Deputy Mayor Plamen Panov and maestro Dian Chobanov are promoting Plovdiv together at an international tourist exhibition

For another year, the Municipality of Plovdiv, through the Department of Tourism, participates in the international tourist exhibition VACATION&SPA Expo, which takes place in Inter Expo Center, Sofia from March 13 to 15. Exhibitors from three continents - Europe, Africa and Asia, with representatives from Bulgaria, Madagascar, Great Britain, Turkey, China, Greece, Serbia, India, Mongolia, Mauritius, Maldives, Dubai, Finland - participate in the 40th anniversary edition.

The forum is held with the support of the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Bulgaria, and the partner country is Madagascar, known for its exceptional nature, biodiversity and unique tourist destinations.

The official opening ceremony takes place in the Central Lobby of the Inter Expo Center. The start of the HOLIDAY&SPA Expo 2024 was given by the Minister of Tourism Zaritsa Dinkova, and the Minister of Tourism of Madagascar, Joël Randriamandranto, also participated in the ceremony. Present were H.E. Sayanaa Lkhagvasuren, the ambassador of Mongolia, the ambassador of Finland in Bulgaria H.E. Kristiina Kuvaja-Xanthopoulos, mayors, heads of tourism boards of municipalities from Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and other officials.

At the Plovdiv stand, which recreates a stylized vision of one of the emblems of the city - the Ancient Theater and which broadcasts promotional films for the first Bulgarian European Capital of Culture in 2019, the guests were welcomed by the Deputy Mayor for Culture, Archeology and Tourism of Municipality of Plovdiv Mr. Plamen Panov and the director of the State Opera - Plovdiv - maestro Dian Chobanov.

Minister Zaritsa Dinkova and the foreign guests were fascinated by the Plovdiv stand. One of the presented highlights of Plovdiv, in addition to the promotion of the unique cultural and historical heritage, sights, opportunities for practicing different types of tourism, is the rich and varied cultural and event calendar. One of the largest events in it is the upcoming international festival OPERA OPEN 2024 of the Ancient Theater in Plovdiv, which this year marks the 70th anniversary of the creation of Opera Plovdiv. The festival program has a strong international content and genre diversity, which is a trademark of the music forum. By tradition, OPERA OPEN is part of the Festival Program of Plovdiv – European Capital of Culture 2019 and among the highlights of the cultural policy of the Plovdiv Municipality. Having turned into a recognizable cultural brand, OPERA OPEN puts the city of Plovdiv on the map of leading European open-air opera festivals.

The guests of the Plovdiv Municipality stand were welcomed with a stylish and elegant chamber program performed by Maria Anastasova - soprano, Bozhidar Bozhkilov - bass, Ralitsa Boteva - piano, Victoria Karidova - violin and Damiana Dimitrova - flute from the State Opera - Plovdiv.

The HOLIDAY&SPA Expo brings together national and regional tourism boards, industry organizations, tour operators, travel agencies, experts, owners and managers of hotels, SPA and wellness centers, businesses in the fields of golf, wine, culinary and youth tourism. Manufacturers and suppliers of hotel, spa and fitness equipment, specialized software are presented; transport companies and attractions, art and sports clubs, educational institutions, foreign language schools, publishing houses and media. The event gathers hundreds of participants and thousands of visitors from Bulgaria and abroad every year.