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Tanya Gorcheva
Cities as Attractive Tourist Destinations
Summary:
Research into major urban centres as tourist destinations may be conducted from various perspectives. Analysis is essential since they bear a number of important characteristics which add to their appeal and influence choice as being possible tourist destinations. Related arguments are presented in the first part of the paper where the formulation of the research is also made. The second part of the paper defines the concept of ‘city tourism destination’ and the elements of its contents. These elements are crucial for designing conceptual and practical models to improve the power of city tourism destinations. Part three and part four of the research paper provide a brief description and apply a methodology based on the Global Power City Index in analysing the ranking of the world top ten city tourism destinations in 2014.
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Tsvetelin Borisov
SOME ASPECTS OF APPLYING MOBILE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN TOURISM
Summary:
The study focuses on the contribution of mobile information technology to the development of tourism in Bulgaria. It helps to improve the methods and mechanisms of collecting, processing, analysing, storing and using information. The emerging popular computer systems, video systems, teleconferencing systems and electronic systems have led to the complete automation and widespread use of electronic equipment in business. The application of mobile information technology facilitates accommodation and transport bookings, entertainment services, the purchase of tourist products, the availability of and accessibility to different types of tourism and destinations, as well as the tourism potential of countries and regions.
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Dragomir Iliev, Daniela Ilieva, Yordan Neykov
THE POTENTIAL FOR ATTRACTING CHINESE TOURISTS TO BULGARIA'S TOURIST MARKET
Summary:
With its great variety of natural, cultural and historical resources and low labour cost, Bulgaria has the potential to develop new tourist products and attract tourists from lucrative markets such as the Chinese market, which provides millions of tourists every year. However, in order to attract these tourists to the Bulgarian tourist market, we must analyse their needs. The aim of this article is to define the possibilities for adjusting the Bulgarian tourist product to the main characteristics of Chinese tourists in terms of mitigating the existing cultural differences.
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Vesselina Dimitrova, Georgi Marinov, Lino Manosperta
DEVELOPING LOW-CARBON TOURISM IN PUGLIA: CASE STUDY OF I. ARCHEO.S PROJECT
Summary:
This paper aims to examine the main determinants for developing low carbon tourism in Puglia region, studying the perceptions of a focus group of ca. 60 public and private stakeholders within Interreg project Italy-Croatia named I.-Archeo.S. project;
Data were collected during I-Archeo.S itinerary (N=40) and through personal interviews (N=10) in March 2019. Statistical modelling of t-test, varimax rotation as well as Likert- scale was applied to study the factors of influence for tourist behavior and sustainable tourism (i.e. availability of ecological certification, participation in eco-initiatives, interest in typical products, green event awareness etc.).
The results reveal that low-carbon travel is becoming the main way to stimulate the development of sustainable tourism in Puglia region. The increasing necessity for ecological knowledge and cultural heritage protection are perceived as significant factors for low-carbon tourism performance. These findings can help stakeholders from tourism and cultural sectors in Puglia region to prioritise resources and services across different seasons.
Although the literature identifies dimensions of sustainable tourism, case studies on low-carbon tourism are still sparse. This study, therefore, contributes to expanding this body of knowledge.
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Ivelin Simeonov Kichukov
STRATEGIC TRANSFORMATION OF TOURISM IN BULGARIA – ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND GROWTH POTENTIAL
Summary:
The subject of this study is the tourism sector. The analysis focuses on the strategic transformation in the sector to ensure its economic recovery and realize its growth potential. The research hypothesis posits that recovery in the tourism sector is predicated on amendments of national strategic documents, assessment of consumer and service provider attitudes in the tourism industry taking into account the absolute and relative international advantages and resources of our country which faces strong competition from Greece and Turkey as well as the existing geopolitical challenges. The main task is to analyse macroeconomic data to determine the degree of post-epidemic recovery of the tourism sector as well as to conduct a survey intended to identify possibilities for rebranding and making amendments to national strategic documents to reflect the country’s absolute and relative international advantages and resources. Structurally, the article is divided into two main sections. The first section identifies indicators for assessing the level of post-epidemic recovery of Bulgaria's tourism sector. The second section presents findings from a survey conducted among benchmark economic operators and customers regarding the possibilities for strategic transformation of the tourism sector, including rebranding and digitalization. The conclusion summarizes the findings and presents author’s own critical comments regarding the current state of the tourism sector.
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Tanya Gorcheva
State and problems of Bulgarian tourism products
on the European market
Summary:
The article analyses the state of tourism products and services related to destination Bulgaria. This objective is achieved by applying situation analysis which reveals the market positions occupied by Bulgarian tourism products in Europe. The object of research is the nature and characteristics of offering while the subject is connected to the “demand – supply” relation of tourism products for destination Bulgaria within the context of the various problems of tourism business in the country. The article also outlines the possibilities for success based on a critical analysis of results achieved for the period 2001 – 2011 by discussing issues such as the nature and structure of Bulgarian tourism product; the nature of offering of emitting markets important for destination Bulgaria; specific characteristics of offering with regard to tourist packages for organized trips to our country.
