Sevlievo Municipality, as an administrative unit, possesses some spots which can give one new direction for a development, namely tourism, as we use the available recourse and the potential of the region. The Municipality can apply for in the Operational program ?Regional development? and the Program for development of the rural regions and can realize a lot of activities so that the region to be turned in one desirable destination for ecological, hunting and cultural tourism. For that reason it is necessary the Municipality to have a strategic plan with SWOT analysis and to determine the future development which has to be sustainable and led to beneficial partnerships in long-term aspect between the NGOs and the Municipality Sevlievo. As an attempt for supporting the development of tourism in the municipality with public and private partnership between Sevlievo Municipality and Municipal Tourism Association ? Sevlievo, Informational center for culture and tourism has been opened. The centre has started its activity, as for the aim Sevlievo Municipality provided renewal rooms and employed a person to coordinate the activities. The rooms are used for the Municipal Tourism Association?Sevlievo?s activities, too. The implementation of the activities in the present project, again in partnership between the two institutions, will support the successful start of the Informational center for culture and tourism and give sustainability in the development of its future activities.

16.3. Location

43 0 01` 31,9`` northern latitude, 25 0 06` 12,1`` eastern latitude, Northern central region for planning, Region Gabrovo, Sevlievo Municipality, Sevlievo Municipality

16.4. Project Target Groups

The target groups, which will directly make use of the project:
? The citizens of town of Sevlievo and 35 town halls ? 43 500 inhabitants of the whole municipality
o Hotel owners ? 12 on the territory of the municipality of Sevlievo
o Restaurants owner - 24 on the territory of the municipality of Sevlievo
The target groups, which will indirectly make use of the project:
? Tourist agencies ? minimum 50 on the territory of the whole country
? Municipality?s guests ? minimum 10 000 per year


16.5. Goal and expected impacts

Goal: To create the conditions for turning Sevlievo Municipality in a destination giving opportunities for ecological and tourist products
Indicators:
Number of the local political documents, reporting GEF thermic areas
Number of favoured people
Number of OO/NPO, which have taken part

16.6. Objectives and expected results

1. To be elaborated a Strategy for development of tourism in Sevlievo Municipality and a plan for implementation for a period to 2013, including in particular development of ecotourism
Indicators:
? Elaborated documents
? A number of participants in the process of elaboration
? Holding an inquiry with the mayors of the villages
? A number of tourist spot?s owners inquired
? A number of tourist spots suitable for ecological tourism
2. To begin providing of services in ecotourism in Municipality Sevlievo
Indicators:
? A number of created products of ecotourism
? A number of global protected species included in the products
? A number of promoted products of ecotourism
? A number of participants in a concrete events
? A number of publications and broadcasts in medias

16.7. Major activities

4. Taking an inventory of tourist recourse
? Preparation of an inquiry card for a registration of tourist spots
? Preparation of an inquiry card for a description of tourist spots
? Preparation of a register of tourist spots on the territory of Sevlievo Municipality

5. Elaboration of Strategy for development of a tourism in Sevlievo Municipality
- Analysis of the obtaining information of taking of inventory
- Holding a working meeting with the interested parties in the sphere of tourism development ? presenting an analysis and supplements and proposals for priorities and a program for their implementation
- Preparation of the basic priorities in the strategy and a project of a plan for implementation of the priorities
- Organizing a public discussion and accepting a strategy and a plan
- Making a proposal for a Municipal Council ? Sevlievo?s resolution for a passing of a strategy and plan, as a part of the Municipal plan for development of Sevlievo Municipality for the period to 2013

6. Elaboration and promotion of the tourist products
- Support of the activities of the Informational center for culture and tourism? furnishing and creating of a website for making its activities popular
- Elaboration of a tourist product which will be tested in the frames of the project
- Elaboration of a brochure and advertising materials for making the developing tourist product popular

16.8 Partnership with GEF SGP proposals/projects

Project 102: Protection of the biological diversity in the region of the rock wreath ?Winding wall?, Nature 2000 zone, Gabrovo Area, which is accomplished by the Local Initiative Group for sustainable tourism, registered on the territory of the Municipality Sevlievo. The project includes activities on the territory of the Municipality Sevlievo, as well as a Group including participants from the Municipality Sevlievo.
Proposal for finance 96: Biological cultivation of herbs and ethereal plants in the area of Gabrovo- Alternative for sustainable using of the lands and additional income

16.9. Sustainability

Finance Sustainability - economical calculations/ business plan etc.
The project is directed to the writing of a Strategy for the developing of ecotourism in Municipality Sevlievo which will give us opportunity for more effective way to receive grants by EU?s programs for the development of Sevlievo Municipality as a tourist destination.
Integration in long-term processes

The created partnership provides propounded and sustainable relationship for the future implementation of the plan.

Human resources

The project provides creating of a human capacity for effective partnership and elaborating of ecotourist products on the territory of Sevlievo Municipality. The people who work in the tourist business can be acquainted and got effective communication.

16.10. Project Budget ? total, from GEF SGP, financial, in-kind - all in Bulgarian leva and percent of total ? ?????? ?? ??????? ? ???, ?? GEF SGP, ????????, ???????? ?????? ? ?????? ? ????????? ?????? ? ????? ???????

24647 leva total, from GEF SGP ? 12107 leva (49%), from the Municipality of Sevlievo-10540 leva (42%) from which financial -6540 leva (26%) and in-kind ? 4000 leva (16%), from the Municipal Tourism Association ? Sevlievo- 2000 leva (8%) from which financial-1600 leva(6%) and in-kind-400 leva (2%).The total own financial contribution is at the rate of 8140 leva (67%).