site.btaBulgaria, Russia Sign Protocol on Cooperation in Tourism

Bulgaria, Russia Sign Protocol on Cooperation in Tourism

Sofia, January 28 (BTA) - Bulgaria and Russia will pool their efforts together to increase the tourist flow in line with a protocol of cooperation signed on Wednesday by Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova and Oleg Safonov, Head of Russia's Federal Agency for Tourism.

The Russian Agency said Safonov was participating in the bilateral Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation.

Angelkova and Safonov participated in the tourism working group during the Commission's session.

Angelkova quoted tourism industry representatives as saying that Russians are interested in opportunities for tourism in Bulgaria, and added that active dialogue was a further incentive to travel. Safonov noted that Russia and its tourism industry were ready to help the offers of Bulgarian businesses reach end consumers. Bulgaria should work consistently to be recognizable in the Russian market not just as a mass summer and winter tourism destination.

Bulgaria is one of the most sought after destinations, Safonov said, expressing a hope that more Russians would choose it for their holidays.

The two officials met with mayors of Black Sea municipalities, who talked about the preparation for the summer season.

Safonov and Sofia Mayor Yordanka Fandakova discussed possible ways to promote the capital as a cultural tourism destination in Russia.

Russia is one of the leaders on Bulgaria's tourism market. Nearly 485,000 Russian tourists visited this country in 2015.