Svetla Nedeva, Hristina Ilieva, Natalia Stancheva SPECIAL INTEREST TOURISM IN BULGARIA PART TWO

Svetla Nedeva, Hristina Ilieva, Natalia Stancheva SPECIAL INTEREST TOURISM IN BULGARIA PART TWO

Svetla Nedeva Hristina Ilieva Natalia Stancheva SPECIAL INTEREST TOURISM IN BULGARIA PART TWO 2014 Science and Economics Publishing House University of Economics Varna 3

All rights reserved. This book or any part of it cannot be copied or distributed electronically without the publisher s written permission. Svetla Koleva Nedeva, Hristina Ilieva Ilieva, Natalia Borisova Stancheva, authors, 2014 Science and Economics Publishing House University of Economics Varna, 2014 ISBN 978-954-21-0802-3 4

CONTENTS PREFACE... 9 1. CONGRESS TOURISM AND SPA HOLIDAYS IN BULGARIA 1.1. Congress Tourism... 11 1.1.1. Definition and Basic Characteristics... 11 1.1.2. Types of Congress Tourism... 14 1.1.3. Local and World Congress Organizations... 15 1.2. Organizing Corporate Events... 16 1.2.1. Event Planning and Preparation... 16 1.2.2. Event Execution and Assessment... 19 1.2.3. Meeting Room Set-ups and Styles... 21 1.3. Congress Tourism in Bulgaria... 24 1.3.1. Advantages and Future Development... 24 1.3.2. Major Congress and Convention Venues: Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Other Cities... 28 1.3.3. Major Congress and Convention Venues: Mountain and Black Sea Resorts... 37 1.4. Nature and Origin of Spa Holidays... 42 1.4.1. The Term SPA... 43 1.4.2. Historic Overview... 43 1.4.2.1. Bathing Practices in Ancient Times... 45 1.4.2.2. Bathing Practices through the Ages... 47 1.4.2.3. Bathing Practices in Modern Times... 49 1.5. Types of Spa Centres... 51 1.5.1. Spa Domains according to ISPA... 51 1.5.2. Regulation of the Spa Industry... 54 1.5.3. Spa Treatments... 58 5

1.6. Bulgaria as a World-Famous Balneological Centre... 59 1.6.1. Resources and Potential for Development... 59 1.6.2. Bulgaria s Biggest Spa Centres... 62 1.6.3. The Black Sea Spa Centres... 70 2. TRADITIONAL BULGARIAN CUISINE: A SAVOURY TOUR ACROSS TIME AND TERRITORY 2.1. Bulgarian Cuisine over the Centuries... 75 2.1.1. Brief Historical Overview... 75 2.1.2. The Thracian, Slavic and Proto-Bulgarian Styles of Eating... 76 2.1.3. Traditional Bulgarian Foods and Beverages as They Once Were... 77 2.1.4. Foreign Culinary Influences... 85 2.2. Peculiarities of the Bulgarian Cuisine... 88 2.2.1. Seasonality... 89 2.2.2. Food Storage and Preservation... 89 2.2.3. Cooking Methods... 90 2.2.4. Compatibility of Ingredients and Cooking Fats. Sequencing of Dishes.... 90 2.2.5. Herbs and Spices... 91 2.2.6. Meal times. Kitchen and Dining-room Utensils. Eateries.... 91 2.3. Bulgarian Cuisine and the Christian Religious Calendar... 95 2.3.1. Zadushnitsa... 95 2.3.2. Posti (Fast)... 96 2.3.3. Winter Cycle Holidays: Dimitrovden, Arhangelovden, Varvara, Nikulden, Andreevden, Ignazhden, Bydni Vecher, Koleda, Vasilyovden, Trifonovden, Todorovden, Blagovets, Velikden... 98 6

2.3.4. Summer Cycle Holidays: Gergyovden, Petrovden, Preobrazhenie Gospodne, Golyama Bogoroditsa, Petkovden... 106 2.4. Traditional Bulgarian Types of Courses and what Bulgarians Eat and Drink Today... 108 2.4.1. Razyadki/Meze (Appetizers)... 108 2.4.2. Chorba... 109 2.4.3. Main Course Dishes... 110 2.4.4. Regional Varieties... 112 2.4.5. Desserts and Snacks... 112 2.4.6. Drinks... 113 2.4.7. Bulgarian specialities in the EU Representative List of Protected Designations of Origin for Foodstuffs... 114 2.5. Try It and You Will Love It... 115 2.5.1. Popular Folk-Style Restaurants in Some Major Cities in Bulgaria... 116 2.5.2. A Sample Culinary Tour Offer... 119 2.5.3. Traditional Bulgarian Recipies... 120 2.6. Bulgarian Cuisine Quiz... 123 3. THE ART OF WINETASTING AND WINE TOURISM IN BULGARIA 3.1. The Art of Wine Making... 125 3.1.1. History of Wine... 125 3.1.2. The Winemaking Process... 126 3.1.3. Types of Wine... 127 3.1.4. Wines of the World... 129 3.2. The Bulgarian Wine-Making Industry... 138 3.2.1. Vine-growing and Winemaking in Bulgaria... 138 3.2.2. Bulgarian Grape Varieties and Popular Wines... 141 7

3.2.3. Bulgaria s Winemaking Business Today... 146 3.3. Wine Tourism in Bulgaria... 152 3.3.1. General Overview... 152 3.3.2. Wine Tours Offered by Tour-Operators in Bulgaria... 154 3.4. The Art of Wine Tasting... 159 3.4.1. What Your Senses Tell You... 159 3.4.2. How to Be an Expert in Wine Tasting... 167 3.4.3. How to Record Tasting Notes... 169 3.5. Serving Wine... 171 3.5.1. Opening Techniques... 171 3.5.2. Pour, Twist and Take. Decanting... 172 3.5.3. How a Wine Glass Works... 173 3.5.4. Little Tips for Wine-Serving Staff in Restaurants... 175 3.6. Matching Food and Wine... 178 3.6.1. Basic Principles... 178 3.6.2. Match Points with Bulgarian Wines... 180 3.6.3. Wine Knowledge Self-Assessment Test... 182 4. APPENDICES... 184 4.1. Interesting Facts about Congress Tourism Worldwide... 184 4.2. The Most Notable Bulgarian Spa Hotels... 185 4.3. Traditional Bulgarian Foods and Drinks... 186 4.4. Cooking Measurements Conversion Table... 193 4.5. Answers to the Bulgarian Cuisine Quiz... 193 4.6. Popular Wines and Famous Wine Blends... 194 4.7. Wine Descriptions Glossary... 198 4.8. Answers to Wine Knowledge Test... 202 Bibliography... 204 8