The Regional Tourist Association “Rhodopi” was established on 30th January 2003 in the city of Smolyan by representatives of 64 tourist organizations, private companies, local authorities and state institutions. Among the founders are the municipalities of Smolyan, Chepelare, Zlatograd, Banite, Dospat and Madan; The Smolyan Regional Government; The Union of the Rhodopean Hoteliers and Caterers; The Union “Pamporovo 21st Century”; The Union of Hoteliers, Caterers and Traders “Chepelare”; The Tourist Councils and the Tourist Unions in the villages of Orehovo, Mogilitza, Shiroka Luka, Momchilovtzi and Trigrad; The Planetarium in Smolyan; tourist agencies; hotels; etc.

The main objective of the Regional Tourist Association “Rhodopi” is to promote the sustainable development of tourism in the region of Smolyan through assisting the protection of the environment and the cultural and historical heritage of the mountain; its adaptation to the needs of tourism in order to quicken the creation of alternative means of living for the population and increasing of its income.
Some of the main activities of the association are:
1. Registration and efficient use of the tourist, natural and man-made resources.
2. Development of the tourist base and infrastructure through improving the coordination in development and implementation of regional projects and investment programs.
3. Promotion and advertising the opportunities for tourism in the Central Rhodopes.
4. Assisting the improvement of the quality of the tourist services in the region and enriching the components of the tourist product in the Rhodopes.
5. Assisting the education and qualification of the tourist personnel, as well as introducing up-to-date technologies and know-how in the tourist services.
6. Supporting regional data and photo base for the needs of marketing surveys and advertising campaigns of the tourism in the Smolyan region.