Bulgaria’s spa hotels to receive European quality seal

expatinbulgaria.com, June 8 2007, story by Elitsa Savova

Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism became member of the European Spas Association (ESPA).

Tsveta Milanova, head of the union, said that local spa hotels had to meet certain ESPA criteria for quality concerning medical services, security and hygiene. If they meet these criteria, the hotels will receive seal for quality.

ESPA’s goal was to harmonise the services in the spa resorts in Europe, she said.

Royal Holidays trade director Siika Katsarova said that the main aim of the Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism was to promote the new image of Bulgaria’s tourism, besides the well known sea tourism.

Part of the union’s initiative for popularisation of Bulgaria as spa tourism destination were three presentations in Finland, Estonia and Belgium, carried out in co-operation with the State Agency for Tourism (SAT).

Bulgaria has more than 500 mineral springs, which gives the country the opportunity to develop spa and balneology tourism.

According to Milanova, only two to three per cent of the tourists coming to Bulgaria were interested in spa. Promotion and state support were needed for the development of the sector.

Bulgaria’s spa sector will try to recuperate the interest of Russian and Scandinavian tourists in the country, as well as to attract more tourists from other countries, she said.

SAT deputy head Stanislav Novakov said that Bulgaria will try to diversify its tourism product, emphasising on the spa, cultural, golf, hunting and yachting tourism.

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