ViaBulgaria Blog
Travel and Tourism Fair Vakanzia 2013 in Sofia
15.02.2013
The most important Bulgarian travel and tourism fair was held this year from 14 to 16 February at the Expo Center in the capital Sofia. At this event traditionally top travel offers are presented to professionals and customers. During the special congress program current problems and trends in the local tourism industry are discussed. But this fair is not only interesting for trade visitors. Since there was no entrance fee a lot of enthusiastic hobby travelers visit this colorful show which is now easy to be reached through a new subway station in front of the exhibition halls.
The end of winter season is an appropriate time to plan your summer holiday and take advantage of the now offered lower prices. Before just a few years the Bulgarians usually plan and order their trips only some days before they want to start travel and had to prepare for this accordingly more money and stress because of overbooking. Now it seems that the reservation culture of the Bulgarian customers is changed. I sign is also the rising popularity of the traditional travel and tourism fair Vakanzia in Sofia. The trade show is enjoying growing popularity among exhibitors and visitors. This year there was presented 270 companies, which is fifty more than in 2012.
More popular and attractive now are holiday offers for small country cottages in the rural regions of Bulgaria as the mountains Rhodope, Strandzha and Stara planina. The stay at the country side is made more colorful trough additional attractions like horse riding, trips to caves and heights, Thracian sanctuaries, folklore evenings and wine tastings. Thanks to the many new established or revitalized old traditional wineries now wine tourism in Bulgaria enjoys a lively interest among local and international audience.
The organizers of the travel and tourism show Vakanzia are happy about the growth and rising number of exhibition stands from Bulgarian cities and local communities. More than 50 regional structures showed in Sofia their tourist attractions often supported by EU funding programs. The variety of unique cultural, rural and ecological tourism offers is increased significantly through the whole Balkan country.
Another remarkable trend at the travel and tourism fair Vakanzia is the growing presence of foreign exhibitors. Besides traditional incoming agencies and hotels from neighboring countries now several National Tourism Boards raise their flag in Bulgarians capital like Greece, Serbia and Macedonia. A surprise this year was the official participation of Albania - no longer just a secret among travel-loving Bulgarians who are looking for unique holidays away from the big resorts at reasonable prices.
In general Bulgarian tourists still prefer for foreign holidays Turkey and Greece. Therefore both countries present largest and much attractive exhibition stands at Vakanzia travel show. After all twenty countries participated at this year's tourism show in Sofia. Cuba and Indonesia were considered the exotics. Travel agencies offering these destinations are looking for Bulgarian travelers with much bigger holiday budgets.
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