At the start of April 2008, Bulgaria’s State Agency for Tourism (SAT) came up with the final version of the national strategy for sustainable development of tourism in Bulgaria between 2008 and 2013.
Bulgaria’s Ministry of Environment and Water Affairs was now discussing the strategy, SAT head Anelia Kroushkova told a news conference. The strategy was first presented in the end of January 2008 and was offered for public discussion until the end of February 2008. It is the first serious attempt for a national tourism strategy made in the past 15 years.
According to the document, the average annual increase of the revenue from tourism would be 20 per cent. If income from foreign tourists in 2007 was 2.4 billion euro, in 2013 the amount should increase three times to six billion euro, Kroushkova said, as quoted by Dnevnik daily.
The strategy identifies several strong points of Bulgaria as a tourist destination, among which beautiful and relatively clean environment; an image of a relatively safe destination; the hospitality of local population; new or renovated tourist accommodations; good price-quality ratio and legislation that regulates the tourism business. The weak points are the lack of an easily recognisable image of the country as a destination; underdeveloped infrastructure away from tourist areas; insufficiently experienced and trained personnel; unsatisfactory co-ordination of state institutions; relative neglect of the domestic market; the attraction of insolvent tourists and the involvement of the shadow economy in the tourism business.
The four strategic goals of the strategy are positioning Bulgaria as a tourist destination for richer tourists; improved competitiveness and efficiency of the sector by using natural landmarks and human resources; improvement of the infrastructure and implementation of international standards, best European practices and innovative products.
Once the environment ministry approves the strategy, all other ministries and the Cabinet have to approve it as well, which will take several months.
Whether the strategy turns out successful is yet to be seen, but tourism companies have already said that the forecast annual revenue increase is unrealistic. Kroushkova countered with the argument that if hotel owners declared their real revenues, the increase could indeed reach 20 per cent. However, big tour operators’ data showed that in 2008 some of the main markets will scarcely keep up with the figures from the previous year or register only a slight increase. Others, such as the Scandinavian market, are showing an unexpected decrease. Only the Russian market is expected to report double-digit growth.
One should not forget the serious and long-standing problems Bulgarian resorts have with over-construction, infrastructure failures and service quality – not a factor that will attract crowds to diminishing, dirty and over-crowded beaches. If the sector fails to solve these problems, it risks instead to turn from an inexpensive to a cheap destination, something both authorities and business are keen to avoid.
Short Play for a Child’s Room What: The play resulted from a fortunate – and unlikely – encounter between director Galin Stoev and playwright Yana Borissova’s debut text. When: May 24 and 29 Where: Theatre 199
Valentine’s Day What: One of the most popular contemporary Russian playwrights, Ivan Vyrypaev has chosen for his play’s motto the words of an Arabian philosopher: “There are only two things – love and love.” When: May 22 Where: Little City Theatre off the Channel
Three Sisters What: Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters is a play about the things that never happen and the sophisticated sadness and despair of the characters. When: May 21 and 30 Where: Nikolai Binev Youth Theatre
Lazarus and Jesus What: Based on Emilian Stanev’s apocrypha, Lazarus and Jesus aims to excite interest in the “damned questions” raised by the author and to argue against the assertion that Bulgarian literature is limited mostly to the regional and the untranslatably Bulgarian. When: May 18 Where: Sfumato Theatre-Workshop
16th International Istanbul Theatre Festival What: two weeks of theatre and dance performances from around the globe When: May 15 to June 4 Where: Istanbul
The Taming of the Shrew (premiere) What: Director Marius Kurkinski returns to the stage of the Satirical Theatre with this Shakespearean comedy, which was one of the master’s earlier plays. When: May 10, 19 and 26 Where: Aleko Konstantinov Satirical Theatre, Sofia
Cultural Institutes
Salon of the Arts What: The annual Salon of the Arts features tens of exhibitions, concerts and performances. For a complete programme, stop by the Ticket centre at the National Palace of Culture (NDK) When: May 11 to June 30 Where: National Palace of Culture, Sofia
Art
Sofia, Paris, Strasbourg What: A joint project by the National Academy of Arts in Sofia, the Ecole Superieure d’arts graphiques – Penninghen and the Ecole superieure des arts decoratifs, Strasbourg, focusing on the Cyrillic alphabet with a newspaper theme. When: Opens May 8 Where: Akademia, 1 Shipka Str, Sofia
ART POSITIVE 2008: FRAGMENT What: exhibition with the participation of 14 Plovdiv artists When: Until May 25 Where: Centre for Contemporary Art - Plovdiv arttoday.org
Live Music
KYLIE MINOGUE What: Indisputably, one of the major concerts in Bulgaria in 2008 will be that of pop icon Kylie Minogue. Ticket prices vary from 40 to 50 leva. When: May 18 Where: Lokomotiv Stadium
JAZZ PLUS FESTIVAL 2008 What: Jan Garbarek Group featuring Manu Katche, Alboran Trio, Roberto Fonseca, Luisito Quintero. Tickets at 20 and 25 leva, available from Dyukyan Meloman, Bulgaria Hall, NDK box office, eventim.bg and ticketstream.bg. When: May 15, 17, 18 and 29 Where: NDK, Bulgaria Hall and 4km Party Center
After Business Club What: weekly mixers When: Wednesdays, 8pm Where: Chillout Bar & Dinner, 5 Triaditsa Str
RONI SIZE DJ SET What: The Sofia gig of the world-famous drum ’n’ bass DJ Roni Size will be the first in a series of events presenting legendary performers from the global drum ’n’ bass scene. When: May 17 Where: Hristo Botev Hall in Studentski Grad
WORLD BEAT NIGHTS – DANCING AROUND THE GLOBE What: Three more World Beat Nights – Dancing Around The Globe parties will be held in May. When: May 16, 23 and 30. May 16: African Night, May 23: The Latino Friday and May 30: Arabian Night. Where: Club Pulse
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