I am an adventurer and I seek strong emotions in every destination

Introduce yourself in a few words..
My name is Dragoslav Minchev and I have been part of the Bulgarian Tourism Industry for over 20 years, with most of my professional journey related to managing high-category business hotels in Sofia. Currently, I am positioned in several consulting projects where I help hotel establishments optimize their processes and build a sustainable strategy and vision for their business. My latest project – Top Holidays – is a tour operator company focused on personalized travel solutions.
On a personal level and by interests, I would define myself as a traveler, geographer, discoverer, adventurer, nature lover, and... dreamer 😊

For you, traveling the world is?
In one word – “meaning”. There is no other similar emotion. Since I was a child, the famous phrase of Penyo Penev has been imprinted in me – “A person is a person when he is on the road”. My father had a yellowed postcard with this inscription in the glove compartment of the car from somewhere in the 70s. I remember it vividly, it has entered my consciousness and I have always strived to feel like “a person of these words”.
Since then, traveling the world has been a source of immense energy and inspiration for me. Exploring distant lands, different cultures, traditions, and customs – all of this brings me strong excitement, as well as emotional and intellectual growth.

How many different countries have you seen so far? Share a curious incident or highlights from your travels.
I have visited nearly 40 different countries. But I have “visited” almost the entire world virtually – I love to travel in applications.
Interesting incidents – almost everywhere. As I mentioned, I am an adventurer and I seek strong emotions in every destination. I am a big fan of sunsets and sunrises and I love to observe them from high places or from the shores of oceans and seas. It is in such moments that I have reached my state of personal nirvana – experiencing true meaning of life and existence.

Do you like to repeat destinations? Give examples and motivation “for” or “against”?
I rarely repeat – life is short to manage to visit all desired destinations. I try to explore each one “to the max” for the possible time horizon and I definitely adhere to a fundamental principle of geographers and discoverers – never return by the same path you came.
And yet – how can you not repeat Italy… 😊 I will never run out of exclamations about it!

What was your first trip that truly changed you as a professional and can be said to have changed your thinking?
The first trip that literally took me to another level was over 20 years ago – in the USA. Back then, as a tourism student at Sofia University, I had the opportunity to participate in the Work & Travel programs. At that time, the economic and political situation in Bulgaria was quite turbulent – in the eye of the so-called “transition”. Tourism and hospitality were still with a traditional Balkan tourist nuance, first attempts were being made to adapt to the new reality, and global brands and chains were just starting to arrive.
In the USA, I found myself in a completely different environment – built around the client, with clearly defined standards, attention to detail, and exceptional service. This was not just “service” – it was a culture. There I learned lessons that shaped me as a professional, leader, mentor. I realized how powerful a weapon effective communication is, how a vision is built, and how it turns into action. The trip expanded my worldview not only as a future manager in hospitality but also as a person. I returned with the clear conviction that here, in Bulgaria, we can also build brands and teams of world-class – as long as we have the will, motivation, and strategic thinking.

What do you learn about yourself and your professional skills when you are in a new cultural environment?
A person placed in a different environment learns – mainly about themselves. The new cultural environment provokes you to step out of the habit and look at your professional skills in a new context. Then you understand which qualities are universal – empathy, flexibility, leadership – and which you need to adapt to be effective in a different reality.

Have you met people or ideas during your travels that have influenced your career path?
Yes, of course. I love to communicate with different people from all corners of the world. I believe that with everyone you can exchange good ideas and energy, as well as look at life from a different perspective through communication. When I think about it – I have probably learned more and more genuinely from simpler and ordinary people.

Do you think your travels help you expand your professional network? How?
Definitely. Often, when I travel, I introduce myself to colleagues in the tourism sector and gladly share experiences in their destination. I provide unobtrusive, reasoned feedback that I believe can be useful for them. I have always created valuable contacts this way, which I maintain to this day.

What skills do you develop the most when you travel, and how do they reflect on your work?
I mainly develop observation and adaptability – the ability to react quickly and adequately in an unfamiliar environment. This is especially important in the tourism sector, where every situation requires a balance between protocol and intuition. Traveling also successfully enhances my strategic thinking – through observing good practices and innovative approaches that I can transfer to my projects and concepts.
Ultimately, traveling is not just moving in space and time – it is also an evolution as a person and a professional.

Is there a city or country that has inspired you to start a new business or project?
Yes. My travels in distant Asia awakened in me the idea for a travel company through which I can pass on my knowledge, insights, and experiences to my clients. I believe that in this way I will be useful to them and I would charge them with a positive energy that they can carry with them during their travels.

When you are in an unfamiliar country, do you feel more motivated or more distracted? Why?
More motivated, for sure. The new and unfamiliar environment always awakens in me curiosity and energy – it pulls you out of routine and gives you the opportunity to observe, learn, and think differently. This is very valuable, especially when you are engaged in serious management processes. The different perspective leads to fresher ideas and unconventional solutions.

Are there destinations that act as a “restart” for your creativity and ambition?
There is a special magic in jungles and deserts. They are different – even complete opposites, but the excitement for me is great when I find myself in both. It is hard to describe in words in a short format the emotion and feelings from these experiences.

How do you manage the balance between work and pleasure, when you travel?
Having worked for many years at a managerial level in tourism, which is an industry without a day off, I cannot say that there have been trips where I have managed to “switch off” completely. But I have always managed to arrange my schedule in a way that balances it reasonably.

How have travels changed the way you perceive the value of money?
I often measure the value of money in opportunities for travel. This is a sure indicator that I have a need to travel and accordingly earn money, to afford it.

Do you travel with the aim of finding new ways to earn money?
I always consider this possibility, but it is not a priority in my choice of destination. I gather information, study strengths and weaknesses, look at perspectives, and assemble potential business models.

What lessons about financial independence have you learned from different economies and cultures?
Understandings of financial independence vary in different parts of the world, and therefore nations have their specific characteristics. Northern European and American cultures value financial resources, love to plan sustainably, and look longer-term in this direction. In Southeast Asia, they are used to surviving with little and look at financial flows more short-term. A traveling person observes, analyzes, and composes the best formula and economic worldview for themselves.

In your opinion, is it better to spend on experiences, instead of material possessions?
I cannot answer this question unilaterally – there are many possible unknowns. As in every relationship – priorities and a reasonable balance in the modern person are important. On this topic, I can highlight a well-known cliché: “Traveling is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.” I fully support this statement!

How do you see the future of digital nomadic life?
The modern form of nomadism literally exploded after the COVID pandemic and showed new horizons for lifestyle and work. The home office concept allows people to live in different places on Earth while continuing to perform their work tasks. I believe that these processes are favorable for global tourism and are certainly part of globalization, which is an irreversible phenomenon.
I expect digital nomadic life to continue to develop, with more and more countries creating special visa programs and infrastructure aimed at attracting remote workers. Also, the importance of online communities and coworking spaces will increase, which will facilitate both the social integration and professional collaboration among nomads. In the future, this way of life will be perceived not only as an alternative but as a completely legitimate and sustainable choice for many people.

Are there specific countries that are more favorable for work and investments?
I think the future for development and unleashing potentials belongs to Asia and Africa as continents.

If you could choose one place in the world where to develop your next big idea, what would it be and why?
I really like Bali, Indonesia. Nature, food, people, feeling. I would feel good there and surely one day it might happen. I hope it doesn’t become too commercialized, because there are such prerequisites.

What are the destinations you would definitely recommend to be visited and why?
It’s a difficult question – there are so many. And often the experiences and memories that remain with us are not only due to the destination itself but also to the people with whom we share them. Sometimes the most ordinary place can become an unforgettable experience when you are in good company or when something unexpected and exciting happens to you.
The emotions associated with a given trip are often the result of small moments – a conversation with a local person, a sunset over an unknown horizon, or simply the feeling of complete freedom. It is these nuances that make every memory unique and hard to compare with others.
And yet – here are 5 examples: Italy, Indonesia, France, Jordan, Morocco...

What is the career advice you would give based on what you have seen around the world?
Invest your time and efforts in skills that are transferable, flexible, and don’t depend on location. The world is becoming more interconnected, and work processes are becoming less different. Whether you live in Sofia, Paris, Beijing, or a remote village in South America, your ability to communicate well, solve problems, adapt, and learn quickly will always be valuable.
And most importantly – build a career that fits your lifestyle and understanding of it, not the other way around. This is the sustainable path to personal and professional satisfaction.