site.btaTourism Minister Angelkova Confers with UNWTO Secretary-General Pololikashvili

Madrid, January 17 (BTA) - Bulgarian Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova held a working meeting with World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General nominee Zurab Pololikashvili, who took office at the beginning of this year. The two conferred in Madrid within the framework of the 38th International Tourism Trade Fair FITUR 2018 (January 17-28, 2018), Angelkova's Ministry said in a press release on Wednesday.

The sides considered opportunities for cooperation between the Bulgarian Tourism Ministry and UNWTO and future joint projects that will contribute to the sustainable development of the sector.

Nearly 8.5 million foreign tourists visited Bulgaria in January-November 2017, Angelkova said, specifying that this number was 7.3 per cent larger than a year earlier and exceeded the country's population by more than 1 million. During the same period, the tourism sector generated a revenue of 6,300 million leva, up 9.2 per cent from January-November 2016.

At the meeting, the Minister presented the priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency of the EU Council.

She familiarized the UNWTO Secretary-General with the progress in preparations for the 2nd International Congress on International Civilizations and Ancient Routes, which will take place in Sofia in mid-November 2018.

Angelkova invited Pololikashvili to take part in a meeting of tourism ministers which is being organized by her Ministry within the framework of the EU Council Presidency and will be held in February.

The Bulgarian Tourism Ministry is the first to internationally make it possible to share tourist sites directly through Viber Chat Extension, Angelkova said, specifying that the service is a joint project of her Ministry and the iLoveBulgaria interactive platform.

The UNWTO Secretary-General was also briefed on Tuesday's launch of a direct air service between Sofia and Baku.

"UNWTO will be supporting the countries at both national and regional level in initiatives leading to sustainable tourism," Pololikashvili said, adding that his organization will continue to encourage the principles and implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism for attaining the objectives of sustainable development of the sector.