Taleb Rifai, WTO’s Secretary General: Congratulations, this was the best summer season for Bulgaria

Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of UN’s World Tourism Organization (WTO), congratulated in a letter the Tourism Minister, Nikolina Angelkova, on the achievements of Bulgarian tourism. „Given the 7,9% growth of international tourists visiting your country between January and August 2017, and especially the 8,1% increase in revenues generated from tourists, we are gladly registering Bulgaria’s best summer season during the last decade“, WTO’s Secretary General wrote to Minister Angelkova. Mr. Rifai indicated that such results build on the previous significant achievement of a 10% increase in the number of international tourists visiting Bulgaria in 2016, which has positioned the country as one of the most frequently visited destinations, with its growth exceeding nearly threefold the average growth for the region.

In his letter WTO’s Secretary General has also stated his position that Bulgaria’s performance is a result of the commitment of Minister Angelkova and her team in the sector, transforming it into a pillar of socio-economic development. „We had the opportunity to witness that commitment last December, during the International Congress on World Civilizations and Creative Tourism, which was held in Sofia“, Mr. Rifai adds, stating his gratitude to the Ministry of Tourism’s support to the WTO’s work.

„We confirm our organization’s support to your work and to the sustainable development of tourism in Bulgaria“, Mr. Rifai writes further.