tag:typepad.com,2003:weblog-1688010 2010-01-18T03:49:53-05:00 Rossitza Ohridska-Olson's blog about the business of cultural tourism, culture discovery, emerging destinations, art adventures in Europe, Internet strategies and world travel TypePad tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553ae619b8834012876e958ea970c 2010-01-18T03:49:53-05:00 2010-01-18T03:49:53-05:00

Thracian Helmet with Mask, originally uploaded by The Traveling Frog - Rossitza and Stevan Olson. Thracian Helmet with Mask: Amazing photo. National Museum of History, Bulgaria

Rossitza Ohridska-Olson tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553ae619b88340120a79eaf35970b 2010-01-03T14:28:31-05:00 2010-01-11T17:11:06-05:00

Cultural travelers travel because they need to unveil something mysterious, something familiar, something…unexpected. They are driven not by prices, but buy deep-rooted need for new experiences or nostalgic familiarity. That is why they spend more money and they travel more often. Their travels are longer in time and distance. This pattern will not change in 2010. What will be different and what will stay the same in 2010?

Rossitza Ohridska-Olson tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553ae619b8834012875624d08970c 2009-11-08T01:11:45-05:00 2009-12-21T12:21:50-05:00

Finally my (im)patience is generously rewarded: the Country Brand Index of Future Brand is here. That, on the top of the 2009 edition Nation Brands Index (NBI) by Anholt-GfK Roper, made me jump of joy. They encompass information, which will be my “food for thought” for the weeks to come. You might say that I am partial to the CBI, since I was one of the experts for the 2009 edition. In fact, I will try to prove that I see objectively both Indexes as sources of very valuable information. This combined “sea of knowledge” for professionals like me, is precious when it comes to create strategies for tourism development and destination management.

Rossitza Ohridska-Olson tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553ae619b88340120a69a3101970c 2009-10-31T14:50:35-04:00 2009-11-01T10:05:37-05:00

As a consultant on cultural tourism for the travel industry and a macro-strategist in this field, I always applaud when governments are thinking strategically about this industry. That is why I was extremely excited when during the last month the Bulgarian parliament approved the Strategic Plan for Cultural Tourism Development.

Rossitza Ohridska-Olson tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553ae619b88340120a5930294970b 2009-09-23T16:44:46-04:00 2009-10-03T12:19:07-04:00

The mission of the Intellect Institute is to research, preserve, enhance experience and promote culture through scientific research, high technology solutions, best business practices, sound marketing and communications systems, and international tourism. The INTELLECT Institute primary goal is to assist disadvantaged communities, organizations and individuals involved in research, preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage and living cultures, enhancing their capacity for productive and sustainable business operations.

Rossitza Ohridska-Olson tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553ae619b88340120a57d959b970b 2009-09-18T03:14:36-04:00 2009-09-18T03:14:36-04:00

When I created a Linkedin.com poll with a question: “Cultural & Creative Tourism: If you have unlimited amount of money and time, which type of destination you will choose?” I expected very different answers from what I obtained. I assumed that more people would prefer to spend their time and money on cultural trips in their own country. Then, less people would prefer well-established cultural tourism destinations outside of their country and the least amount of responders would choose emerging destinations and the most exotic cultural experiences. If we add the fact established by a CIA study that 80% of the world population is born, lives and dies in a 50 miles radius, I assumed much more conservative answers. Well, as you can see, I was completely wrong.

Rossitza Ohridska-Olson tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553ae619b88340120a56c1e27970b 2009-09-14T01:10:00-04:00 2009-09-14T09:34:25-04:00

Or In Memoriam – One Year Later One year after the death of Dr. Geogri Kitov, the state of the Bulgarian archaeology is in many cases unchanged and in the same time, transformed. Here is the overview of these events: What is the same? The TEMP Expedition (Thracian Expedition for Burial Mounts Research), created and managed in the past by Dr. Kitov, continues to make sensational discoveries. In August 2009, a very rich burial mound with gold wreath and other precious objects were found near Sliven by Diana Dimitrova, the spouse of Dr. Kitov and his colleague in the Temp expedition. Under her management, the expedition continues to perform the best research in the Valley of the Thracian Kings. Other archeological discoveries of great importance for the research of the Thracian Civilization were made by archeologists in Bulgaria. Dr. Gergana Kabakchieva discovered a unique stelae near Montana with inscriptions revealing vast amount of information about the customs and traditions of the Thracians. Dr. Diana Gergova discovered a spectacular sanctuary of the Thracians in the mountains near Velingrad - a site so big and interesting that is rivaling only Perperikon. What is different? The new Bulgarian government appointed an archaeologist and...

Rossitza Ohridska-Olson tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553ae619b88340120a4e155cd970b 2009-08-10T18:40:11-04:00 2009-08-10T18:40:11-04:00

Analyzing the results from a linkedin.com poll I created months ago, these two types of tourism prevail among the 690 people polled in the period between January 2009 and now. I am bogging these results for those of you who don’t have a linkedin.com account. For those who have it, you are welcome to answer the questions here and to see the results. Overall results from the poll: As you can see from the chart above, cultural and creative tourism are the chosen among the polled people. As demographics, the poll was distributed to 690 people from who 47% were US citizens/residents, 35% - from the European Community. 106 people responded to the poll. 17 persons added comment in addition to choosing one of the options. The following charts represent the gender and age distribution among the 106 people who responded to the poll. Currently, I am collecting data for a new poll here which aims to establish the travel preferences, given the condition that the respondents would have unlimited time and money. Everybody is welcome to participate.

Rossitza Ohridska-Olson tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553ae619b88340115722ea0cb970b 2009-07-24T07:26:23-04:00 2009-07-24T08:10:26-04:00

The “Main stakeholders in the formation of tourism products and services: Their role and the tourism effects on their development.” is a simplified visualization of the relationships from the process of formation of tourism product and services to their effect on the society. All comments and suggestions are welcome.

Rossitza Ohridska-Olson tag:typepad.com,2003:post-6a00e553ae619b8834011571151bb5970c 2009-07-15T13:56:40-04:00 2009-07-15T13:56:40-04:00

The Valley of the Thracian Kings, the gold and silver treasures from Vulchetrun, Rogozen, Kosmatka, and Panagyurishte, monuments, sites and other artifacts, are witnesses of glory of kingdoms, mystic rites and fierce wars. They are also the biggest attractions for tourists. Yet, the country struggles and encounters difficulties to “find itself”, its own image, its own line of positioning. See why I believe that the cultural tourism branding for Bulgaria should be focused on the cultural heritage of the Thracian Civilization.

Rossitza Ohridska-Olson