site.btaMinister Dinkova: Bulgaria Is Safe Tourist Destination, Ready to Welcome Israeli Tourists

Meeting with her Israeli counterpart Haim Katz in Madrid on Wednesday, Minister Zaritsa Dinkova said that Bulgaria is a safe tourist destination and is ready to welcome Israeli tourists. In her words, Israel is an important market both for summer and winter tourism. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the FITUR International Tourism Trade Fair, the Tourism Ministry reported.

Dinkova quoted data showing that between December 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023, Bulgaria was visited by over 51,000 Israeli tourists, placing Israel fourth among the markets for inbound tourism in Bulgaria. The top three markets are Romania, Greece, and the UK.

Katz said that Bulgaria is the first destination he will visit once the conflict in Gaza settles dies down. He invited his Bulgarian counterpart to visit Israel to get acquainted with its rich history and cultural heritage. Dinkova accepted and noted the key importance of discussing ways to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation in tourism. "The situation in Israel does not cancel our plans for cooperation in tourism: it postpones them. Israeli tourists are among the most desired in Bulgaria," Dinkova added.

She noted that in the last years, the bilateral cooperation in tourism has developed significantly, as evidenced by the cooperation agreement in tourism that Bulgaria and Israel signed. "Bulgaria attributes great significance to the bilateral ties with Israel, which are rooted in history and today are already at the strategical level," Dinkova said.