RSS

The Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Youth and Sports presented the preparations for hosting the event in MayThe Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Youth and Sports presented to leading European media outlets Bulgaria’s preparations to host the first three stages of the Giro d’Italia 2026, scheduled to take place in early May of this year.The meeting was attended by representatives of leading publications, including Corriere della Sera, Marca, La Gazzetta dello Sport, Tuttobici, and Eurosport. The Ministers of Tourism and Youth and Sports, Irena Georgieva and Dimitar Iliev, presented the event’s organizational arrangements, inter-institutional coordination, and anticipated effects.According to Minister Georgieva, hosting the prestigious cycling race constitutes an opportunity for Bulgaria to reach millions of potential tourists through international broadcasting. She said that the route for the Bulgarian stages will pass through several destinations, including Nessebar, Burgas, Veliko Tarnovo, Plovdiv, and Sofia, thereby combining sea, cultural, and urban tourism. This will enable the presentation of the country’s natural and cultural heritage to a broad audience.Minister Iliev emphasized the scale of the event and the importance of strict coordination among institutions, including municipalities, and stated that ensuring the safety and orderly conduct of the event is the highest priority. He said that the state and local authorities are coordinating to ensure the orderly conduct of the competition and expressed the expectation that the event will increase interest among young people in cycling and an active lifestyle.As part of the preparations, the institutions are partnering with the airports in Sofia, Varna, and Burgas to facilitate the travel of participants and guests. The tourism sector is also prepared to accommodate the anticipated increase in interest.According to Minister Georgieva, the effects of hosting will be long-term, including increasing Bulgaria’s recognition and advancing cycling tourism.The two ministers expressed confidence that hosting the Giro d'Italia in Bulgaria will attract significant international and domestic interest and will establish the country as a destination for sports and event tourism. 

Minister of Tourism Irena Georgieva participated in the conference "Culture. Tourism. Communications,” which was held at the University of Library Science and Information Technologies in Sofia. The event marked the commencement of the National Tourism Board’s anniversary initiative, held in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the organization’s establishment.The forum convened representatives of the Ministry of Culture, the academic community, the business sector, and the media, who deliberated on the role of culture, communications, and innovation in the development of a sustainable tourism sector.Minister Irena Georgieva said that, in the context of global crises, the sector requires the implementation of an active and adaptive policy. "Tourism is not a seasonal business; it is a strategic sector." Society has already demonstrated confidence in Bulgarian destinations, and our obligation is to preserve and further develop such confidence." She emphasizes the importance of the internal market. "Bulgarians seek experiences—culture, nature, and diversity—and are increasingly finding them within Bulgaria." Our mandate is to convert this into a sustainable policy. The Minister also outlined specific measures to support the sector, including the enhancement of domestic tourism through targeted advertising campaigns, the diversification of foreign markets, the digitalization of operations and adaptation to new technologies, and the development of tourism products with high added value.The Executive Director of the National Tourism Board, Dr. Polina Karastoyanova, emphasized the importance of trust as a key asset for the development of the sector. “Trust in our cause—for Bulgaria to be a beautiful, attractive, and competitive tourist destination—imposes an obligation upon us and serves as our primary motivation.” Culture, nature, food, and wine constitute the quintessence of our identity.” She expressed her gratitude to the Ministry of Tourism for the institutional partnership and underscored the importance of coordinated efforts in advancing the development of the sector. Martin Zahariev, Deputy Chairman of the National Tourism Board, stated as follows: "For the National Tourism Board, culture and tourism are strategically interconnected, and the partnership with the Ministry of Tourism is essential to the implementation of policies aimed at converting investments in culture into sustainable development and enhancing the competitiveness of Bulgaria as a tourist destination."The Rector of the University of Library Science and Information Technologies, Prof. Dr. Irena Peteva noted the significance of education and culture to the development of tourism: "Bulgarian education constitutes a critical component of the tourism sector." In an era of global transformations, tourism constitutes not merely an economic sector, but also a powerful instrument for communicating values and preserving cultural heritage.During the event, a Memorandum of Cooperation was executed between the National Tourism Board and the Bulgarian National Radio, for the purpose of promoting Bulgaria as a tourist destination and fostering a culture of travel.The NTB conference, held on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the organization’s establishment, marked the commencement of a series of events that will continue to advance the subject of sustainable tourism and promote cooperation among all relevant stakeholders.

Minister of Tourism, Irena Georgieva, held a meeting with H. E. Irene Plank, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Bulgaria, during which the parties discussed the prospects for the development of bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism, the recovery of the German market, and emerging trends in the sector.During the conversation, Minister Georgieva emphasized the significance of Germany as a leading source market for Bulgarian tourism: "The German market is of strategic importance to us." In the current complex geopolitical environment, our efforts are directed toward presenting Bulgaria as a safe, accessible, and hospitable destination offering a diverse tourism product. According to her, although pre-pandemic levels have not yet been fully restored, there has been steady growth and positive trends in bookings from Germany.H. E. Irene Plank congratulated Bulgaria on the country’s successful participation in ITB Berlin and emphasized the highly favourable international response to the Bulgarian presentation.During the meeting, particular emphasis was placed on the profile of the modern tourist. It was noted that, in addition to the traditional model of mass tourism, individualized experiences oriented toward culture, nature, and authenticity are of increasing significance.Minister Georgieva said that the development of specialized categories of tourism constitutes one of the principal priorities of the Ministry. "Our goal is for Bulgaria to establish itself as a year-round tourist destination." We are actively engaged in developing cultural, wine, gastronomic, SPA, and wellness tourism, as well as so-called “slow tourism”, which meets the requirements of the modern tourist. The challenges facing the sector were also discussed, including labor shortages and the need to streamline procedures for hiring personnel from third countries. The Bulgarian side emphasized that it is working in close coordination with the competent institutions to enhance and streamline relevant processes.During the discussion, the successful introduction of the euro was also acknowledged, and Minister Georgieva stated that no difficulties have been observed in the tourism sector so far. The parties also discussed the opportunities for the exchange of good practices, including within the framework of Bulgaria’s Presidency of the Danube Strategy in 2026, and joint initiatives to promote innovation and digitalization in tourism.In conclusion, both parties expressed their readiness to deepen cooperation between Bulgaria and Germany with the objective of ensuring the sustainable development of the tourism sector and attracting an increased number of German tourists, including outside the traditionally preferred summer season.

Belogradchik constitutes an example of a successful destination; a National Tourism Professions Competition is being held in VelingradThe development of the regional tourism potential, the establishment of partnerships between institutions and businesses, and the creation of a competitive tourism product were the principal matters addressed during the 11th working meeting between tourism sector representatives and local authorities. The Minister of Tourism, Irena Georgieva, opened the event organized by the Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators and Travel Agents and hosted by the Municipality of Belogradchik. It convened representatives of the State, municipalities, the tourism sector, and cultural institutions. Among the participants were representatives of leading tourism companies, local government authorities from various municipalities, digital experts, and representatives of museums."Today’s event focuses on certain of the most significant topics for the development of tourism in Bulgaria—namely, the development of regional tourism, partnerships between the public and private sectors, digitalization, and the successful international positioning of the Bulgarian tourism product," Minister Georgieva stated. According to her, it is precisely such formats that provide sustainable solutions for the development of competitive and recognizable destinations.Petar Stoyanov, Chairman of the Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators and Travel Agents, stated: "No destination can be successful on its own; the key to sustainable tourism development lies in a partnership among businesses, local authorities, and the State." Boyan Minkov, Mayor of Belogradchik, said: "It is an exceptional honour for me to host such a significant event. Tourism in Belogradchik constitutes an absolute priority for us. The region possesses considerable potential that has yet to be fully realized."The Minister emphasized the potential of Belogradchik as an exemplar of a successful tourist destination. According to official data for 2025, the principal tourist sites within the municipality were visited by approximately 125,000 tourists, with the Belogradchik Fortress and the Belogradchik Rocks attracting more than 87,000 visits, and the Magurata Cave attracting more than 33,000 visits annually. At the same time, according to data from the Unified Tourist Information System, there was an increase of nearly 23% in overnight stays at accommodation facilities in 2025 compared to 2024, indicating a positive trend in the region’s development.The working meeting will address key matters, including integrated regional solutions, the expanding role of museums in cultural tourism, digitization and the implementation of new technologies, including artificial intelligence. Minister Georgieva further emphasized the necessity of improved integration of regional products into national tourism advertising.Later in the day, Minister Georgieva will participate in the awards ceremony for the regional round of the National Tourism Professions Competition in Velingrad, hosted by the Aleko Konstantinov Vocational High School of Economics and Tourism -  Velingrad. The event convenes students from vocational high schools in the region, who shall demonstrate their skills in categories such as "best young chef", "best young waiter", "best young baker-pastry chef", and "best young animator".Representatives of local authorities, educational institutions, and businesses will also participate in the event in Velingrad, including the Mayor of the Municipality, representatives of the Regional Education Department, and representatives of the tourism sector.