96 Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 13, Suppl. 1, 2015 Trakia Journal of Sciences, Vol. 13, Suppl. 1, pp 96-102, 2015 Copyright © 2015 Trakia University Available online at: http://www.uni-sz.bg ISSN 1313-7069 (print) doi:10.15547/tjs.2015.s.01.016 ISSN 1313-3551 (online) ROLE OF DESTINATION MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING ORGANIZATIONS IN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT S. Timareva 1* , E. Arabska 2 , I. Shopova 1 1 Department of Regional development and tourism, University of Agribusiness and Rural Development, Plovdiv, Bulgaria 2 Department of Agribusiness and General Science, University of Agribusiness and Rural Development, Plovdiv, Bulgaria ABSTRACT In recent years Destination Management and Marketing Organization (DMMOs) became a mainstream factor in identifying successful development of a destination and its perspectives for better position in highly competitive tourism markets. They are not only representing a specific destination but are also striving to community development that bring long-term benefits such as attracting more visitors, increasing the economic gains, facilitating future marketing and product development decisions, and generally contributing to regional development through improving community relations and partnership. The paper discusses the roles of the DMMOs in destination management and their structure in relation to regional development. The destination mix elements of Plovdiv and the region and networking realities are presented. Plovdiv is rapidly establishing itself as a tourism destination in Europe and is working hard to strengthen the links between all tourism stakeholders directly or indirectly connected to the destination management. The city’s destination management is analysed based on certain activities of organizations involved in tourism development and some recommendations are given. Key words: sustainable development, tourism, destination mix, rural, networking. INTRODUCTION The processes of globalization and urbanization in modern world have led to a number of challenges before states and international community connected to sustainable regional development and policies targeted to overcoming economic disparities, strengthening social inclusion, reducing poverty and assuring safe and quality food and healthy living environment. Regional development is influenced by various factors as: market orientation, standard wage rate, competitiveness, structure of qualification, development of regional employment structure, soft factors considering life quality (1). Most often regional development is discussed in the context of rural areas as the ones in the worst status regarding economic and social development, which is the object of _____________________________ *Correspondence to: Stefka Timareva, Faculty of Economics and Management, Department of Regional development and tourism, University of Agribusiness and Rural Development, Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 78 Dunav Blvd., Plovdiv 4003, tel. +359 889 862654, fax +359 32 960 406, stefkatim@abv.bg different strategic documents for future development in the years till 2020 on European and national level. Development of rural regions in the new program period 2014-2020 in Bulgaria will be marked by special support measures in the field of environmental protection, good agricultural practice and raise of attractiveness not only through encouragement of agricultural activities, forestry and protected areas but also through diversification of activities, incl. tourism development (2). Tourism is a key sector of the EU economy. There are many official reports and surveys that support with numbers this statement and highlight the importance of analyses in trends influencing tourism development (3-5). Tourism is scrutinized as an inducer of positive changes for regional development in three different directions: as a conservation tool, as a social catalyst and as an income and employment opportunity (6). Responsible tourism is determined as “the most economically, socially and environmentally efficient approach, a real opportunity for