My conclusions
The Strategic Development of the Bulgarian Cultural Tourism is only a first step to define a real blueprint for the development of this industry. It is an admirable effort, full with mistakes and gaps. I hope that will be to develop a real Strategy for the Bulgarian Cultural tourism, which will address:
Cultural tourism research, which will provide the real picture of the economic aspects of the cultural tourism and their impact on Bulgaria.
Policies and legislation directions, accordingly to the needs for sustainable and socially responsible cultural tourism development.
Stakeholders coordination and strategic management directions, which will permit the elaboration of Tactical plans addressing problems in HR, infrastructure, cooperation actions, etc.
Cultural tourism strategy coordination with national tourism strategy, and strategies for development of other tourism types (business, wine, eco, pilgrimage, wellness, rural, event, adventure, etc.) which will permit policy makers and stakeholders to coordinate Tactical Plans and avoid program and efforts duplication. It will also save tons of money to the EU.
Cultural and creative tourism product creation model, which will serve the stakeholders to develop cultural tourism DESTINATIONS versus regions, clusters, LoCuS-es, and other smaller territorial entities.
Cultural tourism marketing strategy, which will create possibility for Bulgaria to compete on the overcrowded global cultural tourism markets. That will include the national branding strategy for cultural tourism, positioning on different markets, advertising and sales general marketing strategic directions.
Technology strategy for cultural tourism, leading to projects and programs of total digitalization of assets, community involvement, virtual and augmented reality solutions, serving as a marketing vehicle to deliver information, communication and extend the geographies of cultural tourism.
Accountability, transparency, and results monitoring, which will permit the stakeholders to know how the Strategy performs and what has to be done and addressed in Tactical Plans.Plans for future actions and strategy adjustments schedule, accordingly to demand and market changes.
Until this National Strategy for Cultural Tourism is created, this Strategic Plan will deal with bits and pieces, not with the broad perspectives for the Bulgarian Cultural Tourism.
Should I write a new Strategy for the Bulgarian Cultural tourism? Why not, if I have the time, I will. If I do, I will post it here, on this blog. And I will not charge anybody $1.2 million of dollars. It will be free, short and clear. I already have the research (here is the survey, if you want to take it), the knowledge of the cultural assets of Bulgaria, the experience of writing strategic and marketing plans, the expertise in cultural tourism management and development and the global vision of the trends in the industry. And, above all, the profound conviction that the cultural tourism is the future for the Bulgarian tourism.
Photography: Veliko Turnovo, The Veliko Turnovo Art Gallery and the Monument to the Liberation of Bulgaria from the Byzantine domination. Bulgaria. Photo: © 2009 Rossitza Ohridska-Olson
