About
Mountains and People – Bulgarian Association of Mountain Leaders and Mountain Guides
Mountains and People – Bulgarian Association of Mountain Leaders and Mountain Guides
Goals
Mountain guiding has a history of more than 200 years. In Bulgaria, as a profession, it is associated with the activities of Mountains and People – Bulgarian Association of Mountain Leaders and Mountain Guides. Founded on 12.11.1997, as a voluntary non-profit association, it unites individuals and legal entities emotionally and professionally connected to the mountains, with common professional and hobby interests. The association cares about creating an ethical mountaineering culture and supports the preservation of nature in the mountains and the well-being of local communities.
The main goal of the association is to make the profession of Mountain Leader recognizable, respected, desirable and socially useful. Through the professional growth of its members and their example, the association promotes both the sustainable development of mountain and adventure tourism, as well as the responsible practice of sports in a natural environment.
Основна цел на сдружението е да превърне професията на планинския водач в една разпознаваема, обществено полезна, уважавана и желана професия. Чрез професионалното израстване на своите членове и техния пример, АПХ насърчава развитието на устойчив и отговорен планински и приключенски туризъм, както и на практикуването на спортове сред природата.
Mission
The association contributes to increasing the ecological culture in the mountains. It supports and participates in working groups for the construction and improvement of infrastructure and marking in the mountains, as well as advises on the safety of climbing sites. It works for the public recognition and understanding of mountain guiding as a protected profession. The association fights for an ethical mountaineering culture as part of the culture in tourism. It creates adequate expectations among consumers and raises their awareness about mountain tourism. As part of its mission, the association organizes and conducts courses for Mountain Leaders at a world-class level.
Activities
Following its mission and goals, Mountains and People Association and its members participate in projects, initiatives, in working groups and conduct specialized courses with the aim of improving professional qualifications.
Mountains and People Association is active across the border representing its members and Bulgaria in the Union of International Mountain Leader Associations (UIMLA).
The association carries out its activities in cooperation with related institutions and organizations working for the protection of the mountains and the development of mountain tourism and specialized infrastructure, such as trail marking, etc.
Mountains and People – Bulgarian Association of Mountain Leaders and Mountain Guides supports its members with the following activities:
• Conducting Continuing Professional Development training seminars (CPD) according to the international standard of UIMLA.
• Working on the legal framework of the profession and in favor of solving problems facing its practice.
• Engaging institutions with events and cases representing illegal practice of the profession.
• Maintaining an up-to-date “Mountain Leader code of ethics”, adopted at the General Assembly of the association in 2019.
• Supporting events related to mountaineering culture in Bulgaria.
• Consulting.
• Holding meetings with the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and other institutions.
Association management
Board of directors
Lubomir Popiordanov
Chairman, teacher at the association’s training center
Anastas Velichkov
Mountain Leader, teacher at the association’s training center
Georgi Palahutev
Mountain Leader, Tour Guide, teacher at the association’s training center
Alexander Serafimov
Mountain Leader
Nikolay Pavlov
Director of the association’s training center, teacher and Mountain Leader
Supervisory board
Supervisory board
Vania Crombois
Chairman, Mountain Leader
Doni Filipov
Mountain Leader
Nadezhda Karastoyanova
Mountain Leader
Chairman's Advice
The mountains are our home and a source of inspiration. Let’s put aside our egos and personal ambitions and link our best ideas to the sustainable development of the mountains. They are under threat and we must do our best to protect them and pass them on to the generations after us, cleaner, with richer flora and fauna.
Lubomir Popiordanov
Chairman
The profession of Mountain Leader
Our vision
To turn the Bulgarian mountains into a beloved and desirable place for active and adventure tourism, where laws are respected, mutual assistance and respect are fundamental among professionals, and licensed Mountain Leaders and Mountain Guides have a leading role.
What to expect from a Mountain Leader who has completed a course at the training center of Mountains and People Association?
- He/she knows and loves Bulgaria and can’t wait to tell you about its history, culture and nature.
- He/She communicates with the mountain and does not consume it.
- He/She is energetic, organized and precise in his/her work.
- He/She has self-confidence and faith in his/her abilities.
- He/She puts the safety and success of your trip above all else.
- He/She takes responsibility for his/her decisions and guarantees your wellbeing.
- He/She makes you more confident and knowledgeable, and develops in you a desire to travel in a different, memorable, but also sustainable way.
- He/She is the person you can trust.