Abstract. The report includes an analysis of the current situation, trends and prospects of the resource base for the development of apitourism as an unconventional attractive and specialized type of supporting farmers through agricultural practices. The report presents the resource base (traditions, state, production and marketing of honey). For the aim of the analysis has been used data 0from the National Statistics Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Food beekeepers' associations, processors and traders of honey and bee products, the Ministry of Tourism and tourism industry organizations. The main purpose of the study is to assist companies and individuals in the field of agribusiness and apitourism for the realization of bee products and services.

Abstract

The report summarizes information on the state of the tourism business in Plovdiv after the introduction of Covid-19 restrictive emergency measures, as well as the expectations for the development of tourism in the coming months based on an online survey at the end of April 2020. The report outlines the overall state of the industry as well as the difficulties it faces and the efforts it made to retain employment and towards recovery. The adaptability of the business in the current economic situation and the search for new innovative approaches to attract and welcome tourists are highlighted, in order to reach more potential customers after the end of the state of emergency.

The harmful consequences of Covid-19 mostly influenced the Tourist sector worldwide. The negative trends shaped the fearful reality for all related businesses and involved parties and let them face the challenge to overcome this cruel environment of existence and streamline their future survival and development. To prevent the companies from the environmental threats, and to support their recovery and future stable existence, many different measures at national and regional level were taken. The paper aims at clarifying the influence and efficiency of the carried-out measures in the Tourist sector. The applied methodology is based on the comparative analysis. For this purpose, an online research was conducted in two different periods, and the data was registered through questionnaires containing three structured thematic blocks. The sample consists of 73 representatives, presented by different parties from the Tourist sector in the Plovdiv region. The survey was conducted in the period of April 2020 – April 2021. The provided conclusions and recommendations could serve all institutions at national and regional level, as well as business organizations in their policies. The policy makers and the policy recipients could both benefit from the results of the study in order to reply adequately to the challenges of the surrounding environment and consumer requirements, and thus, to be able to adapt their business and marketing strategies.