Minister

Minster - Irena Georgieva 

Irena Georgieva graduated in Sociology from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, where she was awarded a gold medal for outstanding academic achievement and active public engagement.

Her professional career has been closely linked to the tourism sector. She has nearly 25 years of managerial experience as the head of travel agencies and has established expertise in tourism services and management.

She holds a number of specialized certificates that further enhance her professional profile and establish her as an expert with extensive knowledge in the field of tourism.

Before assuming leadership of the Ministry of Tourism, Irena Georgieva served as Deputy Minister of Tourism, during the period February 2015 – February 2026, actively contributing over the years to the development and implementation of key sectoral policies.

Since 2006, she has been a member of the Management Board of the Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators and Travel Agents (ABTTA), serving as its Chair from 2009 to 2013. She subsequently continued as a member of the association’s governing body until February 2015.

Irena Georgieva is a recognized international tourism expert. She has been a member of the Board of Directors of ECTAA (The European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations), where she served as Director and Deputy Director, and was President of the organization from 2010 to 2012. From 2021 to 2023, she represented Bulgaria on the Board of Directors of the European Travel Commission.

She is fluent in Russian, French, and English.