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Encouraging Czech tourism
Sofia Echo Com, 26.02.2005
BULGARIA got a new Ministry of Culture and Tourism, which warmed the hearts of lots of tour operators hoping to find more support from the state in employing the country’s cultural riches in their business. Although the actual reason for the move was somewhat obscure in the speech of Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, announcing the change on February 21, it managed to send a positive signal to entrepreneurs that have long ago seen the advantage of utilising the millennia-old history of Bulgaria. The newly appointed Minister of Culture and Tourism Nina Chilova has not yet made any statements on how she plans to operate the quite unusual for Bulgaria ministerial combination but her education and experience in the filed of law and economy is feeding the hopes that the tourist sector might have been placed in the hands of a true manager. Meanwhile, some steps initiated in the past 10 days are certain to bring more Czech tourists in Bulgaria, and they have always been eager to come to the Black Sea, instead of visiting the historical monuments of this country. But of course this is a trend that will also change, experts expect. Bulgaria expects to sign an agreement on co-operation in tourism with the Czech Republic in late May, the already former Deputy Economy Minister, responsible for tourism, Dimitar Hadjinikolov said on February 18. The same day he met in Prague with Ivana Hanacikova, director of tourism at the Czech ministry of regional development. Hadjinikolov was leading the delegation for the seventh participation of Bulgaria in the Holiday World travel industry fair that was held in Prague. The two have decided that a Bulgarian-Czech working meeting will also be held at the end of May to exchange expertise on the utilisation of EU structural funds and the drawing up of projects in tourism. The flow of Czech tourists to Bulgaria is expected to increase 30 per cent in 2005 for the second consecutive year, Czech tour operators told Hadjinikolov over a working breakfast at the Bulgarian Embassy in Prague, which was also attended by the executive director of Bulgaria’s Agency on Tourism Bisser Yalumov. The number of Czech tourists travelling to Bulgaria has been growing continuously over the last three years and is expected to increase further. In 2004, Bulgaria was visited by 102 000 tourists from that country. This means that Bulgaria is regaining its position as a popular destination preferred by Czech holiday-makers. The leading Czech tour operator, Alexandria, is planning to invest substantially in the Bulgarian summer resorts Primorsko and Tsarevo. “Bulgaria: Hit of Summer 2005” was the banner welcoming guests at the stall of Alexandria, the tour operator with the largest number of Czech tourist bookings for Bulgaria. The largest Czech tour operator Cedok has also confirmed its intention to invest in holiday villages along the southern Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. “Bulgaria is currently the best place for investments in tourism,” Cedok managing director Miroslav Res said at his meeting with Hadjinikolov. Res said the arguments in favour of his statement include the low corporate tax in Bulgaria, the excellent nature conditions for the development of tourism, the good quality of services and Bulgarian hospitality. At Bulgaria’s news conference within the fair the main stress was laid on the opportunities for year-round vacationing and development of cultural and historical tourism in this country. Czech journalists were also interested in the latest Thracian archaeological finds in Bulgaria. see source
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