Bulgaria’s participation at this year's edition of the International World Travel Market in London went under the motto Bulgaria – A Discovery to Share. Along with traditional opportunities for summer and winter tourism, this country has attracted the attention of tour operators with its opportunities for spa, eco, rural, cultural and historical tourism. Despite the key nature of cultural and historical tourism behind Bulgaria being a year-round tourist destination, the number of tourists from the United Kingdom who choose to visit this country for this type of experience is smaller than that of tourists from Spain or German-speaking countries, Venelin Popov, a manager of a tour operator, says. In an interview with BNR, Mr. Popov also said that these types of tourists are usually over 55 years old and they have already visited the most popular tourist destinations such as Italy and Greece and are now turning their eyes to Bulgaria.

When it comes to price - quality ratio, Bulgaria is extremely competitive, Venelin Popov says:

"It's not about a cheap product but about the quality the customer gets in the package price. Bulgaria is competitive, because for the high value of the tourist product. Tourists have a permanent guide who is continuously with them from the beginning to the end of their trip. Transportation is modern and hotel and restaurant services are of high quality. Additional experiences like folklore programs, meetings with local people and others are also organized."

The ancient history and the big number of artifacts discovered in Bulgaria would certainly be of interest to many foreign tourists. However, Bulgaria’s historical heritage is not sufficiently popularized. The budget for advertising is not sufficient, especially considering that tourism industry generates more than 10 percent of the country's gross domestic product, Venelin Popov says.

Editor: Yoan Kolev (based on an interview for BNR)

English: Alexander Markov