site.btaConference on International Connectivity as Key to Growth of Bulgarian Tourism Gathers Ministers, Experts

A conference on international connectivity as the key to sustainable growth of Bulgarian tourism opened here on Friday. The forum was organized by the Bulgaria National Board of Tourism and the Tourism Ministry and attended by caretaker Tourism Minister Evtim Miloshev, caretaker Regional Development and Public Works Minister Violeta Koritarova, caretaker Transport Minister Krasimira Stoyanova, Bulgarian Industrial Association President Dobri Mitrev, representatives of the aviation industry, among others. 

Opening the event, Tourism Minister Miloshev said sustainability is key to the development of Bulgarian tourism. He said the conference was very timely as it was came between the end of the summer and the beginning of the winter tourist season, "at a time when we are talking about upgrading the tourism product, about creating a national brand and a national destination, about creating a Balkan brand and a Balkan destination". He also said: "We are talking about an integrated tourism brand by which we will be selling the Balkans as a tourist destination. This is becoming increasingly interesting for both overseas and European tourists."

Regional Development Minister Koritarova said during the forum that the weather conditions will enable the planned repairs to be completed in Pamporovo, Borovets and Bansko to ensure connectivity to the mountain resorts for the winter season. According to her, the topic of regional connectivity is key in view of the past summer and the upcoming winter tourist season.

Transport Minister Stoyanova said the efforts to develop transport and digital infrastructure were yielding increasingly good results. She emphasized the role of aviation, saying that the growing number of air carriers operating in Bulgaria is good news for tourism and business, adding that Sofia Airport is increasingly becoming a hub for companies providing technical services. Currently, the airport handles flights from and to 46 countries, and is expected to become a key regional hub once Terminal 3 is built.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of Bulgaria Air Hristo Todorov said that in 2024 the airline recorded a 30% increase in charter flights compared to 2023. About 150,000 tourists were served, he said. "We are not airports' biggest partner, but we have a significant share," Todorov said. He also highlighted the airline's drive to expand and renew its fleet. He recalled that it already has five new Airbus A220 aircraft, with two more to be delivered.