The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.
As the leading international organization in the field of tourism, UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide. UNWTO encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism to maximize the contribution of tourism to socio-economic development, while minimizing its possible negative impacts, and is committed to promoting tourism as an instrument in achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), geared towards reducing poverty and fostering sustainable development. UNWTO generates market knowledge, promotes competitive and sustainable tourism policies and instruments, fosters tourism education and training, and works to make tourism an effective tool for development through technical assistance projects in over 100 countries around the world. UNWTO’s membership includes 155 countries, 7 territories and over 400 Affiliate Members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities. Bulgaria is a beautiful small country, located in Southeast Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula.
The country offers perfect conditions for tourism due to its sea, winter and health resorts, as well as numerous historical and cultural sites. It is not easy to talk impartially about this world treasure Bulgaria. There are 4 seasons – a mild winter, green and fresh spring, golden autumn, a warm and welcoming sea, passable green mountains, hundreds of mineral springs, picturesque lakes, and crystal clear small rivers. Each season offers a large variety of colours, scents and sensations, which make Bulgaria a wonderful and desired destination all year round.
It is even harder to describe in just a few words the thousand-year old history of this small country.
Bulgarians have inherited and enriched this culture, maintaining and developing it further. They have given to the world their calendar, the first alphabet of the Slavic language, invented by the Holy brothers Cyril and Methodius, translation of the Holy Scriptures into Old Bulgarian language, Madara Horseman. The folk art has preserved until today the brightness of folk customs, songs and crafts. Bulgaria is rich in beautiful, green resorts with precious mineral waters. Balneologic and physiotherapeutic clinics, sanatoria, polyclinics, beaches and swimming pools and the last but not the least – modern hotels, offering comprehensive relaxation – are operating there. Bulgarian health resorts combine exceptional climate and abundance of mineral springs. The climate is continental and Mediterranean, however without the harsh storms of the Northern Europe and Sahara heats typical for the Mediterranean countries. The combination of mineral springs and therapeutic mud is quite favourable for treatment, rehabilitation and relaxation all year round Bulgarian mineral waters have various chemical composition, mineralization, temperature, gases and microorganisms. Bulgaria ranks among the first in Europe in terms of wealth and diversity of hydrothermal waters and bioclimatic treatment resorts. The opportunities for climatic treatment and balneotherapy have been used from way back. Flourishing Thracian settlements have been established around mineral springs. Romans have established the large settlements of Diocletianopolis (Hisar), Dezudava (Sandanski), Ulpia Pautalia (Kyustendil), Serdika (Sofia) and many others. The emperors Trajan, Septimius Severus, Maximilian and Justinian have built up balneotherapeutic centres. Bulgaria is among the world leaders in terms of variety of herbs with exceptional medicinal properties. This enormous capital of natural factors, combined with contemporary hotels and health centres provides an excellent opportunity for all year round treatment and health maintenance.
Some of the largest balneological centres are Sandanski, Velingrad, Hisarya, Kyustendil, Kostenets, Devin, Sapareva Banya, Varshets, etc.
A bunch of opportunities for treatment and relaxation are offered also by the mountain resorts Borovets, Bansko, Pamporovo, etc. The magnificent nature, clean air and mineral waters are their priceless fortune. |
All |
Smolyan
The town of Smolyan is located in the Middle Rhodopes, Southern Bul... |
||
Town of Kalofer
Kalofer is a small town, located at the foot of Botev peak, 17 kilo... |
||
Town of Elena
The town of Elena is situated in the high parts of the North Balkan... |
||
Kavarna
The town of Kavarna is located on a rocky shore in the northern par... |
||
Town of Sopot
Sopot is situated at a distance of only 5 km from Karlovo, about 13... |
BULGARIA IS READY TO HOST THE 18TH EUROPEAN SPAS ASSOCIATION CONGRESS14th – 17th MAY 2013, POMORIE, BULGARIABUBSPA (Bulgarian union of balneology and spa tourism) as a member of ESPA (European spas association) is going to host 18th Annual ESPA congress on 14th – 17th May 2013 in Pomorie, Bulgaria. ESPA is an umbrella organisation representing more than 20 European countries. ESPA's objective is to promote spas and balneology in Europe and to take care that the natural remedies based on mineral water, landscape and climate will be available to as great a number of citizens and visitors as possible. The Congress will be brings together the Europe’s leading SPA professionals to present the latest advances and developments in this field. Participation in the event will also the mayors of Europe's leading spa municipalities, representatives of European health organizations and pension funds. Main accents in the program of the Congress will be presentation sessions on methods for successful management of spa destinations, marketing, sales, PR in Medical spa and spa hotels, spa customer requirements, opportunities for collaboration with the private health insurance companies and pension funds. The program included working meetings between mayors of municipalities leading European spa, working meetings with representatives of the health insurance funds and pension funds, cross-border healthcare, in particular the prevention and rehabilitation, working meetings between executives of leading Medical Spa / spa and wellness hotels and tour operators specializing in the field. During the Congress you will have the opportunity to meet and learn innovative approaches in the management and promotion of spa destinations, Medical Spa and Spa hotels, Medical SPA and SPA centers, to participate in interesting discussions and to make successful contacts and partnerships. Download Registration formDownload Congress program |
I like |
|
The first inhabited areas in what is now Bulgaria were the caves along the lower reaches of the rivers Iskar, Yantra and Rusenski Lom. By the 6th century BC, the most developed settlement network was Thracian. Later, under the impetus of mining, stock-breeding, and agriculture, settlements grew up in the Rhodopes, the Balkan Mountains, the Sofia area, the Vratsa area, and elsewhere.
At the beginning of the 4th century BC, there were about 3,000 settlements on the land that is now Bulgaria. In the 3rd century BC the first stone fortresses were built.
Until the end of the 2nd century BC, settlement development continued to reflect Thracian cultural influence. Sofia (Serdika), Plovdiv (Pulpudeva), Yambol (Kabile), Stara Zagora (Vereya), Kyustendil (Pautaliya), Blagoevgrad, among other places, were all established as Thracian settlements.
In the 8th century BC, the first Greek cities were founded as colonies (apoiki) in Aegean Thrace, and by the 7th century BC most of our Black Sea settlements were already established – Varna (Odesos), Sozopol (Apolonia), Pomorie (Anhialo), Tsarevo (Vasiliko), Nesebar (Mesembria), and others.
In the 2nd century BC, on present-day Bulgarian territory, the first Roman settlements and fortresses were erected along the river valley of the Danube and along the Balkan Mountain passes, as well as at way stations in the Danube Lowlands. Dating from Roman times are the present-day cities Vidin (Bononia), Svishtov (Nove), Ruse (Saksiginta Prista), Silistra (Durostorum), Montana (Montanesium), Lovech (Melta), Pleven (Storgozia), Razgrad (Abritus), Stara Zagora (Augusta Trayana), among others. After the establishment of the Bulgarian state, the number of settlements grew rapidly. During the First Bulgarian Kingdom (681-1018), their number grew to some 20,000, and new settlements appeared in northeastern Bulgaria, such as Pliska, Preslav, and Shumen. During the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185-1396), settlements such as Tarnovo, Cherven, Boruy, Krakra, Karvuna, and Kran were established.
At the end of the 17th century, Bulgarian settlements were established near inns and farms, and by the beginning of the 18th century mountain settlements developed as crafts centers, such as those at Kotel, Koprivshtitsa, Elena, Tryavna, Gabrovo, Sliven, and Samokov.
In the vicinity of the settlements established during the times of the Thracians, Greeks, and Romans, and later expanded during the First and the Second Bulgarian Kingdoms, there are still remains of fortresses and settlements.
Nowadays, there are 256 towns and cities in Bulgaria. The largest of these are Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Ruse, Stara Zagora and Pleven. In the eastern part of the country, there are the Black Sea towns-resorts of Shabla, Kavarna, Balchik, Varna, Byala, Obzor, Nesebar, Pomorie, Burgas, Sozopol, Primorsko, Sveti Vlas, Chernomorets, Tsarevo, Kiten, Aheloy and Ahtopol. The towns and cities with developed mountain tourism are Samokov, Bansko, Dobrinishte, Chepelare, Smolyan, Elena, Troyan, Teteven, among others. There are also many cities and towns that offer vacation possibilities and balneological treatments, such as Bankya, Varshets, Velingrad, Hisarya, Sapareva Banya, Strelcha, Kyustendil, and Devin. Also of interest to tourists are the Danube towns of Vidin, Lom, Kozloduy, Oryahovo, Nikopol, Belene, Svishtov, Ruse, Tutrakan and Silistra.
Many Bulgarian towns have preserved their Revival architecture. These include Kotel, Koprivshtitsa, Kalofer, Sopot, Elena, Tryavna, Bansko, Melnik (the smallest town in Bulgaria), among others. In some of the towns and cities there are also architectural and ethnographic complexes that have been preserved or restored: Plovdiv’s Old Town, Nesebar’s Old Town (a UNESCO cultural heritage site), Gabrovo’s (Etara), the Old Town in Sozopol, the Old Town in Dobrich, Zlatograd’s Areal Complex, Varosha in Lovech, Smolyan’s residential sections Raykovo and Ustovo, Blagoevgrad’s Varosha, Sevlievo’s Ethnographic Complex, Malko Tarnovo, the Samodovska Charshiya in Veliko Tarnova, Pleven’s Revival Complex, Razgrad’s (Varosh), and others. The ancient Bulgarian capitals of Pliska, Veliki Preslav and Veliko Tarnovo are also of great interest for tourists.
The town of Hissar is situated in the central part of Bulgaria, in the South slopes of Sredna Gora Mountain. HISAR SPA HOTEL is located in the South-Eastern part of the resort in one of the most beautiful and clean natural parks in the town of Hissar. The SPA complex has 166 rooms with modern furniture which include: 38 bedrooms, 17 double rooms with two beds, 5 apartments of which one 1 presidential and 1 vicepresidential apartament, 18 studio apartments, 3 apartments with separate rooms, 65 double rooms, 17 double bedrooms, 3 single rooms, 2 double rooms for disabled people.
Hotel and Spa St. George **** works year round and is situated on the coast in the old part of town. The total number of rooms offered by the hotel is 98. A successful combination of luxury, comfort, convenience and comfort offered in different types of rooms like: Standard, Superior and Deluxe.
Spa – Hotel “Sveti Nikola” is situated in the foothill of the Pirin Mountains, in the central part of the town of Sandanski, 160 km. far away from Sofia. It disposes of 161 beds distributed in 7 suites – one of them with Jacuzzi, 21 single and 63 double rooms, offering a maximum comfort and an elegant style.