site.btaArchitects Union President Dikov Says Vitosha, Sofia Tourism Potential Is Underused

Vitosha and Sofia have underused tourism potential that should be developed strategically, President of the Union of Architects in Bulgaria Petar Dikov said in Sofia on Tuesday.

The event, organized by the National Tourism Board (NTB) at the University of Forestry, was part of the board’s 20th anniversary programme held under the patronage of President Iliana Iotova and with institutional support from the Ministry of Tourism. The anniversary initiative is titled Four Keys to Sustainable Tourism: Culture, Nature, Food and Innovation, and Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) is a media partner of the event.

Dikov called for a more comprehensive approach to the development of Vitosha. He said the mountain, located right next to the capital, is a unique natural resource that is currently deteriorating and is not being used fully as a tourism area.

He added that Vitosha should be the subject of a separate strategic discussion and called for stronger involvement by the academic community in drawing up and implementing the natural park’s management plan, including experts from the University of Forestry and the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy.

Dikov said Sofia has exceptionally rich cultural and historical heritage, including sites such as Boyana Church, as well as a group of monasteries around the capital known as the Sofia Holy Mountain. He added that these resources remain insufficiently promoted and are weakly integrated into the city’s tourism product.

Among his other main points, he pointed to the wealth of mineral springs in the Sofia plain, which he said are a natural resource with potential for health and spa tourism. Dikov added that the different types of mineral water in the region could be used more effectively through targeted investment and a better development strategy.

He also called for better organization of tourism services in the capital, including improved information for foreign visitors and better routes to cultural and natural sites around Sofia. He said this would allow the city to make full use of its potential as a tourism destination.