Lost in Transition? Historical Geographies of World Heritage and Tourism in Bulgaria

Bulgaria's transition from socialism has left its UNESCO-listed Ancient City of Nessebar in a governance limbo, where outdated state-centric models persist despite political upheaval. A qualitative study combining interviews and archival research reveals that heritage tourism remains inefficiently managed, plagued by funding gaps, weak protection mechanisms, and uncertain policies. While the 1989 fall of socialism reshaped global power dynamics, its cultural legacy—particularly in heritage politics—has been overlooked. The findings underscore an urgent need for a new strategy to balance tourism growth with sustainable preservation, challenging post-socialist nations to redefine their approach to World Heritage conservation.

Naumov, N.,. (2024). LOST IN TRANSITION? HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHIES OF WORLD HERITAGE AND TOURISM IN BULGARIA. The 5th Congress of Slavic Geographers and Ethnographers, 81. https://doi.org/10.46793/csge5.51nn