site.btaHosting UNESCO Forum in 2025 Will Put Bulgaria in the Spotlight Again, Says Culture Minister

Hosting the 47th Session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Bulgaria in 2025 will once again put this country in the spotlight, Culture Minister Nayden Todorov told the Bulgarian National Television on Saturday.

He hopes that this forum will change the world's perception of Bulgaria, as "we have long stopped seeking big forums, especially cultural ones, that would make Bulgaria visible." According to Todorov, the session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee is a major event that will once again put Bulgaria in the spotlight. He noted that cultural heritage is one of the areas in which Bulgaria can take great pride.

"Everything we have, the legacy of successive civilizations... we must showcase to the world," stressed Todorov. He believes that Heraclea Sintica, the ancient city in today's Southwestern Bulgaria, is among the sites that should be included on the UNESCO list, as well as the ancient capitals Pliska and Preslav and the Great Basilica of Plovdiv. Efforts are already underway to this end.

Todorov said: "By showcasing Bulgaria's culture to the world, we can attract substantial cultural tourism." He added that the term "spending on culture" is misleading, as culture can and should be seen as an investment.

Commenting on the proposed budget for culture in 2025, Todorov said the Culture Ministry will not get less money: "The problem is that it will not get enough money."