site.bta Japanese Ambassador Takashi Koizumi: Bulgaria Attracts Japanese Tourists With Special Interest Tours

Japanese Ambassador Takashi Koizumi: Bulgaria Attracts Japanese Tourists With Special Interest Tours

Sofia, March 9 (BTA) - Special interest tours are recently in the focus as a new wave of tourism in Japan and Bulgaria is capitalizing on this, Japanese Ambassador Takashi Koizumi said in a BTA interview. In one example, he said that a tourist agency is organizing a trip in Bulgaria to what he calls "power spot" places, such as the ancient Thracian town of Perperikon and other ancient places of worship in this country, which have enjoyed good response among the tourists. Another travel agency is planning to organize tours for experts in various fields, such as a tour for architects to get acquainted with period houses or historical buildings in Bulgaria, Ambassador Koizumi said.

He said that last year the Japanese Association of Tour Operators named the Bulgarian mountain town of Koprivshtitsa as one of "30 most beautiful European villages" and voiced expectations that the number of Japanese tourists in Koprivshtitsa will grow.

Ambassador Koizumi sees untapped potential in Bulgarian eco-tourism, SPA and wine tourism, among others, and hopes that the Ministry of Tourism of Bulgaria and other competent organizations will advertise more actively these Bulgarian attractions in Japan.

The Ambassador stressed that the promotion of cooperation in the field of culture and education is most important for maintaining and further developing the friendly relations between Japan and Bulgaria.

The total number of Bulgarian scholarship students included in the Japanese Government Scholarship program has exceeded 500. The Japanese government provides scholarships to over 20 Bulgarian students and postgraduates for one to seven years of study at a Japanese university every year. This number of scholarship students is among the highest in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Ambassador said.

Another telling point for the steady progress in education is the fact that the number of exchange and cooperation agreements between Japanese and Bulgarian educational and research institutions is over 40.

At present, students from Shizuoka University, Soka University and Fukuyama University are studying at Sofia University under these agreements and the Ambassador expects that another university will sign a new agreement for cooperation this year.

He noted that nearly 1,400 young Bulgarians study the Japanese language at universities, primary and secondary schools in Bulgaria. Japan Foundation sends two Japanese lecturers to Sofia University in support of Japanese studies. "I would like to pay great respect to these Bulgarian youths who study eagerly with enthusiasm the Japanese language and culture," Ambassador Koizumi said.

"Today overall bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Japan are very good and our good friendship has become traditional," the Ambassador said. He underscored that two years ago the two countries celebrated the 55th anniversary of the resumption of bilateral diplomatic relations.

He recalled that last year Bulgaria saw the 26th edition of the Days of Japanese Culture with a programme that featured 14 cultural events across the country.
The Nihon Tomono-kai Club of Friends of Japan, chaired by Konstantin Glavanakov, a former ambassador of Bulgaria to Japan, plays a special role for the success of the Days of Japanese Culture, said the Ambassador. The Club includes over 40 organizations, including clubs for the traditional Japanese arts of ikebana and tea ceremony, karate, aikido, educational institutions teaching Japanese language, among others.

Koizumi singled out several Bulgarian cultural events held in Japan last year: the Sofia Boys Choir performed 18 concerts throughout the country, the Sofia National Opera had a concert tour for the sixth time in Japan and it was highly appreciated each time, and the Exhibition of the Golden Legend, which includes exhibits from the treasuries of Valchidren and Panagyurishte, was held in the National Museum of Western Arts in Tokyo.

Currently, some 130 Japanese people are long-term residents in Bulgaria, the Ambassador said. Fourty, most of them with a Bulgarian spouse, reside in Bulgaria permanently. In addition, several Japanese retirees have chosen to spend their life after retirement in and around the mountain town of Shipka. "I hear that most of these people are well integrated into the Bulgarian society and their Bulgarian neighbours are taking good care of them, so they live comfortably," said the Ambassador.
In the field of economy, a trend of increasing trade volumes and exports from Bulgaria to Japan has been observable in recent years.

Koizumi said that Bulgarian rose oil enjoys a growing popularity in his homeland and 5-6 Japanese companies are importing it from Bulgaria. It is used in the cosmetic industry and goes into products like toothpaste, hair shampoo, and even spices and sweets. The popularity of rose oil is unlikely to decline, the Ambassador said.
Having spent eleven years in Bulgaria on three diplomatic assignments, Ambassador Koizumi has seen Bulgaria under socialism, during the period of its collapse and transition to democracy and now as an EU Member. He says he has seen tremendous change in the political and social system during these three periods. "The only thing that has not changed at all is the warm heart and cordial behaviour of Bulgarians and their hospitality," Koizumi said. "Among those Japanese who have visited Bulgaria, I have never met a single person with bad impressions of Bulgaria. Almost all Japanese become fans of Bulgaria after their visit and stay there."

Ambassador Koizumi hopes that Bulgarians will never lose the virtues he so appreciates." If, however, we consider how many talented Bulgarian youngsters are leaving abroad, I think that Bulgaria needs to become more attractive for Bulgarians themselves", Koizumi said in conclusion.