The Bulgarian capital will host the 33^rd edition of the Holiday & Spa Expo International Tourist Fair.

The largest tourist forum in Bulgaria will take place at the Inter Expo Center in Sofia between Thursday and Saturday.

Despite the problems in the tourist sector in 2015, more tour operators, hoteliers and national tourist organisations have confirmed their participation at this year's edition of the fair.

The participants will present their newest tourist programmes and products, while visitors will be informed of the latest offers and discounts.

During the three days, there will be numerous discussions, demonstrations, presentations as well as raffles with visitors.

More than 380 exhibitors, including resorts, tour operators, sector organisations and municipalities both from Bulgaria and abroad, have confirmed their participation at the fair.

Among the new participants this year is Indonesia, which will be present with a large stand. The Hungarian tourism ministry will also participate for the first time.

There will be also representatives from Turkey, Serbia, Macedonia, Morocco, Cuba, Croatia, Russia, Greece, Italy, Spain, Poland, the USA, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Romania.

As usual, the Bulgarian tourist ministry will have its own stall. Municipalities and SPA resorts will also have their stands.

The focus of Sofia's stand will be on the city's status as European Capital of Sport in 2018. Several popular Bulgarian sportsmen from the recent past have been invited to give autographs to visitors at the stand.

Plovdiv will have an interactive stall, focusing on its designation as European Capital of Culture in 2019.

Varna, Veliko Tarnovo and Stara Zagora will also have their own stands and present their cultural sites.

Samokov will mark the 120^th anniversary of the foundation of the oldest winter resort in Bulgaria - Borovets.

The event is organised under the aegis of the tourism ministry, in partnership with Sofia municipality and tourist organisations.

The organisers will make a charity auction, with the money collected at the auction to be awarded to a student from the professional tourism high school.

The winner will be offered an internship, provided with financial aid and professional realisation in order to be encouraged to stay and work in Bulgaria after graduation.

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