site.btaTourism Minister Pays Working Visit to Uzbekistan, Participates in 25th Session of UNWTO General Assembly

Tourism Minister Zaritsa Dinkova is paying a working visit to Samarqand, Uzbekistan, to participate in the 25th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the 120th session of the UNWTO Executive Council, Dinkova’s Ministry said on Wednesday.

A leading international tourism organization, UNWTO brings together 159 states and over 500 representatives of the tourist sector.

The General Assembly will approve a new composition of the UNWTO Executive Council, where Bulgaria has been elected as a member for the 2023-2027 period.

At the beginning of the session, UNTWO Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili outlined the leading international trends in tourism.

The UNWTO Commission for Europe’s proposal for a new Agenda for Europe – Tourism Leading the Change was also presented. It is aimed at bringing the sector into compliance with environmental standards that are being enforced on a global scale.

Dinkova held discussions with Pololikashvili and Spain’s Secretary of State for Tourism Rosana Morillo. The potential opportunities for partnership in tourism were also highlighted during a meeting with Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance Gulnora Rakhimova.

Dinkova also held a meeting with the foreign affairs advisor to Israel’s Tourism Minister, Peleg Lewi. She expressed her sympathy for the human tragedy that is unfolding in Israel. Dinkova expressed readiness to reschedule a planned visit to Israel where she is expected to hold a meeting with her counterpart as soon as circumstances allow.

It remained unclear when her visit was originally planned.