site.btaFirst World Congress on Creative Tourism and Ancient Civilizations Opens in Sofia

First World Congress on Creative Tourism and Ancient Civilizations Opens in Sofia

Sofia, November 29 (BTA) - Opening the First World Congress on Creative
Tourism and Ancient Civilizations in Sofia, UN World Tourism Organization Secretary General Taleb Rifai said that three things must be in place for culture and tourism to be linked: to promote and safeguard the heritage of world civilizations, to create sustainable creative tourism strategies, and to promote partnership between tourism and the creative industries.

The event is attended by more than 20 ministers, deputy ministers and delegates from 40 countries. Prime Minister Boyko Borissov attended the opening.

Rifai said that tourism generates 7 per cent of trade and 30 per cent of services worldwide. The most important thing is that tourism is an industry and a human activity that brings people together for peace, harmony and understanding, which are in short supply nowadays.

Rifai said the delegates gathered to state that the worst shortages are to do with tolerance and understanding, and that tourism and travel help to make the world a better place.

He stressed that tourism is becoming a leading industry in Bulgaria, which has a population of around 7 million and will welcome more than 8 million international tourists by the year's end.

Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova said Bulgaria is becoming a preferred tourist destination. This country is ready for the winter tourist season. "We welcomed a record large number of tourists between January and October, nearly 7.5 million. Revenues peaked at a record high 5.5 billion-plus leva, up 14.7 per cent on 2015," she said.

Angelkova added that Bulgaria is one of Europe's top three countries in terms of the wealth of artefacts, with over 40,000 of them found in its territory.