand for qualification of the target group. 60 unemployed people from Antonovo, Dobrich and Kavarna were enrolled in the teaching course of "Organization of Hotel Business". They have undergone a programme of 132 lessons of theory and practice that were divided in three teaching modules: General Entrepreneurship, Ecotourism and Rural Tourism. To be considered as successful in the end of the course, all the participants had to make a business plan. The positive impact of that was fully shown by the fact that over 20 of the unemployed people were hired and two of them even started their own business. The great interest shown by the candidates that were not included in the project laid the fundaments for the partner organization International College Ltd. to apply for a license for the specialty "Eco and Rural Tourism" in National Agency for Vocational Education and Training /NAVET/.

Within the framework of the project, three seminars, for representatives of the small and middle business as well as employees in the administration of natural parks, ecologists etc., were organized. The aim of the seminars was to increase the participants' skills in attractive marketing of the alternative tourism product. 50 people were trained in these seminars and the interest that was shown by additional 100 people suggested the need for more similar initiatives in the region.
Apart from the acquired new knowledge during the teaching course, all the entrepreneurs had the opportunity to get an online consultation through the specially designed website. Experts from the International University College have answered over 200 questions that were of interest to the target group.  
One of the most attractive products that were created during the project was an educational movie that showed the good practices and the objects of Eco and Rural Tourism. Over 20 examples, included in the movie, demonstrated tourist products, destinations, guest houses, eco trails, faults in the service and accommodation of guests, etc.

The aim of the project, to point the attention and promote the creation of alternative product to the alternative tourism in the region, found its logical result in the establishment of the Association for Assisting of Rural and Eco Tourism which combined the efforts of the people and companies involved in this field in Dobrudja.

The project was financed by PHARE programme "Alternative Employment".
Period of realization: April 2006 - April 2007