Bulgaria’s main message during the Annual Meeting of the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA) is that it can be a preferred destination for all European tourists because of the many types of tourism that can be practiced all year round, Deputy Tourism Minister Irena Georgieva told BTA, after she participated in the opening on Thursday. The two-day international forum with the participation of representatives of 25 national associations of tour operators from European countries is taking place in Sofia on the initiative of the Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators and Travel Agents (ABTTA) ECTAA. "We are trying to get out of the paradigm of a cheap tourist destination," Georgieva added.
Topics discussed at the forum relate to lessons learned from the bankruptcy of FTI, mobility and accessibility of tourism services. “For Bulgaria, the meeting with the leadership of the German Guarantee Fund will be useful because we have to exchange experiences on many issues that concern us,” Georgieva added. She said that the activities of the expert group on the amendments to the Tourism Act related to the establishment of a Guarantee Fund in Bulgaria are continuing. Work will continue after the elections, she added.
“ECTAA is very close to my heart and is a very important thing in my life,” Georgieva said during the forum and welcomed the participants on behalf of Tourism Minister Evtim Miloshev.
Sofia Mayor Vasil Terziev noted during the forum the opportunities that the capital of Bulgaria offers, especially in tourism, highlighting their uniqueness, including the wealth of mineral waters and history. He also highlighted the opportunity to practice golf, congress and cultural tourism. Improving the infrastructure access to Bulgaria will enable more and more people to get to know the beauty of Sofia, Terziev said.
Desislava Mihalkova, with the Tourism Policy Directorate of the Bulgarian Ministry of Tourism, presented the national tourism product. Bulgaria is beautiful, hospitable and unique all year round, the expert said and presented the opportunities for summer sea and winter ski tourism. Bulgaria has 234 beaches, and this year 22 of them and one marina received the prestigious Blue Flag. The biggest mountain resorts Bansko, Borovets and Pamporovo provide not only opportunities for winter skiing, but also for various tourist activities - flora and fauna observation, eco trails, cave visits, mountaineering, cycling, the expert further said.
/PP/
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