THE TOURIST IMAGE OF THE SPACE AS AN INDICATOR OF “SOFT POWER”: GEOPOLITICAL ASSESSMENT ON THE EXAMPLE OF BULGARIA

Problems of Geography, 2017, Vol.1-2, DOI: https://doi.org/10.35101/PRG-2017.1-2.6
Viliyan Krastev

Abstract:
The article is devoted to issues concerning the tourist image of the space as a main evaluative attribute of soft power in contemporary geopolitics. The researched example of Bulgaria reveals the impact of tourism on mass perceptions (before and after 1989) and reflects on the potential of the country to exert soft power on international level. To achieve a higher degree of objectivity in the geopolitical assessment the position of Bulgaria is analyzed by using prestigious international ratings which measure the attractiveness and reputation (as an expression of soft power) of the countries in the world.

Keywords:
postmodern geopolitics, soft power, image of space, Bulgaria, tourism

Author information:
Author: Viliyan Krastev
E-mail: vilianbg@yandex.ru
Affiliation: University of Economics – Varna

How to cite:
Krastev, V. (2017). ТУРИСТИЧЕСКИЯТ ОБРАЗ НА ПРОСТРАНСТВОТО КАТО ИНДИКАТОР НА „МЕКА СИЛА“: ГЕОПОЛИТИЧЕСКА ОЦЕНКА ПО ПРИМЕРА НА БЪЛГАРИЯ. Problems of Geography, 2017, Vol.1-2, p. 71-82. https://doi.org/10.35101/PRG-2017.1-2.6