Tourism In Bulgaria Research Articles

Analysis of natural health resources for the development of health tourism in Bulgaria

The article examines the potential of natural healing resources for the development of health tourism in Bulgaria.

Spatial analysis of public attitudes towards domestic leisure tourism in Bulgaria

Tourism is a very important sector for the Bulgarian economy with its GDP share varying between 10 and 13% before the COVID-19 health crisis. In 2021 domestic tourism accounted for 89% of the personal travel expenditures of Bulgarians. The purpose of the present paper is to analyse public attitudes towards the domestic leisure tourism in Bulgaria and its spatial distribution at the NUTS-2 regions and the residence place type level. The data used in the research are from a national representative survey based on a two-staged random sample stratified by the Bulgarian districts and the residence place type (capital, district administrative centre, town and village). The methodology includes: literature review, descriptive analysis, spatial analysis, average values, building one- and two- dimensional frequency distributions, statistical hypothesis testing, etc. The indicators used in the paper are: practices for domestic leisure tourism, stay duration in domestic resorts, frequency of domestic leisure tourism, people not practicing domestic leisure tourism, domestic leisure tourism average satisfaction level. The obtained results show the differences between those indicators in NUTS-2 and residence place type level, as well as between summer and winter leisure tourism. The presented results are of particular importance, since some of these differences are significantly large.

Museums, Cultural Tourism and Cultural Heritage in Bulgaria from the Middle to the End of the 20th Century. Main Moments of the Historical Development and Problems

This study presents the background of cultural tourism in Bulgaria. There are a lot of definitions of tourism, but everywhere in the leading places is mentioned the cultural heritage. Cultural tourism became a global autonomy economy branch in the 1980s. In Bulgaria, in the middle of the 1950s, a growth of restoration, preservation, and presentation work began. The number of museums increased from 70 in 1949 to 233 in 1999. The peak of museum visitors was between 1976 and 1987, but statistical data are not reliable. The transition to a democratic society and market economy was the real start of cultural tourism in Bulgaria, established on the material base, institutions, and infrastructure constructed during the studied period. The applied data shows that the percent of museum non-budget incomes increased, but the system still needs reforms and investments.

Domestic leisure tourism destination choice and who do we trust-the case of Bulgaria

Destination marketing and branding are key factors that considerably influence the destination choices for both domestic and international visitors. Understanding the dynamics of how tourists select which destination to visit is crucial for destination planners, tourism organizations, and businesses. This is particularly so in the context of domestic tourism, in which it is imperative to study the factors that influence consumer choices and more specifically, the factors that influence domestic destination choices. This paper explores the influence of different information sources when choosing a destination in the context of the domestic tourism market in Bulgaria. The study is based on the data collected from a national representative survey (N = 1,003) which utilizes a two-staged random sample stratified by districts and the residence place type. The findings suggest that the most influential information source for destination choice for domestic visitors is the opinions/suggestions of friends and relatives. This is the case for all age groups, regardless of their gender, marital status, number of children, education levels, income, or place of residence. The findings of the study provide valuable insights into the existent literature on domestic tourism and destination marketing. Although particularly focused on the unique dynamics of domestic tourism in Bulgaria, the findings of the study can be useful to tourism stakeholders at destinations with a developed domestic market, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe.

Camping Tourism in Bulgaria: A time-series analysis of tourist demand

Camping tourism has become very popular since the beginning of COVID-19 as tourists started to look for socially distanced and yet experiential activities. However, the academic scholarship is relatively thin, particularly in the context of Eastern Europe – a geographical location with rich traditions in outdoor camping andtourism. Drawing on a quantitative methodology based on ARIMA and SARIMA, this study addresses this gap by forecasting the changes in camping tourism development in the short term in Bulgaria. The results indicate a decline of inbound tourism and international visittors but also suggest a positive trend of developmentfor the domestic market.

Natural tourist resources in the Stara planina tourist region (Bulgaria)

Abstract The Stara planina tourist region is one of the most attractive regions for tourism in Bulgaria and one of the few that have almost year-round tourist activities. The outline of the area includes the mountain of the same name, but also the Pre-Balkan. This fact predetermines the exceptional richness and diversity of natural tourist resources. Here are some of the largest broad-leaved forests in the country, waterfalls, bizarre rock formations, etc. The relatively well-preserved natural environment is a prerequisite for the presence of exceptional biodiversity, as well as a significant number of protected areas. The region is specialized mainly in mountain tourism, including recreation, mountain trekking, rural and ecotourism. Due to the scarce tourist infrastructure, ski tourism still lags behind in its development compared to other mountain regions in the country. Very often, the Stara planina Region is primarily identified with its cultural and historical heritage, while its natural features remain in the background. Regardless of this, and as a result of the more intense tourist load, the problem of protecting natural tourist resources from the growing anthropogenic pressure is gaining special relevance. There is also an urgent need to identify and evaluate the prospects for sustainable development of the tourism industry in the region. The purpose of the present study is to valorize the natural tourist resources of the Stara planina tourist region and to provide guidelines for their sustainable use.

Current Threats and Risks to Health Tourism in Bulgaria

Over the last decade, modern society and various economic actors have faced risky instabilities, trials and challenges due to increasing globalization and the emergence of various global crises. Considering the last five years to date, management in the tourism sector is by no means immune from the unexpected threats, economic and health crises that continue to negatively impact all processes and future business development prospects. The need for the emergence of a new economic concept of risk and its management has been identified as urgent. The rapid development of tourism in the country and the absence of an adequate risk management strategy lead to the emergence of a number of undesirable consequences, aggravation of existing problems and generation of numerous adverse trends in the tourism and hotel industry in the country. The object of the study is health tourism in the hospitality industry in Bulgaria. The hotel product is complex, designed to satisfy the needs of guests. Composed of different elements, this paper focuses and analyses the complementary product, which with its service complements and enriches the final needs and satisfaction of the customer. Medical Spa Centres, as the subject of the study, are an example of a pulling force in the choice of a destination in health tourism. They improve economic growth, industry competitiveness and stimulate tourism consumption. The processes in the Medical Spa Centers are strongly influenced by the surrounding external and internal environment, working together under the wing of the hotel complex. Respectively, they increase the valuation of the economic entity, contribute to higher financial performance and at the same time satisfy various human needs of a health and wellness nature. The role and importance of Medical Spas has been proven in the development of the hotel product, therefore the need to implement strategic management approaches to address risk and unexpected threats should be analyzed. The methodology is based on a systematic approach and on different research methods, including: theory, publications, analysis and systematization. The empirical research was conducted through in-depth interview with managers of hotel complexes with Medical Spa centers to identify threats and risks typical for health tourism, and ways to overcome them in their organization with actual management measures. The last part of this paper analyzes the application of a model risk management system for a hotel tourism enterprise and the need to implement such a standard in our country.

Educational Policy, Specialised Staff, Innovations and Recreational Industry

Niche tourism in Bulgaria is facing a shortage of specialised staff. The quality of services in the Recreational industry depends on the integration of scientific findings into Wellness & Spa therapies. This study summarises the specifics of the newly accredited Wellness & Spa programs at the National Sports Academy “V. Levski”. The innovations are financially supported by the Bulgarian Heritage BG Centre of Excellence. Under the priority axis 1 “Research and Technological Development”, a scientific bridge was established to implement the European policy “healthy lifestyle for everyone”. Through the education of specialised personnel, our team gained insights on how Bulgarian Niche tourism can improve the quality of services in the Wellness & Spa sector. By identifying the specific professional competencies, the scientific team at NSA “V. Levski” developed innovative educational programs for new jobs to meet the needs of the Niche tourism business. The analysis of the development of professional knowledge and skills led to improved higher quality services and interdisciplinary education. By accrediting new scientific and educational programs in two professional fields, health care and sports, NSA “V. Levski” has become an educational and scientific leader at the National, Balkan, and European level in the field of Niche tourism, specifically in the Wellness & Spa sector.

Устойчиво развитие на винения туризъм: състояние и перспективи

In today's dynamically developing tourism industry, the problems of competitiveness and sustainable development of wine tourism in Bulgaria are established as key factors for achieving economic growth. The current state and trends for sustainable development of wine tourism are considered as an essential condition for increasing the competitiveness of Bulgarian tourism and overcoming the existing structural imbalances.

Opportunities for Digitalization in Marketing Management of Health Tourism in Bulgaria

With the development of the tourism industry worldwide, there is a need for proper and sustainable management of the specialized types of tourism and one of the most developed one is health tourism. According to the tourist zoning in Bulgaria, seven regions with basic and extended specialization in the field of health tourism can be distinguished. Embracing digitalisation throughout the tourism industry will help to develop the health tourism business in a post-COVID-19 era. This will include analysis of the opportunities digitalisation opens up for marketing, product and tourism destination management. According to the Ministry of Tourism in Bulgaria digitalization is not just a change but a mandatory transformation for the tourism in Bulgaria to be efficient and competitive. In this paper, the authors strive to disclose opportunities for digitalization of marketing management on national level as well as in specific tourism regions in Bulgaria. In the article good international practices of digitalisation in the health tourism field are analysed and specific measures for the external marketing of the destination are proposed to implement in the marketing management of the health tourism in Bulgaria. Keywords: digitalization, marketing management, tourism regions, health tourism

Socialization of Immovable Roman Archaeological Sites in Bulgaria

The archaeological cultural heritage and its inclusion in projects for the creation of tourist attractions, tourist products and marketing of the destinations are among the leading priorities in the field of tourism in Bulgaria. In this sense, the aim of the current paper is a review and analysis of the socialization of the immovable archaeological sites from the Roman period in the country. The socialization is considered from several aspects - exposure, preservation, presentation, provided services and organized events, accessibility, technical and ancillary infrastructure, advertisement. In each of them, the applied basic techniques and methods are studied and illustrated with specific examples of sites with national importance from the Roman period. In conclusion, more important problems and challenges related to the socialization are presented. Their resolution is of importance for the preservation of the immovable archaeological monuments and the sustainable development of tourism, based on archaeological heritage.

Trends for the Development of Wellness Tourism in Bulgaria During Digital Revolution

Wellness tourism is among the best-developed and promising specialized types of tourism in the world. To reach full utilization and future development of this alternative type of tourism, it is necessary to first collect and coordinate good practices that could be adapted to the current state of wellness tourism in Bulgaria in order to improve its overall state. The international trends and experience indicate as its main direction the digitalization, which is applicable in the entire tourism industry, including wellness. This determines the relevance of the topic related to the need to evaluate the real effect of digitalization on wellness tourism, particularly in Bulgaria. Modern technologies are changing the entire tourist environment, and in Bulgaria, there is a void of current data and information on the correlation between technological progress and wellness tourism. After the analysis of the current digital situation of the wellness destination Bulgaria, recommendations could be made to serve as a basis for preparing a strategic plan for the future development of the sector. Destination Bulgaria needs to strengthen its current position in the tourist wellness market and evaluate the effect of digitalization in the sector and equate it to new trends and requirements that are fundamental for future prosperity. The methodology of the research is based on systematic and holistic approaches, and it covers: analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, analogy, comparative analysis, statistical and descriptive methods.

Natural heritage as a source of ecosystem services for recreation and tourism in Bulgaria

Natural heritage as a source of ecosystem services for recreation and tourism in Bulgaria

Cultural ecosystem services for development of nature-based tourism in Bulgaria

The rich and diverse Natural Heritage of Bulgaria is a prerequisite for the development of nature- based tourism (NBT) of a new type. The research is carried out by the implementation of the ecosystem approach. The results include an assessment of the natural heritage capacity to provide goods and services for the development of NBT in the Tourist Regions (TR) of Bulgaria. The results show the spatial distribution of the natural heritage sites in all nine TR in Bulgaria and their natural capacity for development of different types of NBT. There are only 37 municipalities out of 265 with not a one Natural Heritage (NH) site, and all the rest have natural resources to develop NBT. The results can be of use for the achievement of the goals for sustainable tourism by assessment of the capacity to provide recreation ecosystem services (RES).

Оценка на проект за изграждане на къща за селски туризъм

The development of the tourism in Bulgaria and in particular of rural tourism is a way for achieving one of the CAP objectives- increased index of human development in rural areas. Through the development of tourists’ sector, it is possible to ensure an acceptable standard of living for people, to preserve the cultural heritage and at the same time to help protect the environment. There are tendencies for changes in consumer preferences from the mass forms to alternative forms of tourism. This in turn changes the entrepreneurial business in response to increased consumer interests. In the present article an assessment of a project for reconstruction of a house ("Karakusheva house" in the village of Svezhen) for rural tourism is made. Four scenarios are analyzed in which the site can operate after its construction. Recommendations for policies for the development of alternative activities in rural areas have been made.

The Bulgarian International Tourism in Late Socialism – between the Class-party Ideology and the Economic Interest

After the 1960s the international tourism was developed as an important economic branch of Eastern European countries and space where the economic interests, ideol-ogy, consumption, and social policies were entangled. In this study, I will undertake a historic-anthropological analysis of international tourism in Bulgaria in the time of late socialism, which is based on a case study of Borovetz, the biggest Bulgarian mountain resort during socialism. The research question addressed are: how the re-gime was trying to establish legitimacy through tourism – among Bulgarian citizens and internationally, which is the role of the ideological confrontation with the West in the period of the Cold War and which are the leading strategies in the management and the work culture in the branch of international tourism at that time.

CONDITION AND DEVELOPMENT TRENDS OF WINE TOURISM IN BULGARIA (THE EXAMPLE OF FESTIVALS OF WINE AND FOLKLORE HERITAGE)

Tourism is one of the most significant sectors, generating major economic benefits. This makes it an important part of the economy in many parts of the world. Tourism, as a means of developing the region, is closely tied to the development of the local economy. Wine tourism, in particular, turns out to be a significant tool for the development of Bulgaria. Considering the sector’s importance, the goal of this study is to analyse the condition and development trends of this particular type of tourism in the country and in the region. The survey method includes statistical, historical, comparative-descriptive, and regional analysis. In a broader aspect, this study will contribute towards expanding the research in the field of wine tourism in Bulgaria. In this article, wine tourism is viewed as part of alternative tourism on one hand, and on the other – in this specific instance – as exhibiting the specific features of the so-called “festival tourism”. The scientific material is based on a survey conducted at a festival of wine and cultural heritage.

Reviewing the Conditions for Business Tourism in Bulgaria

This report outlines the trends in the development of business tourism in Bulgaria and analyzes the conditions for doing business tourism in the country. The main results of the study relate to the general theory about the specificity of the business tourism, the analysis of the practical application of tendencies of the different subjects at macro and micro level. In the specific studies and in drawing up the conclusions from them, common scientific methods as observation, analysis, synthesis, analogy and others, are applied.

Retrospective analysis of scientific explorations of geography of tourism in Bulgaria (on the example of selected editions)

Scientific explorations of this kind are not novelty. They help us to follow the development of a particular scientific area, point out and research its stages of evolution, distinguish the most remarkable achievements, and to make prognoses for its future development. The current report makes a retrospective analysis of scientific publications in the field of Geography of Tourism in Bulgaria published in the Journal of the Bulgarian Geographical Society, Annual of Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Faculty of Geology and Geography, Book 2 - Geography", and Problems of Geography. The analysis of the scientific explorations defined three periods related to the existence and activities of the Bulgarian Geographical Society, which were grouped in various topics.

Mountain tourism in Bulgaria

Mountains are one of the most attractive tourist forms for tourism. Bulgaria has over 30 mountains. It fall entirely or partially on it teritory. Tourism practiced in the mountains is generally referred as mountain tourism. This conception includs various of tourism activities practiced in mountain conditions. The aim of this paper is to expose specifics in the current state of tourism in the Bulgarian mountains. It is maked overview of the main types of tourism practiced in mountain conditions and specifics in the mountainous tourist infrastructure and superstructure. Bulgarian mountains are typed according to their degree of utilization for the needs of tourism.