The Ministry of Tourism will advertise destination Bulgaria at the Snowboard World Cup in Bansko in 2023

The leading ski resort Bansko will host for the third time the FIS Snowboard World Cup and FIS Snowboard Alpine Junior World Championships, which returns to the country with races in the parallel disciplines on 21 and 22 January 2023. For the third time, the best snowboarders will compete under Todorka Peak, five seasons after Radoslav Yankov’s unforgettable victory in the Snowboard World Cup in front of a home crowd at Bansko Ski Centre in 2017 and four years after the last Snowboard World Cup organized by the Bulgarian Ski Federation. In the 2022/2023 season Bulgaria and Bansko will again host - not only the FIS Snowboard World Cup, but also the FIS Snowboard Alpine Junior World Championships (parallel disciplines).

Given the significance of the upcoming sporting event, its importance and the opportunities it offers to promote our country not only as a sporting but also as a tourist destination, referring also to the extensive media coverage of this type of world competitions; the Ministry of Tourism will participate in the Snowboard World Cup with a number of promotional activities.

“This is a top event in our winter calendar, it deserves our very serious, I would even say key support, as it will bring prestige and popularity to Bulgaria as a destination and works for brand Bulgaria,” is convinced the Minister of Tourism Ilin Dimitrov.

Expectations are that the grandstand of the final, located on the Banderishka meadow, against the backdrop of the picturesque scenery of Pirin, will be filled to the brim because of the participation of the star Radoslav Yankov and the young talents in snowboarding, headed by the bronze winner in the parallel slalom at the World Junior Championships in Valmalenko, Italy - Tervel Zamfirov.

In the period since the first World Cup in Bansko in 2009, our country has gained significant experience in the organization and hosting of 8 World Cups in alpine skiing, 2 World Cups in snowboarding, as well as the Youth World Ski Championships in 2021 and that is why FIS once again trusted the Bulgarian Ski Federation to hold starts in the parallel disciplines in snowboarding.

The 2009-2021 World Cups held in the Bansko Winter Centre were watched by a cumulative worldwide television audience of over 700 million viewers, undoubtedly the biggest advertisement of Bulgaria’s opportunities for winter sport and tourism. More than 10,000 spectators are expected in Bansko again for the Snowboard World Cup starts to support Radoslav Yankov and the other elite competitors in the parallel disciplines.

According to the Nielsen report, the Snowboard World Cup in the 21/22 season had a 93% increase in cumulative audience, a 97% increase in broadcast time compared to the 20/21 season and extremely strong TV and media coverage of the Bansko starts is expected.

Among the promotional activities planned by the Ministry of Tourism are combined top advertising positions on the starting gate and finishing gate constructions, award and interview areas, which will enable the presence of destination Bulgaria on both race days.

A very extensive additional advertising presence in all areas and venues associated with the event is also planned, as well as all promotional material for the event, including programmes, posters, brochures, leaflets, website, event social channels etc. A major PR campaign will also be carried out between December ’22 and January ’23, including major electronic media, outdoor advertising, etc. In the upcoming winter season, Bansko will also host another Alpine Ski World Cup start at the end of February in 2023. The great honour for our popular winter resort at home and abroad is no surprise after the perfectly held races on the slopes above Banderishka Meadow in recent years.