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New Thracian Gold at ITB Berlin
10,644 exhibitors from 187 countries were representing all aspects of the tourism industry at the 46th edition of the International Tourism fair ITB Berlin during 8-10 March 2012. MEET was the organizer of the Bulgarian national stand with 42 tourism companies, organizations and local administrations. New Thracian Gold was also represented.
The New Thracian Gold was mentioned as one of the successful initiatives for tourism development at the presentation of Bulgaria on the world tourism fair ITB in Berlin on March 8, 2012. Deputy Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism Ivo Marinov presented the NTG project as one of the best examples in Bulgaria for achieving good cooperation with local communities and development of new economic engines for the local population.
The motto of this year's presentation of Bulgaria at the exhibition was "The Unknown Bulgaria."
Deputy Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism Ivo Marinov said that in 2011 Bulgaria was visited by over 6 million tourists, of whom about 700,000 were Germans. Bulgaria is still primarily known by the German tourist market as a summer destination for seaside tourism. Therefore, the presentation of the Ministry this year had new highlights: eco and rural tourism, heritage, spa, traditional cuisine, wine and culinary tourism, golf tourism, skiing.
The Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism (MEET) will advertise the alternative forms of tourism in various ways:
-participation in specialized exhibitions (such as “Destination nature” in Paris for the first time this year)
-stimulating tour operators to include more cultural tours in the summer holidays.
-starting a new project (and advertising campaign) at the end of 2012with specialized tour operators.
Deputy Minister announced the new tourist portal of Bulgaria (www.bulgariatravel.org) MEET also presented the EDEN destinations in Bulgaria (EDEN is an acronym for European Destinations of Excellence - Best European destinations), one of which is in Kardzhali municipality.
NTG coordinator on ecotourism Mihaela Kircheva had several meeting with colleagues and tour operators. Brochures about the region and NTG project have been presented at the fair's desks of ECEAT, European Centre for Ecological and Agricultural Tourism and Bulgarian Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism.
