Digital technologies in tourism were the main focus of the International Tourist Fair Holliday & SPA EXPO – 2020.
The 37th edition of the event gathered in Sofia 377 companiesжfrom Europe, Asia, Africa and America, of which 65% are Bulgarian and 35% are foreign. The participants are national and regional tourism boards, representative branch organizations, tour operators and travel agencies, hotels and resorts, cultural institutions, diplomatic missions, specialized agencies for eco and rural tourism, golf, wine and culinary, children and youth tourism, manufacturers and suppliers, hotel, spa and fitness equipment and specialized software; transportation companies, venues for entertainment and attractions, art and sports clubs, as well as professional schools, publishers and media with a focus on the travel industry.
Destinations and opportunities for medical, SPA and wellness tourism from Bulgaria, the Balkans and Central Europe are presented in the specialized corner for Medical and SPA tourism. More than 40 tour operators and companies from the tourism industry made their debut. For the first time, business representatives from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kenya and France participated.
More than 60 destinations from all over the world demonstrated travel and vacation opportunities during the Holiday & SPA Expo Days.
Traditionally, Holiday & SPA Expo is held under the aegis of the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria.
Official partners of the event are the National Tourism Board, the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism and the Municipality of Bursa, Turkey. Travel companies and hotels from Turkey’s fourth largest city presented the opportunities offered by the Bursa area for holidays and travel on the evening of the second day of the fair.
Bulgaria’s place on the international tourist map was discussed during the 7th annual meeting of the National Tourism Board during the fair. Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova, Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova, MPs and National and International Experts attended the meeting.
The fair was visited by over 20 000 people including 3500 participants and guests of the accompanying events.
The rich accompanying program included dozens of discussions and presentations, presented tools for managing online sales, the challenges and trends facing independent hoteliers and global brands, artificial intelligence and blockchain technology in tourism, digital products for small and medium-sized enterprises, marketing solutions, attractive programs, top destinations, tastings, and brought together experts and visitors engaged with current tourism development topics.
