Russia and Bulgaria with collaboration protocol in tourism sphere
Our country intends to offer diverse forms of medical, SPA and cultural-historic tourism Branimir Botev, Deputy Minister of Economy and Energy has signed a protocol in Sankt Peterburg concerning the collaboration enlargement in the touristic sphere between the cultural Ministry of the Russian Federation and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Alla Manilova, Deputy Minister of Culture, has also endorsed the document. The signing was completed within the frameworks of the International Cultural-Historic forum, organized by the Russian Ministry of Culture on the 11-th and the 12-th October 2013.
By signing the protocol, both institutions declare their intention to create most favourable conditions for maximizing the volume of information and the availability of specialists in the touristic branch, mutual enhancement of destinations and routes, activation of contacts between the touristic companies and guarantee of the tourists’ interests and rights.
Botev, the Deputy Minister,focused during the meetings mainly on the possibilities of Bulgaria to offer various forms of medical, SPA and cultural-historic tourism .
‘Patterns will be sought and we will work on the issue regarding how to attract Russian insurance companies in the sphere of SPA and the medical business.’
The clients of these companies could come on holidays and for procedures in Bulgarian balneo-and SPA centers complying to insurance schemes, explained Botev, Deputy Minister. He highlighted that the mutual contacts for the creation of more relaxation centers for Russian children and adolescents will be enlarged.
The youth cultural-informative touristic programmes will also be enriched. Bulgaria concentrates its efforts to attract Russian regions that are willing to invest in touristic objects in various Bulgarian municipalities. A highlight in the document is the collaboration in the sphere of the Orthodox pilgrimage visits, the Bulgarian Deputy Minister sums up.
Branimir Botev has also met with Alexander Shapkin, Head of the Tourism Development Committee in the Sankt Peterburg government.
Our countries have a huge potential to enlarge their contacts in the touristic branch thanks to their historic and cultural proximity, their religious identity and the lack of language barrier, Mr Botev declares. According to data released by STIV-Sankt Peterburg the number of Bulgarian tourists in the region is rising and during the white nights period in Russia, it reaches 1500-200 people. According to Mr Shapkin there is a steady annual growth of tourists from Sankt Peterburg in Bulgaria and their number is most likely to increase.
The programme of the International Forum in Sankt Peterburg encompasses plenary meetings in three section round tables. The discussion topic is the creation of new touristic products, as well as international ones on the ground of cultural-historic heritage. The preparation of specialist in the touristic branch and the quality improvement of services via innovation were also main points in the discussion. Representatives of the Interparliamentary assembly of the Independent States Commonwealth, the Parliamentary assembly of the Black Sea Economic Collaboration, delegations from Latvia, Bulgaria, Kazahstan, Kyrgyzstan as well as cultural and scientific institutions have also participated in the conference. Among their lecturers are experts from the World Tourism Organization of UN and from other specialized international associations.
To anyone thinking about buying a property in Bulgaria I hope that I can help with my very bad experience (with other agency)that cost me several thousand euro's with a property I hoped would be my dream home and after paying my deposit and appointed the company to sort out the notary deeds I thought great I have my home in Bulgaria, after waiting for a month with no communication with the company I contacted the company and was told not to worry should all be sorted in about a week to cut a story short this went on for almost four months and not once did they communicate with me it was always me contacting them by now I was starting to worry that all the stress that I was suffering was not worth it shortening my life (I am75) so I told them to cancel the contract I didn't want the house anymore because I was getting very bad feelings over everything and back came the reply (yes you guessed it) should all be sorted in a week I replied yes but there's 52 week's in a year and I can't wait to find out which one so I gave up on my dreams of living in Bulgaria but then after a couple of weeks I decided I would try just once more and decided to try Bulgarian House and I can't tell you the difference between the first company of similar name to Bulgarian House was chalk and cheese. I was of course still very sceptical about dealing with them but after my first email to them and and the reply I received I felt like this is so different then over a short period of time searching through all the properties that fitted with my criteria I received so much help and additional property details I replied back that I have a short list of just over a hundred to which came back a reply "Are You Trying To Kill Me" but okay we can sort it all out and then I replied I was joking I only have about twenty I would like to see and after several emails and some professional banter I was so at ease with the company and made my travel arrangements to visit and view Kiki then recommended a hotel for me and after agreeing Kiki then made all the reservations for me. When I arrived at the hotel it was late and ready for a good night's sleep and then true to her word she called and asked me if all was okay and that she had arranged for me to visit all the properties I had requested over a three or four day period some of them in the Elhovo area and was showed them by one of her colleges Elvera once again a great lady that was only pleased to help and showed me other properties I might like but over the time viewing all the properties I was showed around the different area's to help me make my decision more easy and after three fairly busy but extremely enjoyable days I had a day to myself for recapping all I had seen as Kiki had an appointment with another client but even then she found time to call me and asked if I had any questions to which I replied no you did a fantastic job explaining everything as we viewed but I had one property I wanted to view again, Kiki called me back within the hour and had arranged with the owner to view the next morning, I viewed the house and had a little haggle with the owner and agreed a sale then Kiki spent the rest of the day taking me to all the major shops etc that would be of interest then went for a coffee and she arranged for me to visit the bank the next day and open a bank account then a visit to the solicitors to grant her power of attorney to act on my behalf all done, that evening Kiki and her son David (great little five year old man) showed me around Kazanlak and as it was December we went to watch a fantastic musical extravaganza in the square, what a great way to end the day and my time in Bulgaria. The whole process from agreement of sale including payment and transfer of the notary deeds all done in under two weeks that the other company could not do in over three months, so please please listen to a man who has had bad and good experience in buying a Bulgarian property Don't waste time and money looking around go straight to the best and forget the rest. As we all know that the virus is stopping us traveling and you might not be able to view as I can't go back to my house and start working on it but I can put my hand on my heart and say Kiki and Elvera can both be trusted to give you a 100% true assessment for the property of your choice and can proceed with conference. I can't wait to get back to Bulgaria and have a big BBQ for all the people I have made lifetime friends with and without Kiki it would not have been possible. John and Xiaohui
— John Johnson, UK