site.btaBulgarian City of Plovdiv Officially Designated as European Capital of Culture 2019

Bulgarian City of Plovdiv  Officially Designated as European Capital of Culture 2019

Brussels, May 19 (BTA correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - The
Council of the EU officially designated the south-central
Bulgarian city of Plovdiv as a European Capital of Culture in
2019.

After the decision was stated, Plovdiv Mayor Ivan Totev
congratulated Bulgaria, because this is the first time a
Bulgarian city is designated as a European culture capital.
Speaking to journalists in Brussels, Totev explained that this
is a huge opportunity for promoting Bulgarian culture. He noted
that the budget for turning his city into a European Capital of
Culture is 34 million euro, of which 20 million leva are
provided by the State and the rest will come from mixed
municipal and private financing. He voiced hope that the number
of tourists to visit Plovdiv in 2019 will reach three million.

Under the motto "Together", Plovdiv will highlight its
multicultural aspect, including its Roma communities, and create
new opportunities in creative and cultural industries for local
inhabitants.