ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ ΚΟΙΝΟ Πρεσβεία της Ελλάδος ΚΑΝΟΝΙΚΟ Σόφια Γραφείο Οικονομικών και Εμπορικών Υποθέσεων

Σόφια, 11 Μαρτίου 2012 Τηλ.: +35 92 9447959, 9447790 Α.Π. Φ. ΟΕΥ 2230/16/ΑΣ 723 FAX: +35 92 9505375 E-mail: [email protected]

ΠΡΟΣ: - ΟΠΕ (μ.η.) - Επιμελητήρια και κλαδικές ενώσεις στην Ελλάδα (μ.η.) ΚΟΙΝ: - Γραφείο ΕΟΤ στη Σόφια (μ.η.)

ΘΕΜΑ: 10η Διεθνής Έκθεση «Πολιτιστικός Τουρισμός» στο Βελίκο Τύρνοβο Βουλγαρίας, 18-20.04.2013

Σας ενημερώνουμε ότι από 18 έως 20 Απριλίου 2013 θα λάβει χώρα στο Βελίκο Τύρνοβο (Κεντρική Βουλγαρία) η 10η επετειακή διεθνής έκθεση με θέμα τον πολιτιστικό τουρισμό. Η εν λόγω τουριστική έκθεση διοργανώνεται από το Δήμο του Βελίκο Τύρνοβο με τη συνεργασία του Υπουργείου Οικονομίας, Ενέργειας και Τουρισμού Βουλγαρίας, τη βουλγαρική Ένωση Ξενοδόχων και Ιδιοκτητών Εστιατορίων, την Ένωση των Βούλγαρων Τουριστικών Πρακτόρων και τη Δημοτική Επιτροπή Τουρισμού «Τσάρεβγκραντ Τύρνοβ».

Αποστέλλουμε συνημμένα για την πληρέστερη ενημέρωσή σας πληροφόρηση για την αντίστοιχη διοργάνωση του 2012. Για συμπληρωματικές πληροφορίες οι ενδιαφερόμενοι μπορείτε να επικοινωνήσετε απευθείας με τους διοργανωτές:

Tourist Info Centre "Tsarevgrad Turnov" EOOD Υπεύθυνη επικοινωνίας: κα Sophia Bozhkova 5, Hristo Botev str., Veliko Turnovo 5000, Τηλ.: +359 (0) 62 622148, τηλ/fax: +359 (0) 62 600768 E-mail: [email protected]

Το Γραφείο μας παραμένει στη διάθεσή σας. Η Διευθύνουσα

Θεολογία Βούλγαρη Γραμματέας ΟΕΥ Β΄ ΘΒ

______Σελίδα 1 από 1 OEY 2230/16 /ΑΣ 723 ΚΟΙΝΟ

INTERNATIONAL TOURIST FAIR “CULTURAL TOURISM” , 19 – 21 APRIL 2012

Only a few days ago the IX International Tourist Fair “Cultural Tourism” in Veliko Tarnovo was successfully completed. The fair was traditionally attended by the sister cities of Veliko Tarnovo: Tver (Russia), Serres (Greece), Nis (Serbia), Bayonne (France), Iasi (Romania) and Tarshin (Malta). Also involved were the embassies of Poland, Argentina, Indonesia, South Africa. Over 30 Bulgarian municipalities used their creativity and set up various stands. For a very first time in the fair participated: - Six-member delegation from sister city Sian, China - Embassies of Japan, Hungary and Armenia - National History Museum, Pravets Municipality and Museum of History, Vratsa Municipality and Museum of History;

Within the accompanying program of the fair were included dozens of presentations, discussions, roundtables, presentation of tourist destinations, exhibition, reproductions of customs and crafts and more. Representatives of municipalities, Boards of Tourism, tourist companies, tourist associations, museums, universities, media and experts in various fields had the opportunity to acquaint the guests and participants with their successful experience in the field of cultural tourism, new tourism products with new offerings in municipalities and museums, so together to discuss problems in the development of cultural tourism. With great interest were received presentations of many municipalities: Burgas, Stara Zagora, Veliko Tarnovo, Varna, Nessebar, Vratsa, , and also a current topic of Prof. Ovcharov “How a Bulgarian town could become an European Capital of Culture?”. Also the results of their participation in international projects during the year shared the Bulgarian hotel and restaurant association (BHRA) – “Let’s share our future through developing sustainable tourism” and the Bulgarian association of travel agents (BATA) - “Competitive and sustainable development of Bulgarian Cultural Tourism” – both co-organizers

of the fair. Many experts, museums managers and tourism students gathered a round table organized by “Tsarevgrad Turnov” and New Bulgarian University on “The city as a scene: best practice for museum presentation of cultural heritage” This year a number of participants in the tourist fair focused on different varieties of cultural tourism – educational, culinary, festival and more. Representatives from municipalities, associations, universities and museums presented best practices in cultural tourism development. They also invited their colleagues from all over the country to join projects and to share ideas. National History Museum and Moto Phohe showed results of their longstanding partnership with the theme “Business in support of national cultural, historical and natural wealth”. Presentations of Slow Food Bulgaria entitled “Treasury of taste” in cultural tourism and Association “Rahovets” – 2007” – Gorna Oryahovitsa with topic “Flat sausage of Gorna Oryahovitsa” - first registered with EU Bulgarian culinary mark and chance for the first culinary destination, also filled the discussion hall with an interesting perspectives for the Bulgarian culinary destinations. During the International Tourist fair also was presented new creative idea, which will extend the stock market and will attract new participants and professionals in next year’s 10th edition of the Tourist Fair: Awards from the National Contest “Read and Travel” formed by the International Tourist Fair’s Organising Committee. As confirmation of this idea was the presentation of the regional newspaper “Yantra Dnes” entitled “Let’s rediscover our city”, in a co-work with Veliko Tarnovo municipality. Together with its readers, the editorial provoked our civic consciousness and intensified interest in the urban environment, to preserve memories of the existence of historical monuments and signs.

At the closing ceremony of the International Tourist Fair “Cultural Tourism” were awarded: All the foreign participants in the fair with honorary diplomas; History Museum of Pravets - for its museum exhibition “Gifts of Todor Zhivkov” Malko Tarnovo Municipality and Municipality - for preservation and promotion of traditional Bulgarian crafts.

Vratsa Municipality - for new ideas in the presentation of tourist destination. Plovdiv Municipality - for an original stand at the fair. Stara Zagora Municipality - for a destination that represents a new product of cultural tourism. The partnership Awards for presentation and promotion of cultural heritage earned three pairs of participants: Smolyan and Chepelare Municipality, Pleven Municipality and Art Gallery “IliyaBeshkov”, National History Museum and Moto Pfohe. The Award for individual contribution of cultural tourism development deservingly went to Mrs. Biserka Ognyanova (PrimExpo company). Special Prize of the MEET for dynamic development of cultural tourism destination was presented personally by the Minister Delyan Dobrev and went to Bourgas Municipality. Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association presented the award to “Roka Bulgaria” – associate member of BHRA, for promoting the exhibition hall “Expo Banya ” as an alternative cultural place in the capital. The award of the Association of Bulgarian tour operators and travel agents for promotion of cultural and historical heritage of Bulgaria and Bulgarian historical storage memory went to “Travel TV”.

The jury of VIII-th International Film Festival “On the east coast of Europe” also made its choice. Were awarded the following prizes: - For best advertisement: “Incredible India” – an impressive achievement in just 2 minutes. The message is clear – India is an amazing country, visit it! - For documentary and fiction film, “Sofia – History of Europe” – a film that makes us look at our capital through the eyes of an Englishman. And be proud of our city! - The ad film “Guard of Tsarevgrad Turnov” – because this movie makes us look again at the ruins of Tsarevgrad and see the shadows of the Bulgarian soldiers who guard our memory and pride. - For TV show: “Bourgas – a story with a happy ending” – tells us about the old city casino of Bourgas in an interesting way.

- The Component Award went to Iskren Krassimirov for staging solution for renovation of an ancient ritual in the film “Bread of God, Gods of clay”, popularizing destination Vratsa municipality.

At the official closing of the IX-th International Tourist Fair “Cultural Tourism” were also awarded the “Vino Balkanika” prizes. “Vino Balkanika 2012” is organized for the second year by the Oenologists Union in Bulgaria within the cultural fair at the invitation of the Municipality Agency of Tourism “Tsarevgrad Turnov”. The aim of the contest is reviving the interest in local wine varieties of the Balkans, one of the oldest wine regions, and returning of these wines on the wine map of Europe. Gold medals in pure varietal wines received “Yambol Villa Mavrud”, vintage 2012 Yambol Winery, “Monogram” – vintage 2009 wine cellar “Domain Justina” Ltd., “”Mavrud - Never ending story” 2010, “Edoardo Miroglio” Ltd., “Version Rubin”, 2011 winery of Assenovgrad; “Mavrud” winery 2009 “Terra Antica”, “Mavrud” 2010, the “Domain Menada” Ltd, “Merul Mavrud reserve” 2010, “Rumelia” (Koveks – 2 Ltd), “Markov monastery” 2010, “Skovin” – Skopje, Macedonia, “Rubin”, 2010 cellar “Stazhdata”. Special prize for a first time participation was awarded to WW “Popovakula” from Stanushina, Macedonia, for wine “Stanushina Rose” produced by 100% local variety, and Stanushina Kalogeropoulou Petros Greek Cellar for wine “Moschofilero Kalogeropolou” 2011, produced by variety Moshofilero, Greece.

02 May 2012.