**American Bicycle Entrepreneur Jim Johnson Visits Varna for Cycling Tourism Opportunities**
Next week, American cycling entrepreneur Jim Johnson will arrive in Varna to explore the potential for cycling tourism in and around the city. His visit is at the invitation of Deyan Kateliev from “VeloWeekend,” who aims to showcase the area’s possibilities for developing cycling routes in the Varna region and Northeastern Bulgaria. In addition to touring potential cycling trail areas, Johnson will meet with experts from Varna’s municipal administration to discuss creating a more recreational environment in the city and connecting Varna to national and European cycling routes. As an advocate for cycling infrastructure accessible to all ages, Johnson is committed to promoting bike-friendly initiatives.
According to Kateliev, the visit’s purpose is to present the Black Sea region as a safe and serene tourist destination, despite recent global challenges. Following the COVID pandemic and the onset of the war, many people view the Black Sea as a critical area, making it difficult to plan long-term visits.
Johnson’s visit is driven by his passion for the Balkans. He is working on a retrospective of his cycling ventures and business, in which Bulgaria will also feature.
Johnson is familiar with the EcoVarna film “Pobiti Kamani – A Story Paved with Waste in the Present Day,” which highlights the neglected tourist potential of the Pobiti Kamani (Stone Desert) site. The film was awarded the “Green Pen” in Dir.bg’s national competition for clean journalism. Pobiti Kamani is seen as a key site that could position Varna not only as a seaside destination but also as a location for a broader range of adventures, Kateliev explains. He adds that the waste problem is just one aspect of the site’s neglect. The article and film raised the question of why local efforts are focused on developing the area as an economic zone, even though the state has initiated efforts to include Pobiti Kamani as a UNESCO site.
Varna and the Black Sea are part of Bulgaria’s national cycling plan. One of the proposed national cycling routes, submitted by Kateliev, runs between Ruse and Varna and passes through the Aksakovo and Suvorovo municipalities, where the natural landmark Pobiti Kamani is located.
Kateliev also announced that the cycling season in the region has already begun. Cycling and nature enthusiasts can participate in monthly cycling weekends, with routes starting just 100-200 meters from Varna. Even those without suitable bicycles can join by renting bikes.
