Minister of Tourism Dr. Ilin Dimitrov Officially Opened the Tourist Season SUMMER 2023

On the day of Sts.  Constantine and Helena the 115th birthday of our first seaside resort was celebrated

With the wish for a cloudless, happy and successful summer, the Minister of Tourism Dr. Ilin Dimitrov declared the SUMMER 2023 season open. This happened in the oldest Bulgarian seaside resort — ‘Sts.  Constantine and Helena’, with much symbolism, on the very day of the saints of the Equal Apostles who gave it its name. On this day is the culmination of the solemn celebration of the 115th anniversary of the founding of the resort 'Sts.  Constantine and Helena.’

The opening ceremony was attended by the Ministers of Regional Development and Public Works Ivan Shishkov, of Health Dr. Assen Medjidiev, of Energy Rosen Hristov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Georgi Sabev, Deputy Ministers of Tourism Irena Georgieva and Prof. Mariela Modeva, MPs and members of the Tourism Committee in the National Assembly, His Eminence Metropolitan Johan of Varna and Veliki Preslav, the Governor of Varna Region Mario Smurkov, the Deputy Mayor of Varna Kosta Bazitov, diplomats, many guests, officials and representatives of the tourism industry. 

The day began with the celebration of Holy Mass and a festive water service in the monastery ‘Sts.  Constantine and Helena’ and continued with the official opening ceremony of the summer tourist season.

We are in an extraordinary place, green, with beautiful beaches, healing climate, wonderful modern infrastructure and high-category hotels, said Minister Dimitrov in his address to the large audience and guests at the event. He congratulated the hosts and the management of the seaside resort — the executive directors Elena Koseva and Ivelina Shaban and presented them with an icon of the holy Equal Apostles Constantine and Helena and a diploma ‘for overall contribution to the sustainable development of the region as a year-round destination for seaside and specialized tourism and commitment to the initiative for positioning and promotion of the destination and Brand Bulgaria’.

Minister Dimitrov stressed that besides its attractiveness because of its modern vision and good management, the place is saturated with history and magic. There are legends that as early as the 14th century a monastic brotherhood lived here, and then the monastery of the same name and the first grape hospital were established, which can be said to be the beginning of modern wine tourism in the region.

‘Our ancestors also talked about expanding the wings of the season back in the 1930s, a topic we haven't stopped talking about since. They have tried to do it — by offering healing and spa procedures,’ Minister Dimitrov stressed.

Among the most curious facts is that the first ‘hotel’ in the area that gave the name to the resort became the wine school, whose classrooms were renovated and adapted to receive tourists.

Minister Dimitrov recalled that the first high-ranking visitor in the 19th century after the Liberation was the Bulgarian Prince Alexander I Battenberg. After the first holidaymakers arrived in 1908, this event marked the beginning of the resort and of sea tourism in Bulgaria. There are 7 mineral springs in the resort, which have no analogue in Europe, and the warmest one has a temperature between 40 and 60 degrees. It is no coincidence that the largest children's sanatorium on the Balkans was located here, which cured thousands of children from serious diseases. Already at the end of the 19th century, the founder of the sea and mud therapy in Bulgaria, Professor Paraskev Stoyanov and Dr. Alexander Nedyalkov — the manager of the Tsaritsa Eleonora State Children's Sea Sanatorium in the resort — made a significant contribution to the prestige of the resort.

‘Grape therapy, good local wine and sea food, healing mineral waters and the beginnings of sea tourism in Bulgaria are intertwined in one, in this very place, and become the trademark of the first Bulgarian sea resort,’ said Minister Ilin Dimitrov. And stressed: ‘We can safely say that in the Sts.  Constantine and Helena’ you can heal both your spirit and your body’.

The celebrations are held with the support of the Ministry of Tourism and the Municipality of Varna and under the patronage of the Ministers of Tourism and Foreign Affairs. On behalf of Minister Ivan Kondov, the guests were greeted by Radka Balabanova-Ruleva, Director of the Foreign Economic Relations and Development Cooperation Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The day continues with celebrations on the seafront on the outdoor stage with a rich concert and show program, various activities for children and many culinary surprises on the ‘Street of Chefs’, as well as a rally car demonstration.