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The Ministry of Tourism is organizing a photo contest titled “Moments from Bulgaria” to showcase favorite places, landscapes, traditions, and experiences from our country.The winning photographs will be used to decorate the institution's facade windows and for national tourism advertising. Their creators will be invited to a special ceremony at the Ministry of Tourism and will receive honorary awards and certificates.The goal of the contest is to showcase the beauty, diversity, and spirit of Bulgaria through both popular tourist attractions and destinations, as well as lesser-known corners of the country.Each participant may submit up to 5 photographs in the following categories:“People and Traditions” – customs, folklore, crafts, and authentic experiences;“Places and Heritage” – cultural and historical sites, architecture, cities, villages, and iconic tourist destinations;“Nature and Inspiration”—mountains, the sea, lakes, rivers, natural landmarks, and landscapesSome of the photos will be used on the Ministry of Tourism's social media and communication channels. When published, their authors will be cited and acknowledged whenever possible.Conditions for ParticipationJudging will be based on the following criteria:Aesthetics and composition – up to 30 points;Tourist appeal – up to 35 points;Authenticity and emotional impact – up to 20 points;Appropriate format and resolution for subsequent use and printing—up to 15 points.The maximum score for a single photograph is 100 points.Photos must meet the following requirements:They must not have been created or edited using artificial intelligence toolsThey must be in JPEG format with a length of at least 6,000 pixelsThey must not have been previously published in other promotional materialsPhotos should be sent to the following email address: photos@tourism.government.bgParticipants must include the following information with their photos:first and last name;location where the photos were taken;contact phone number;personal social media profile they would like to be tagged in when the photos are published;an attached consent form stating that the participant holds the copyright to the submitted photographs and grants the Ministry of Tourism the right to use them for the purposes of national tourism advertising.When submitting photographs containing recognizable faces (in close-up or with clearly distinguishable features), the participant must also include a signed consent form authorizing the use of the image from each person depicted (or from a parent or guardian for minors).The consent forms are attached.Photos may be submitted through September 30, 2026. They will be evaluated by a jury comprising representatives of the journalism community covering tourism, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, including a professional photographer and videographer.The “Moments from Bulgaria” photo contest gives everyone the opportunity to contribute to showcasing the authentic face of our country.

The Minister of Tourism, Dr. Ilin Dimitrov, and the Minister of Regional Development and Public Works, Architect Ivan Shishkov, held meetings in Varna focused on the development of tourist resorts, infrastructure, and the need for better coordination among institutions, local authorities, and the business community.At the Golden Sands resort complex, the ministers met with representatives of tourism industry organizations, members of parliament, and experts.  The need for a comprehensive approach to resort development was discussed, in which infrastructure and the quality of the environment are an integral part of the tourism product.“We are here to work together. The route to the destination, access to the resort, cleanliness, green spaces, beaches, and the quality of services are all key to tourist satisfaction,” Minister of Tourism Dr. Ilin Dimitrov said.“So far, the system has been functioning despite the government’s reluctance to support tourism. It is important that we now work together to create a legal framework that will give a boost not only to a particular resort but to the entire tourism sector,” Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Architect Ivan Shishkov said.Later, at the Varna Regional Administration, the ministers took part in a meeting as part of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works’ initiative “The Regions Speak.” The event was attended by Regional Governor Mario Smarkov and mayors from municipalities in the Varna region, the CEO of “Bulgarian Water and Sewerage Holding,” Engineer Venelin Shakov, members of parliament, and representatives of the regional offices of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works.Among the topics discussed were the region’s infrastructure development, water and sewer infrastructure, connectivity, and the challenges facing municipalities. For the Ministry of Tourism, this is directly linked to the competitiveness of the Black Sea coast as a tourist destination.The ministers' meetings with representatives of the tourism industry will continue. The next one is scheduled to take place on September 4 at the Sunny Beach resort.

“We are working consistently to increase the number of flights and improve air connectivity. Our goal is to capitalize on the growing interest in Bulgaria to increase tourist traffic to the Black Sea coast and create conditions for sustainable growth in the coming seasons,” Minister of Tourism Ilin Dimitrov said during a meeting with Michael Reusch, CEO of Fraport Twin Star Airport Management. The conversation also touched on increasing air connectivity in 2027 and the upcoming meeting of TUI Group’s senior management in Bulgaria. Dr. Dimitrov emphasized that the Ministry of Tourism has already sent letters to the airlines Corendon and Condor, as well as to the ICC, and is awaiting specific confirmations regarding the planned flights.Michael Reusch noted that Fraport is ready to accommodate the expected increase in traffic next year and expressed confidence that the expansion of air capacity could provide a strong boost to both Burgas and Bulgarian tourism as a whole.In discussions so far, the tourist airline Corendon is planning new routes from Cologne, Nuremberg, and Stuttgart to Varna and Burgas, while discussions are underway with the German vacation airline Condor regarding approximately 15,500 seats to Burgas from Frankfurt, Nuremberg, and Leipzig. The ICC’s proposals call for approximately 250 flights to the two coastal airports, or roughly 50,000 seats. The Ministry and Fraport also discussed opportunities for joint marketing support for the new routes.The upcoming TUI Group event in Bulgaria on September 24 and 25 was also part of the conversation. Our country is expected to welcome about 150 members of the company’s senior management. “The fact that one of Europe’s largest tour operators has a long-term vision for Bulgaria and is planning a sustainable presence in the country is very good news. It is important to us that this interest be supported by good connectivity, stable capacity, and joint efforts to promote Bulgaria as a tourist destination,” Michael Reusch said. During the meeting, TUI also confirmed that there are no plans to reduce the number of flights from Belgium to Bulgaria.

In September, 155 senior managers at the multinational company will gather at the resort Golden Sands, which provides an opportunity for a direct presentation of the potential of our countryThe Minister of Tourism, Dr. Ilin Dimitrov, held an online meeting with Thomas Ellerbeck - member of the Executive Committee of TUI Group, Director of Corporate Relations and Chief Sustainability Officer, and Vincent Snauert, Head of International Relations of the German tour operator. Air connectivity, the expansion of programmes to Bulgaria, and joint marketing activities with one of the largest integrated tourism groups in the world were discussed.Our country has been chosen to host the TUI senior management meeting, which will be held from September 24-26 in the Golden Sands resort.155 senior managers from the company's various business lines are expected to arrive for the event."Our aspiration is to maintain an active partnership with TUI, based on a specific plan. Hosting the meeting is an exceptional opportunity for decision-makers on tourism programmes, air capacity, hotel partnerships, investments and marketing to get firsthand knowledge of Bulgaria's potential," Minister Dimitrov pointed out.Our country has been part of TUI's tourism portfolio for decades, traditionally as a destination for summer seaside tourism."There is significant potential for broader strategic dialogue and development of our partnership beyond the summer," the Minister of Tourism also said.