Founding and Structure
The Bulgarian Association for Rural and Ecological Tourism was founded on 14 February 1995 in the town of Byala Cherkva, Veliko Tarnovo Region and received official registration in June the same year. In addition to the individual members, the Association has many collective members: municipal administrations, village and town councils, natural park administrations, non-governmental organizations, and companies.
BARET Governance:
The General Meeting - the main decision-making body
Management Committee - elected by the General Meeting
Control Committee - elected by the General Meeting
Chairman of the Management Committee (elected by the Management Committee) - Dr. Peter Petrov, Ph.D.
- The State Agency for Tourism - in working groups on tourism legislation
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Foods
- The Ministry of Environment and Water
- The National Council of Tourism (on rotational principle)
- The Commission for Consumer Protection
- The National Agency for Vocational Education and Training
- The Union for Economic Initiative
- The Bulgarian Tourist Chamber - collective membership
- The Bulgarian Association of Tourist Agencies (BATA) - associated membership
- The National Tourism Education Council
- The Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHRA)
- The Mountain Guides Association
- The Association of Bulgarian Tour Guides
- The National Balneotouristic Federation
- The Institute of Geography, Bulgarian Academy of Science
- Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park
- Sinite kamani Nature Park
- Rusenski Lom Nature Park
- The Department of Geology and Geography of the University of Sofia "St. Kliment Ohridski"
- Machirski Sport and Tourism Club
- Center for Civil Society Development "Protecta", Nish, Serbia
- Bio-B-Eco Regional Association, Borino District, Smolyan Region
- Stara Planina Regional Tourist Association
- The tourism councils of Pavlikeni, Stara Zagora, Lukovit, Tran, Kyustendil, Chiprovtsi, Panagurishte, Banite, Veliko Tarnovo, Elena, Koprivshtitsa
- Over 40 municipalities and town councils