Mario Al-Djabouri: Golf, Congress and Hunting Tourism could Attract Solvent Tourists’ Attention to Bulgaria

Focus-Fen, Sevil SABRI, 2nd November 2006

The chairman of the State Agency of Tourism Mario Al-Djabouri visits Varna as Tourism and Leisure Fair opens. His schedule included an official lunch with representatives of tourist branch organizations and local media. According to the State Agency of Tourism the number of tourists has risen. That is why FOCUS Radio-Varnaasked Mario Al-Djabouri about his opinion on these positive statistics.

FOCUS: The data you have given point to an increase in the number of tourists who have visited Bulgaria during this year’s summer season as compared to previous years. However local hotel managers have the opposite opinion – each year the season is weaker than the previous one. What is your comment?

Mario Al-Djabouri: It seems we will never admit we have a successful season! The trend is positive – it has been for the last few years. There is indeed an increase in the number of tourists. The data cannot be manipulated. These are figures from the Border Police and other services, statistics that are provided to the Agency. Hotel managers complaining of small number of visits should think of the reasons. At the same time other hotels had reregistration of tourists. The reasons could be the service quality and its price. There is a general tendency of increase in the number of tourists.

FOCUS: What are in your opinion the reasons for the increase in the number of tourists and for the positive statistics?

Mario Al-Djabouri: Bulgaria is a very interesting destination. Now that we are to join the EU many people would like to visit our country. There are a lot of tourists from Romania as it is easy for them to come to our renewed resorts. There is an increase in the number of Russian tourists seeking quality products. And they are solvent tourists at that.

FOCUS: Which summer resort attracts the largest number of tourists?

Mario Al-Djabouri: I would not like to divide the resorts – it is not right, in my opinion. What is important is that there is an increase in the number of tourists during this tourist season, which means that all hotels should have noticed the difference.

FOCUS: What should be the issues the hotel managers should mind in order to develop our tourism more?

Mario Al Djabouri: Quality, quality and again quality services. We have gorgeous hotels. We should focus on the improvement of the quality services and should offer more pastimes that will attract tourists.

FOCUS: Ecology, culture, folklore – are these Bulgaria’s assets?

Mario Al Djabouri: Culture. Nature. Folklore. The different types of tourism, especially the new ones – golf, congress and hunting tourism could attract solvent tourists’ attention to Bulgaria.


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