Nikolina Angelkova delivered a lecture to the students of tourism at the New York University

The Bulgarian Minister was also a guest at one of the highest-rating CNN shows

The Bulgarian Minister for Tourism, Nikolina Angelkova, was a guest-lecturer to the students from the Department of Tourism at the New York University. She presented the possibilities for tourism and the importance of the sector for the economy of the country. Nikolina Angelkova pointed out that, according to data of the World Travel and Tourism Council, in 2015 the direct contribution of tourism to Bulgaria’s GDP was over 2.8 billion Bulgarian levs. In her words, tourism, together with the economic activities related to it, accounts for about 13 % of the GDP. It is precisely because of the great economic importance of the sector that Bulgaria has had an independent Ministry of Tourism for the first time and our long-term goals are: sustainable growth and greater recognizability of our tourist product’, the Bulgarian Minister said.

The American students were impressed by the fact that some of the biggest Hollywood stars knew and spoke about Bulgaria. They watched the advertising spot with Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Salma Hayek, Antonio Banderas and Adrien Brody and commented their attitude to our country. Their major questions were related to the tourism opportunities for young people in Bulgaria. Minister Angelkova presented some of the attractive forms the country can offer, such as eco- and adventure tourism. Great interest caused the fact that the Bulgarian wines were among the best in the world; and our traditions in wine-making date back to the Thracians.

In New York, the Bulgarian Minister also gave an interview for one of the most prestigious TV shows on CNN, Quest Means Business; with the world-known journalist Richard Quest as host (here is a link to the video). Among the topics of discussion were the challenges to the global security and their reflection on tourism, as well as the migrant flow to Europe. ‘Bulgaria is a leading destination in terms of price – quality’, emphasised the Bulgarian Minister, ‘We have everything: sea, mountains, mineral springs and an impressive number of cultural and historical monuments’, she said to the world media. Minister Angelkova did not fail to note that we, the Bulgarians, are extremely hospitable.

Richard Quest is CNN’s well-known business correspondent and anchor of the popular show ‘Quest Means Business’, which is broadcast directly from the New-York studio of the world media. He is one of CNN’s most recognizable faces. Guests of his show have been world leaders like David Cameron, some of the best-known world bankers, including Jamie Dimon, Chief Executive Officer of JP Morgan Chase, and Robert Zoellick, former president of the World Bank, as well as leading European politicians, among them Christine Lagarde, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Jose-Manuel Barroso, former president of the European Commission, Dominique Strauss Kahn, former managing director of the IMF. Some of the most influential persons of corporative America have sat in the hot seat, too, such as the Chief Executive Officer and Director of DreamWorks, Jeffrey Katzenberg, and the former Chief Executive Officer of Ford, Alan Mullaly.

Richard Quest received a special gift from the Bulgarian Minister – a wood carved piece with a cowbell, which will adorn his famous New York studio.

During her visit, Nikolina Angelkova also had a talk with Makiko Healy, Senior Vice President of Global Tourism Development, NYC & Company. NYC is New York City’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organisation. The possibilities for using the organisation’s expertise and experience in urban tourism marketing and the New York Brand were discussed with a view to developing this kind of tourism in Bulgaria. Meetings with representatives of leading American investment funds like Global Financial Network, Balkan Capital and Hunter Peak Investments Karsch Capital were organised. The Bulgarian minister presented the possibilities for investment in sector tourism in Bulgaria to them and pointed out that our country could offer a very good investment climate.