IBSB Students Met with Anton Penev, Director of Visit Sofia
Students from the International Business School of Bulgaria (IBSB) met with Mr. Anton Penev, Director of the Municipal Enterprise “Tourism” – Sofia. The meeting, held in his office, was organized at the initiative of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dessislava Alexova from the IBS faculty, aiming to provide students with a valuable practical insight into the management of Sofia as a tourist destination.
The meeting was attended by third-year students from the Bachelor’s program in “Tourism and Entrepreneurship”, who are studying the course “Tourism Supply”, as well as fourth-year students enrolled in “Geography for Travel Agents.” Additionally, Master’s students from the “Tourism Management” program participated, as their course “Tourism Destination Management” provides an in-depth look at strategies and policies in the sector. The event was also joined by the Chair of the IBS Student Council, Ivana Gyurova.
During the meeting, Mr. Penev presented the key functions and activities of Visit Sofia, providing students with insights into its role within the structure of Sofia Municipality. The discussion covered the priority target tourist groups, product policy, and the specific types of tourism that Sofia focuses on – from cultural-historical and MICE tourism to niche products such as wine tours and urban birdwatching routes. Mr. Penev also shared recent statistical data on tourist visits over the past five years, including the trends in leading tourist markets and the number of overnight stays recorded.
The students gained valuable insights into the operations of Visit Sofia, the challenges faced by the organization, the categorization process of tourist sites, and the marketing and promotional strategies for positioning the capital as a tourist destination. Special attention was given to Sofia’s representation at international tourism fairs and the upcoming marketing initiatives aimed at enhancing the city’s visibility on the global tourism map.
Mr. Penev announced that there are currently vacant positions at Visit Sofia and encouraged students interested in a career in tourism to apply. He also assured them that the organization is ready to assist with coursework and thesis preparation. Additionally, he announced an upcoming career forum, which will provide further professional development opportunities for young specialists.
The meeting concluded with a lively discussion, where students asked a wide range of questions, receiving in-depth and specific answers from Mr. Penev. They had the opportunity to explore the real-world practices of destination management and enhance their knowledge with practical examples and current industry trends.
The collaboration between IBS and institutions responsible for tourism development is essential for the successful professional realization of future specialists. On-site visits provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge from our practically oriented programs in a real work environment. We believe that this approach is the most effective way to prepare highly qualified professionals, ready to tackle the challenges of the modern tourism sector. We look forward to upcoming initiatives and events that will further strengthen the connection between education and practice in the field of tourism.
