Sofia Tourist Council

BOYKO BORISSOV
Mayor of Sofia

Congratulations to the Sofia Tourist Council for the publication of the first Members Handbook and Directory, which features valuable tourist information on the capital city and lends special attention to the activities of the municipal cultural institutions.

The Sofia Tourist Council shows once again in practice the successful partnership with local authorities for the promotion of our city as an attractive venue for business, leisure and entertainment. This partnership will bring on Sofia new friends and advanced international prestige.

I wish to the members of the Sofia Tourist Council a lot of health and successful future joint initiatives.

Anelia Krushkova
President of the State Agency for Tourism

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Colleagues,

Ever more actively does contemporary Bulgaria transform its heritage, nature, culture and lifestyle into a sightseeing attraction and welcomingly opens doors to guests and tourists from around the world.

A notable Web Search Engine finds 3,560,000 links to materials on tourism, and that is in the Bulgarian language only. Few are the human activities that develop so dynamically and in such a highly competitive environment.

In 2006, the Bulgarian tourism succeeded in overcoming two more challenges:

• the number of tourists who chose to visit Bulgaria outnumbered 5 million
• the tourism revenues for 2006 are forecasted to be over €2 billion.

Hospitality industry does not only involve positive economic trends and success indicators. The Bulgarian tourism also means half a million persons and lifes which day after day make up the mosaic of unforgettable impressions visitors are left with in our country.

At its yearly General Assembly, the Executive Committee of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) chooses the motto for the respective World Tourism Day. Tourism Opens Doors for Women is the 2007 motto governing the activities of the international tourism community. I truthfully hope that it will bring about more love to our work, greater care for out guests, greater tolerance and mutual respect.

As President of the State Agency for Tourism, I would like to congratulate the members of the Sofia Tourist Council on this edition, to commend their active partnership and to express my deepest gratitude to all who contribute to the prosperity of the Bulgarian tourism through their efforts, skills and talents!

Vitan Ivanov
Chairman
Sofia Tourist Council

Dear Visitors and Partners,
Dear Fellow Industry Colleagues,

Welcome to the first edition of the Sofia Tourist Council members handbook and directory designed to present relevant, updated and accurate information on members activities and company profile, complemented with a selection of useful basic contacts and cultural edge reference on Sofia as a capital city and evolving tourist destination.

I wish to express our special gratitude to the leadership of the State Agency for Tourism for their outspoken support to this issue publication and for their advanced, consistent interaction and open dialogue with the travel industry professionals.

I would like to address our most particular recognition to the Mayor of Sofia and his associates for their proactive and cooperative approach in establishing a viable portfolio of joint initiatives and networks between public and private sectors, so that to invest in the city promotion as a vivid, visitor-friendly and visible destination.

It is our shared understanding, that building partnerships is essential to achieve sustainable tourism solutions that would find balance between capacity and vulnerability, while enhancing local identity and authenticity.

It is our endeavour to work together and be a part of the Sofia success story in tourism as an open city to open-hearted. We invite you to join and discover its true magic and wisdom.

Content - the catalogue consist of 96 pages

• Letter from Boyko Borissov—Mayor of Sofia
• Letter from Anelia Krushkova—President of the State Agency for Tourism
• Letter from Vitan Ivanov—Chairman of Sofia Tourist Council
• Sofia Tourist Council
• Sofia a Cultural Heritage Tourism Destination
• Theatres
• Museum
• Private Galleries
• Culture Event Calendar
• Sports Halls & Stadiums
• Cinema
• Diplomatic Missions
• Emergency Telephone Numbers
• Hospitals
• Tourist Associations & Collective Members of Sofia Tourist Council
• Members of Sofia Tourist Council
• Categorization Index—Tourist Sites and Facilities