[size=75:2896gcv7]Sofia echo 2 April 2010

Off the beaten track

To discover the authentic heart of Bulgaria you ahould avoid the usual well-trodden paths leading to the overcrowded Black Sea and mountain resorts and explore the many charming small towns and villages in secluded areas.

In order for nature buffs to find the most environmentally-compliant attraction, the Bulgarian Association for Alternative Tourism (BAAT) has come up with the Green Lodge label (The Bulgarian term is Zelena Kushta, which literally means "
Green House"
) a quality mark bestowed on select bed and breakfast establishments and small hotels that have upheld the highest standards for their authenticity, care for nature and respect for sustainable tourism.

BAAT is a non-profit public benefit organisation, established in 1998, with more than 90 members: national and regional tourist councils, nature parks, tour operators offering specialised tourism, family hotels, guest houses and individuals.

The Green Lodge honour is not easily won. To qualify, establishments must pass strict rules compatible with European criteria. They must be able to prove themselves capable of providing guests with excellent service while being totally non-threatening to surrounding nature and maintaining the highest standards of environmental consciousness.

Embracing nature
The designation of the award is entirely voluntary – in other words guest houses choose to apply for the distinction. Not everyone who applies wins the award, although the mere nomination itself can be approved and upheld separately.

Hosts of the guest houses that are bestowed with the Green Lodge are local people – usually longstanding residents and families of the areas concerned – who have paid special attention to surrounding nature and culture and who can guide you to interesting sites. Ideally, your stay at a Green Lodge should make you feel the charm of traditional everyday life and authentic local cuisine.

The host of a Green Lodge establishment should also be able to teach visitors about traditional artisanship in the area. Not that this is all a one-way process;
guests are encouraged to care for the environment themselves by supporting local initiatives, such as planting trees, and forsaking their cars for either local public transport, bicycles and horse-riding, or simply walking.

According to Lyubomir Popiordanov, chair of BAAT: "
The Green Lodges aspire to achieve sustainability – to be energy efficient, to preserve local customs and architecture, and to represent local food and drinks. In the age of raging globalisation, Green Lodges are an example of responsible business and travelling."


Unique
A Green Lodge should contain evidence of the hosts’ interest in sustainable performance. These efforts are in several directions:

1. Support of environmental-friendly agriculture and efficient use of energy and water. This can embrace anything from restricting the water pressure on taps or the water used in flushing a toilet.

2. Active waste reduction policy, for example, installing separate bins for refuse collection.

3. Contribution to nature protection, scrupulously avoiding polluting the environment.

4. Focus on cultural heritage, educating visitors about traditional local practices that are passed down the generations.

5. Contribution to the local economy

6. Environmental information services to guests

7. Continuous improvement of environmental performance

Each Green Lodge is unique, hopefully making guests feel at home and engaging them on a journey of personal discovery. The first winner of the Green Lodge award, which was first introduced in 2008, was Hotel Toma in Sliven in southeastern Bulgaria. A complete list of those establishments accepted for nomination, as well as those awarded the Green Lodge certificate, is available on the BAAT website.