Ruse will have its own regional center for tourism management

A regional center that will coordinate the work of the Ministry of Tourism, the local authorities and the tourist branch industry is to be established in Ruse, said Minister Nikolina Angelkova during her official visit to Ruse. She met with the city mayor Plamen Stoilov, the MP Plamen Nunev, representatives of the tourist branch industry and others. The opening of the center is part of the concept of the Ministry of Tourism for Bulgaria’s regional development which is to be approved shortly. 9 regions will be established and Ruse will be the center for the Danube region.

Minister Angelkova presented possibilities for EU funding for the tourist sector. 700 million euro is the funding for tourism under the Operational Program “Regions in Growth” 2014-2020. Bulgaria-Romania Cross-border Cooperation Program 2014-2020 which has a budget of 258 million euro also offers opportunities for funding. These are some of the future funding possibilities for the tourism sector. The Ministry of Tourism is currently researching all funding possibilities of the operational programs and of the other funds intended for tourism; information will also be made available to all interested parties. 

"An observatory for tourism will be established in Ruse", said Minister Angelkova.  The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is prepared to support the establishment of a network of observatories for sustainable tourism in Bulgaria and the Danube Region. The observatories will be created together with academic and scientific centers – students and professors will select a range of indicators following the methodology of the UNWTO which will also be their control body.

Minister Angelkova also undertook the responsibility to support the International Tourist Exhibit “Weekend Tourism in Ruse” which will be held in May.

Later that day Minister Angelkova met with representatives of the local authorities and the tourism branch industry of the Ivanovo municipality. She also visited the medieval Cherven Fortress which is part of the campaign for encouraging internal tourism.