Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
Mario al-Jebouri is head of the Bulgarian State Tourism Agency. He is currently in London at the World Tourism Exhibition, where Bulgaria is presenting its tourism opportunities to a wider public. He was approached by Darik Radio to comment Bulgaria's participation in the exhibition.
Mia Mihailova from Darik News talked to Mario al-Jebouri *
Q: What impressed people most about Bulgaria on the Fair?
A: It's difficult for me to say because I'm not a person that likes to show off ant talk only good things about...
Q: I know it is difficult but please tell a little something about it.
A: I can share my impression. This year Bulgaria presented itself with a great and modern national stand. Neshka Robeva's Ensemble and the Varna Puppet Theatre impressed all visitors of the stand with their artistic program. People who visit the tourism fair visit every year, companies, international representatives of the tourism business came and told me they are very impressed to see such a perfect and professional presentation of the country.
Q: How much money you spent on preparing and building the stand?
A: Bulgaria's stand was built on two levels in order to gain more exhibition space. It is difficult to ask for more space on international fairs because countries have booked their exhibition areas years ago.
Q: But you didn't tell me how much did it cost, because we know how much budget you were granted.
A: We spent a lot. We paid more than GBP 100 000 for renting the exhibition area. Besides, we had to pay the constructors of the stand.
Q: Do you have any money left from advertising or you are already waiting for the next year's budget money?
A: Not really. If the government does not allocate some more funds for us before the end of the year, the State Tourism Agency will stop working.
Q: What are your plans for the near future?
A: We are preparing ourselves for a January tourist exhibition in Stuttgart. We will be a partner in this exhibition so we must be really well prepared. To do that we will need money, which currently we don't have.
Q: How much money do you need?
A: To prepare the exhibition program we'll need around BGN 2,500,000 (EUR 1,278,229).
Q: What revenues do you expect to flow into the Agency from the London exhibition?
A: I cannot really say, because there's a certain time lag before we see the real amount of revenues. I must say that after the presentation of the SPA and balneology centres in the country the interest in Bulgaria as a tourist destination will grow.
Q: What are your expectations for the revenues from tourism in the country's economics?
A: We gained BGN 1,8 B for 2005. I expect a 5% rise for 2006.
* Translated by Lora Petrova
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