Academics Propose Several Messages to Present Bulgaria's Tourism Product

Dimitrina Solakova, Ekaterina Toteva

The BG Tourism - Winter 2024/2025 forum, village of Banya, Razlog Municipality, Southern Bulgaria, December 13, 2024 (BTA Photo/Krassimir Nikolov)

Banya village, Southern Bulgaria,

13.12.2024 19:32

(BTA)

At a tourism forum organized by BTA here on Friday, representatives of the academic community proposed several messages with which to present Bulgaria's tourism product. The scientists also highlighted the need for State support for the promotion of tourism in the regions.

Neofit Rilski South-West University Rector Nikolay Marin called on the caretaker Minister of Tourism to try to find funds to promote Bulgaria. The local authorities are making a lot of efforts, but the State should support them in advertising, Marin argued. "Tourism is always a topic that seemingly unites us, but it is also one of the topics that divide us, as we start to have disputes - which neighbouring country, what tourist product offers better prices and better conditions," he commented. According to him, Bulgaria, as a unique tourist destination, has different types of tourism and it is very difficult to unite all these tourist products under one logo or one brand. "For me, the challenge is how to unite Bulgarian tourism. If traditions are the first unifying point, let us put them together with hospitality as a brand on which we can unite," the scholar suggested. Another focus is security and competitiveness. Bulgaria is also the country offering the most comprehensive tourism - wine, spa, ski, sea, pilgrimage. For the latter, the scientist pointed out that Bulgaria can offer common religious cultural routes with Greece; this is also a priority for world tourism - to create common tourism products. According to him, however, Bulgaria should derive its national interest from this wide-ranging tourism.

The head of the Department of Economics of Tourism at the University of National and World Economy (UNWE), Prof. Mariana Yaneva, pointed out that next year the Department will celebrate its 30th anniversary. "In the last two years, we have made a serious effort to connect with business and local executives and have held ten Brand Bulgaria, Hospitality in Four Seasons forums," the scholar said. She stressed the importance of talking to students about the positive competitive aspects of Bulgarian tourism so that they would want to get involved in the sector. Among the messages for this winter season, she highlighted "Snow, Sun, Spa and Balneo".

Prof. Elenita Velikova from the Department of Economics of Tourism at the UNWE pointed out that for her, it is important what the main competitive advantage of Bulgaria is. She listed quality, authenticity, style. These are very strong words with which Bulgaria could present itself so as to attract the right tourists to come and enjoy the tourism experience, she added.

The Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the University of Food Technologies in Plovdiv, Prof. Valentina Nikolova-Alexieva, said that apart from food technology, the university also trains students in tourism, hotel and restaurant management. "Currently, we are also training foreign students in gastronomy and tourism, which is a new pilot project of the university, for which we won the Educational Innovation Award," she said. She noted that foreigners are impressed by Bulgaria's hospitality, warmth, traditional dishes and, in her words, they recognize Bulgaria as a cosmopolitan country, with an ancient culture and the centre of many cultures. For this reason, according to her, Bulgaria's tourism message should include not only the possibility of practicing thermal and spa tourism but also "the magnetism, the mystery of Bulgaria, the warmth, hospitality and antiquity of our country".

Friday's forum in Banya was organized by BTA in partnership with the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism (BUBSPA). It was the sixth edition of BTA's tourism forums held twice every year at the beginning of the summer and winter tourist seasons to discuss the messages in the presentation of tourism in Bulgaria in the coming season with representatives of state and municipal institutions, the tourism business, NGOs, scientists and experts. The list of participants Friday's forum included caretaker Minister of Tourism Evtim Miloshev, Deputy Tourism Minister Irena Georgieva, the President’s advisor for environment, Rossitsa Karamfilova-Blagova, BTA Director General Kiril Valchev, BUBSPA Ambassador Meglena Plugchieva, BUBSPA Secretary General Tsvetina Ivanova, and local mayors. Also participating were Bulgarian National Radio Director General Milen Mitev, Anton Andonov, member of the Board of Bulgarian National Television, Dimitar Anestev, producer of news at bTV, Alexander Raykov, producer of the newsroom planning at Nova TV, Council of Electronic Media member Gabriela Naplatanova, representatives of hotel and restaurant businesses.

/DS/