Bulgaria to Launch Tourism Promotional Campaign in Romania

Deputy Tourism Minister Ivo Marinov has informed that Bulgaria will launch an integrated promotional campaign in 2013 on the Romanian market financed under the Regional Development Operational Program.

Marinov took part in the third presentation of Bulgaria as an all year-round tourist destination which took place in Bucharest at the initiative of the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism (MIET) with Romanian National Association of Travel Agents (ANAT) as co-organizer.

The forum held in the Romanian capital was attended by 37 ambassadors and trade and economic advisers of diplomatic missions in Bucharest, over 125 representatives of Romanian tour operators and tourist agencies from Romania, about 70 owners of Bulgarian hotels and tourist agencies, 20 Romanian and Bulgarian media outlets, mayors of both Bulgarian and Romanian municipalities, district governors, representatives of chambers of commerce and industry and others, according to a statement of Bulgaria's MIET.

Bulgarian tourism is traditionally well represented on the Romanian market and its share is   constantly increasing.

By July 2012, more than 502 000 Romanian tourists visited Bulgaria, according to Marinov, with the number expected to increase in August and September.

The presentation stressed Bulgaria as an all year-round tourist destination.

"Bulgaria is currently mostly known for summer and winter tourism, but we certainly have great potential in the sphere of cultural, eco, spa, village, wine, golf and other specialized forms of tourism," Marinov told to the participants in the forum.

The Bulgarian cities of Sofia, Veliko Tarnovo, Ruse, Plovdiv, and Blagoevgrad presented their opportunities for development of tourism, the first four cities being candidates for European Capital of Culture in 2019.

The Danube Strategy under which Bulgaria and Romania are coordinators of priority axis 3 (tourism, culture, and multicultural dialogue) is another opportunity for the two countries to popularize the tourist sector.

According to Ivo Marinov, the two countries are to create a common Danube brand which will enable them to offer common tourist products to third countries.

The meeting in Bucharest started with the signing of a memorandum for cooperation between the districts of Sofia and Prahova.

Tourism traditionally provides 12-14% of Bulgaria's GDP and revenues from international tourism are expected to surpass EUR 3 B for 2012.