Pathway to progress A 150-km long hiking trail passing through 10 settlements on the Bulgarian side of West Stara Planina has become the centerpiece of a two-year project to kindle tourism in a picturesque, but economically stressed mountain area. In November, the towns of Berkovitsa, Chiprovtsi, Chuprene and Belogradchik wrapped up a project to turn their mountain area into a tourist destination. Aside from creating the trail, the towns established three tourist information centres, published promotional materials and created a trail map. The municipalities organised meetings of local people to explain how to get involved in offering ecotourism services. The project aims to give economic opportunity to poor people from small, depopulated villages. More than 80 stakeholders helped plan the initiative.

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