Bulgaria's fledgling convention tourism industry is held back by the lack of contemporary well-equipped congress centers, the poor quality of service and sparse leisure options, chairperson of the State Tourism Agency (STA) Anelia Kroushkova said.

Bulgaria could be raking in $100 million annually from convention tourism, she said. The segment is very lucrative with business travelers estimated to be spending 1500 euro duirng an average three-day stay.

Incoming business travelers fell to 375 000 in 2007 from 400 000 a year earlier. But numbers are once again perking up in the first quarter of 2008, when Bulgaria welcomed some 100 000 business travelers, up 20 per cent over the same period of 2007, Kroushkova said.

The industry is struggling to keep up with demand as most convention centers are small to medium in size and located mainly in Sofia, Kroushkova said. The STA is expected to soon present a blueprint for the development of the local convention tourism sector.