State, trends and perspectives for the development of extreme tourism in Bulgaria (presenting the case of the off-road "Bulgaria trophy challenge 2017")

Abstract

The intenselife style at the beginning of the 21 st century implies a development of new alternative forms of tourism, related to relaxation, maintenance of good health and recovery of physical and mental balance. Seekers of strong sensations are usually active consumers of specific tourist services, and this is why the extreme forms of tourism are dynamically introduced and offered on the Bulgarian tourist market. The aim of this research is to study the attitudes among participants and observers of one of the most extreme sports in Bulgaria-the off-road. There search aims to show how the conditions of the events satisfy tourists, what their preferences are to improve and diversify their vacation. There search methods used are the following: statistical, historical, comparative analysis, regional analysis, survey. The assessment of this type of tourism is rather positive and based generally on the possibility of combining active recreation with sports, where there are strong sensations and high adrenaline; the possibility of combining extreme forms of tourism with the so called event tourism, which allows the participants to be involved in a particular community; going beyond the traditional everyday life, based on a strongly urbanized lifestyle with high levels of stress and tension.