According to the Sofia Echo, a Bulgarian newspaper, several tourist sector companies have initiated the creation of a Bulgarian national tourist board. Among the organizations involved in the tourist board's creation are the Bulgarian Convention and Visitors Bureau (BCVB), the Bulgarian Association of Hoteliers and Restaurateurs (BAHR) and the National Association for Spa Tourism (NAST). The organizations issued a statement that the board would seek to provide infrastructure support and regional development, promote new tourism products, develop new markets and build a network of Bulgarian tourist offices abroad. There is not currently a Bulgarian tourist office based in the U.S. Although it has not made a large impression yet on Americans, the country draws many Europeans each year. Bulgaria was among the Central and Eastern European destinations to promote itself to travel agents at the recent International Destination Expo (IDE) in Prague, and according to the report, ASTA executive committee member Frederic Bursch is lobbying for the 2008 or 2009 IDE to be held in Bulgaria.
