site.btaMalaysia Interested in Bulgaria's Ski Resorts

To Malaysia, a country of diverse tropical landscapes and a highly developed tourist industry, Bulgaria is interesting with its winter resorts. "Every Malaysian wishes to go on a ski holiday at least once in their life," says Noor Ismail of Asian Overland Services, a major travel agency based in Kuala Lumpur.

Meeting with Ismail in Sofia on Friday, Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov recommended Bansko, Southwestern Bulgaria as a popular European winter resort. He added that Bulgaria has Europe's second-largest number of mineral springs and offers world-class SPA services, which can be another good reason to choose it as a holiday destination.

The meeting was held on the initiative of Malaysia's Honorary Consul in Bulgaria Petar Kurumbashev.

Dimitrov said that to the people in distant countries such as Malaysia, Bulgaria is part of Europe and the Balkans, and can be viewed in the context of a combined tourist product which it is considering with its neighbours Greece and Turkey.

Ismail noted that Malaysia has traditionally close relations with Turkey, Malaysians often choose it as a travel destination, and the logistic potential of the megacity of Istanbul can contribute to an increase in the tourist flow to Bulgaria.

Kurumbashev said Malaysia is a preferred upmarket holiday destination for Bulgarians, which can serve as a good basis for the development of bilateral tourism ties.

Minister Dimitrov sees considerable potential for sharing professional expertise and labour between the two countries, which can boost bilateral contacts and two-way travel.