The Black Sea Sustainable Tourism Observatory (BBSCO) is developed and hosted within the Research and Development Institute for Tourism Innovation, one of the core structural units of University of Economics – Varna
The Institute provides the organisational, administrative, and research framework for the establishment and operation of the Observatory. It is specifically designed to conduct theoretical and applied research and to support the development and implementation of innovations in tourism, in line with global trends in technological advancement, sustainable tourism development, the national tourism policy of the Republic of Bulgaria, and the strategic priorities of the University of Economics – Varna.
BBSCO is implemented as a project under the academic and operational umbrella of the Institute, ensuring:
- a stable institutional environment;
- access to research infrastructure and expertise;
- integration of monitoring activities with applied research and innovation processes.
The Observatory is closely linked to the Department of Economics and Organisation of Tourism, which contributes academic expertise, analytical capacity, and sectoral knowledge essential for sustainable tourism monitoring and evidence-based decision-making.
Through its host institution, BBSCO supports the practical use of research results to:
- enhance tourism education and training;
- strengthen the competitiveness of Bulgaria as a tourism destination;
- build the reputation of the University of Economics – Varna as a research centre for innovative and sustainability-oriented tourism studies.