Over-construction at Bulgarian Black Sea resorts was the main issue that tourist representatives raised at the IBF tourism expo in Berlin held from March 5 to 11. This was announced on March 8 by the head of the Bulgarian State Agency for Tourism (SAT) Anelia Kroushkova during an interview with radio Deutsche Welle.
According to Kroushkova, building opportunities in the popular sea resorts have already been exhausted. Moreover, the chaotic construction is the main reason for the outflow of tourists, Kroushkova said. The future of the resorts now depends on the funds that investors at the Black Sea coast will spend on maintenance.
She spoke particularly of hotels. Bulgarian tourism can attract more well-off tourists should it keep the quality of tourist complexes and the good customer service.
“At present, hotels are of good quality. They are almost brand new, attractive, with good customer service. If we manage to keep the quality of our tourist service for the next five or six years, or even 10, we could rely on a good inflow of tourists,” Kroushkva said.
However, a lack of further investments in the next five or six years would mean that hotels would wear out and in 10 years’ time they could turn into “graveyards”, Kroushkova said. Logistics starts from the transfer of tourists from the airport, and continues with the way they are provided for throughout their entire stay in Bulgaria, she said.
On March 12, the SAT told The Sofia Echo that on March 18 a meeting between representative of the SAT, regional mayors and other state representatives would be held in Bourgas. The aim of the meeting is to discuss ways to maintain Black Sea resorts’ reputation in Bulgaria.
During the forum, Kroushkova met the secretary-general of the World Tourism Organisation, Francesco Frangialli. The two discussed the development of the tourism sector in Bulgaria and the situation at the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Representatives of the organisation said that at the Black Sea resorts in Bulgaria a steady development of tourism was needed, which should be co-ordinated with the wishes of tourists, while keeping in mind the preservation of nature.
Kroushkova also met the president of German Tourism Industry, Klaus Laepple, Focus news agency reported on March 8. Kroushkova raised the issue that Bulgaria was currently experiencing problems in terms of lack of skilled workers in the tourism sphere. Establishing partnership programmes in tourist vocational training was the central topic.
The two discussed the chances of establishing branches of German vocational training high schools in the hotelier and restaurateur industry, as well as consultancy and technological help in developing a national tourist information System. Laepple and Kroushkova considered how to position and strengthen Bulgaria as a brand not only in Germany but also on the European tourist market. Future advertising campaigns were also a subject of discussion. Laepple made a commitment to promote Bulgaria to huge hotel chains for investment.
Meanwhile, Donka Sokolova, the head of the Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators, said on March 11 that this summer season Bulgaria is expecting an increase of seven to eight per cent in German tourists, daily 24 Chassa reported. Before the IBF tourism expo took place, rumours had it that this year there would be a decrease in German tourists.
“Before the exhibition, we were quite worried, but now we are more optimistic,” Sokolova said. According to her, Bulgaria cannot expect a boom in German tourists as was seen five years ago, but in comparison with last year, their number will be higher. This was due to what Bulgaria can offer in terms of spa and cultural tourism.
Kroushkova confirmed this. During an interview with Bulgarian National Radio, she said that all tourist agencies she spoke to during the Berlin expo said that this summer season there would be an increase of German tourists.
