Minister Angelkova at the opening of the 2018 EU-China initiative in Venice: Tourism is a driver of prosperity

Tourism may contribute to the global economy’s growth because it is a leading factor for sustainability. Traditionally, it has been among the main drivers of wellbeing and prosperity for Europe, having been developing at faster pace in recent decades. Thus said the Minister of Tourism, Nikolina Angelkova, at the formal opening of the 2018 EU – China Tourism Year initiative. The event’s official guests included Elżbieta Bieńkowska, European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SME’s, and other ministers, politicians, and representatives of businesses and NGO’s from Europe and China.

With over 500 million incoming tourists Europe has become one of the leading international tourism destinations. The sector has a 10% in EU’s GDP, with revenues in excess of EUR 340 bill., while it employs 12 per cent of Europe’s workforce, further announced Minister Angelkova, commenting that this initiative is yet another proof of tourism’s role as leader in relations among people.

Over 10 mil. Chinese tourists visit Europe each year, with their number forecasted to grow by 5% a year up to 2023. I believe the initiative will put the focus on the abilities of Europe’s tourism market in the preparation of the strategic, long-term promotion of Europe as a destination, indicated Minister Angelkova, stating her belief that the 2018 EU – China Tourism Year initiative will provide a chance to strengthen beneficial cooperation.

The Minister announced that Bulgaria will commit to the facilitation of the EU-China dialog in tourism and to the expansion of our joint initiatives in view of the further strengthening of tourism exchange and investments not just in Europe, but worldwide as well. Positive examples of beneficial cooperation are the projects forming part of the famous Silk Road. I believe that the 2018 EU – China Tourism Year initiative is most of all an opportunity to revive it, preserving the basis of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusion, mutual training and benefit. I strongly believe that this can be a major principle in our joint efforts to materialize the untapped potential of our cooperation, she added further.

Just a few days before, Bulgaria took over the presidency of the EU Council for the first time. We will be working to promote Europe as a leading global destination, stated the Minister, adding that we will be contributing in this aspect to the improvement of the competitiveness and investments in the tourism industry, maintaining and strengthening the political dialog, seeking opportunities to create joint tourism products and projects, and focusing on the sector’s digital transformation. During the presidency, the Ministry of Tourism will arrange 6 events focusing on various aspects of the tourism industry. The first one of these is a meeting of ministers responsible for tourism, which will be dedicated to tourism and economic growth and will be held in less than a month, in mid-February.

There are very positive data about Chinese tourists coming to Bulgaria. For the first 11 months of last year they have grown by 43%, exceeding 25 000. In total, the international tourists visiting Bulgaria exceed 8,4 mil., which is 1 mil. more than the country’s populace. The growth registered is 7,3 per cent compared to the January-November period of the year before.