site.btaTourism Minister: Wine Tourism Is Impossible without Common Vision for Industry

Wine tourism is impossible if the industry does not have a common vision for development and is not united, said Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh here on Saturday. He participated in DiVino TOP 50 - an event that recognizes the best Bulgarian wines and gathers leading representatives of the wine sector, the Ministry of Tourism said.

Minister Borshosh also presented the Special Award for Wine Tourism to Zaara Estate.

"I appreciate your hard work, professionalism and the good job you have done. I also invite you to the Global Conference on Wine and Tourism, which brings together the world's best experts and the very fact that we have managed to convince the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) to make this happen in Bulgaria is proof of our country's potential," the Minister said.

The Ministry of Tourism will work actively to build a national strategy for wine tourism that will unite the efforts of the industry and present a consistent and recognizable identity of Bulgarian wine to the world. Wine is an inseparable part of Bulgaria's gastronomic, historical and cultural heritage, but also a key factor for the development of sustainable and high-quality tourism, the release noted.

Minister Borshosh also met with Emil Koralov, creator of the DiVino TOP 50 ranking, publisher of DiVino.bg and DiVino Magazine, member of the Board of the Bulgarian Association of Wine Professionals (BAVP), and the two discussed concrete steps to promote Bulgarian wine on the international market. Among the highlights was the organization of the Global Wine Tourism Conference, which will be held in Plovdiv and will consolidate the country's position as a significant player on the world wine map. The conference this autumn is expected to have a long-term positive impact on the sector and contribute to Bulgaria's establishment as an attractive destination for wine and gourmet tourism, the Ministry said.