Evaluation of the tourist functions of protected areas: A case study of Shumen Plateau Nature Park

Protected territories have great potential for nature-based forms of tourism. These specific forms of tourism have also been considered as a tool for developing sustainable forms of tourism. Therefore, they have been a subject of scientific research in recent years. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the tourist functions of the Shumen Plateau Nature Park in North-East Bulgaria. It is among the small natural parks in terms of area, but it is a valuable natural site among the vast, highly anthropogenically modified territory of the eastern part of the Danube plain. By using the survey method, the study determines the overall recognition of the area and analyzes the visitors opinions regarding the tourist use of the park territory. According to the results of this study the Shumen Plateau Nature Park has potential for protection and management of natural processes and, in parallel, an opportunity for the development of sustainable tourism and the implementation of ecological-educational and tourist programs. Visitors are well aware of the possibilities for tourism and sports, while they do not take advantage of all possibilities, but only the ones that are a priority for them. 100% of respondents answer positively when asked Would you visit the Shumen Plateau again?. Further research could combine more innovative and mixed methodologies to broaden the research interest.