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Photos of former Lukoil Bulgaria CEO Valentin Zlatev and former GERB Minister of Tourism and GERB candidate Nikolina Angelkova have appeared in media publications and social networks in recent days and have provoked questions and comments. An inspection of Dnevnik showed that the footage was authentic and was from September this year.
They are from the media in Tanzania, which then published information about a Bulgarian delegation that visited the country and met with local authorities there on the occasion of an investment in a future hotel. The footage shows moments from the conversations. The delegation also includes Lachezar Todorov – manager of the hotel company of Zlatev “Terra Tour Service”.
The company has not yet commented on details of the meetings and the future investment. Angelkova told Dnevnik that she had participated in an international tourism forum as an expert and had traveled at her own expense.
Tanzania, and in particular the autonomous island of Zanzibar, became especially popular with Bulgarians this winter, largely because it was one of the few destinations open to tourists during a pandemic.
What is known
According to publications in Tanzania, the future hotel – discussed at the meetings – will be under the brand of the German hotel chain “Kempinski” (Kempinski), and $ 72 million will be invested in it. It will be located in the northern part of the country, where several of the national parks. Construction is expected to begin in January.
The project dates back to several years before the pandemic. This is understood from the website of the company “Agrohold”, which is the owner of “Terra Tour Service”, where the real owner is Valentin Zlatev, reports “Capital”. Again, it is understood that the planned investment will be made through Helios Lodges Company Ltd. (HLC), established in Tanzania in 2018 for the purpose of “investing and developing tourism and hotel projects”.
In addition, in 2019 the company has already signed licensing agreements with the Tanzanian National Park Administration for the construction of lodges in the Serengeti National Park, where there will be 150 beds in the Lobo region. In Tarangire National Park – also 150 beds in Kitbong Hill. And a permanent tent camp in Lake Manyara National Park, consisting of 50 beds in the area of the Msasa River, the publication points out.
– Management agreements with Kempinski have already been signed.
Dnevnik sent questions to the company’s management, but there is still no answer.
On Thursday, however, Terra Tours sent a statement to the media stating that the company is considering various opportunities to develop its activities abroad and therefore participates in international forums and events, as well as considering interesting places for investment, including Tanzania.
There, representatives of the company participated in meetings with the leaders of the African Tourism Council, the International Conference on Tourism and Investment, as well as with officials from the country. Mrs. Nikolina Angelkova also attended some of these events, the company confirmed.
“Given Tanzania’s favorable business climate, the company intends to invest in the country. Terra Tour Service will notify media representatives when there is positive news about the development of its investment plans,” the statement said.
Valentin Zlatev as a hotelier
For many years Valentin Zlatev was known as the CEO of Lukoil Bulgaria. In September last year understoodthat since August 10 it is no longer part of the supervisory board of Lukoil Neftochim Burgas. A year earlier, he had surprisingly been appointed chairman of the company’s supervisory board during the castling of the company. Neither then nor after that Zlatev commented on his departure from the company.
© Julia Lazarova
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At the same time, it is one of the largest hoteliers on the sea, where it is positioned in 2002. There are two hotels in Obzor, and in Sunny Beach – three hotels, some of them until recently under the RIU brand. In August however, it was understoodthat the hotels of Valentin Zlatev are separated from the RIU brand. By the end of the year, the hotel of Zlatev RIU Pravets Resort will part with the brand. In the autumn of last year in Sofia opened the hotel of Zlatev, where he partnered with the chain “Hyatt” – Hyatt Regency Sofia.
According to information on Agrohold’s website, Terra Tour Service and related companies will also invest in a hotel on the Caribbean island of Saint Susia – Grand Hyatt Saint Lucia Resort, which is expected to open in 2023. In the past, this project was announced as an investment of the construction “GP Group”, which is partially associated with Zlatev, according to “Capital”.
Nikolina Angelkova – candidate for MP or investor
Former Minister of Tourism Nikolina Angelkova does not occupy the post on July 20, 2020. She was then replaced along with other colleagues in response to the many thousands of beggars against Borissov’s rule. She then returned as an MP and a few months later announced that it will be a part by two parliamentary committees: on economic policy and tourism, as well as the commission for monitoring revenue agencies and combating the gray economy and smuggling.
Terra Tour did not say why she was part of the delegation in Tanzania. Angelkova told Dnevnik that she had participated in an international tourism forum as an expert. At that time she was neither an MP nor a candidate for MP, but she was a coordinator for GERB in Sofia district. According to her, the invitation was from the African Board of Tourism.
Angelkova also commented that she constantly participates as an expert in international tourism forums. She clarified that there is no investor interest in a hotel in Tanzania.
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