site.btaUPDATED Bulgaria's Siyka Katsarova Elected European Spas Association President

Siyka Katsarova, President of the Bulgarian Association of Balneology and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA), was elected President of the European Spas Association (ESPA) on Wednesday. She is taking over from Thierry Dubois on day one of the European Spas & Balneology Congress 2025 in Haapsalu, organized by ESPA and Estonia's Economy and Industry Ministry.

BTA is a media partner of the October 8-10 event.

The European Spas Association was founded in Brussels in 1995 as a non-profit and non-governmental association. It is an umbrella spa industry organization representing 20 European countries which develop spa and balneotherapy tourism and use natural healing resources such as mineral water, therapeutic mud and a sea climate. Bulgaria joined ESPA in 2007.

Dr Katsarova, who was ESPA Vice President until now, is the first Bulgarian to head the organization. Her election is a recognition of Bulgaria as a leader in natural healing resources and medical spa tourism.

Her candidacy was supported by Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh. In a letter to the European Spas Association, he expressed his view that "her leadership, expertise, and vision will ensure that ESPA continues to thrive and remain at the forefront of health tourism innovation and excellence in Europe".

The new ESPA President assumes leadership at a time when Europe's focus is shifting towards prevention and sustainable health. Her term will concentrate on positioning ESPA as a key partner of the European Commission in healthcare (prevention and rehabilitation) and tourism, through strengthened cooperation with departments responsible for health, regional development, rural regions, transport and tourism.

Key priorities include increasing the organization's role in European funding through more active participation in EU tenders and projects; deepening partnerships with the scientific, healthcare, tourism and financial sectors in line with the EU Green Deal, the European Health Union, and the Wellbeing Economy; continuing to strengthen ESPA's position in EU health and tourism policy, particularly regarding preventive care, mental health, oncology, the new Cardiovascular Health Plan, and cross-border healthcare; developing strategic partnerships with investors for research and educational institutions; raising the profile of physiotherapists and enhancing the importance of the profession; and establishing partnerships with emerging markets such as Saudi Arabia, China and South America to collaborate with ESPA members on longevity, highlighting the role of European health destinations and the effectiveness of European SPA medicine for global populations.

BUBSPA comprises 65 legal entities, including 10 municipalities. Member companies operate one or more resort complexes or hotels.

Representing Bulgaria at the forum are also BTA Director General Kiril Valchev and BUBSPA Ambassador Meglena Plugchieva.

Kiril Valchev said: "The Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) consistently promotes Bulgaria as a health tourism destination to showcase that the country is also a land of the three S: Ski, Sea and SPA. With over 550 identified sources of thermal and mineral waters, more than 1,600 mineral springs yielding 4,900 litres per second, Bulgaria ranks first in continental Europe and second in Europe after Iceland in natural mineral and spring water resources, noted for their unique composition and drinking quality. The country also offers proven locations for climatotherapy, including Sandanski, Tryavna and Sveti Vlas. Bulgaria has 354 kilometres of Black Sea coastline with 78 developed sandy beaches suitable for thalassotherapy. There are six lakes with therapeutic mud and salt pans: Lakes Shabla, Rusalka, Balchik Tuzla, Varna Lake, Lake Atanasovo and Lake Pomorie. However, we need to make better use of these advantages, including through media promotion."

BTA's Director General recalled that Bulgaria has a long-standing tradition of using mineral waters for health. In ancient times, the Thracians used mineral waters at Serdica (today's Sofia), Pautalia (today's Kyustendil), Germanea (today's Sapareva Banya), Augusta Traiana (today's Stara Zagora) and Medicus (today's Sandanski) as early as 2000 BCE. It is also very likely that the establishment of prehistoric settlements at these sites between 6000 and 5000 BCE was influenced by the presence of mineral waters.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, sent an address congratulating ESPA on its 30th anniversary, saying: "Reaching three decades of leadership in promoting preventive healthcare, sustainable tourism, and climate-responsive wellness is an extraordinary achievement. (...) At a moment when Europe seeks solutions to demographic change, public health challenges, and energy transition, your sector stands as a shining example of how tradition and innovation can work hand in hand."

BTA's media partnership with ESPA promotes Bulgaria as a year-round health tourism destination. This partnership forms a key part of the news agency's editorial policy, which is aimed at showcasing Bulgaria as a year-round health tourism destination.

Over the past two years, BTA has implemented several events and initiatives in cooperation with BUBSPA aimed at developing and increasing the international visibility of the sector.

One of the key events was the signing of a contract for regular dissemination of information on health tourism in Bulgarian and in English, which took place on September 9, 2024, in Burgas. In November 2024, BTA supported an important presentation on "Bulgaria: A year-round health tourism destination for the Austrian health insurance market," organized by BUBSPA at the Bulgarian Embassy in Vienna.

In December 2024, BTA organized the 6th BG Tourism – Winter 2024/25 Forum in partnership with BUBSPA in the village of Banya, Razlog Municipality. On 1 June 2025, it held the 7th BG Tourism – Summer 2025 Forum in Pomorie. These events traditionally mark the start of the winter and summer tourist seasons, bringing together representatives of state institutions, businesses and experts.

Between late August and early September 2024, BTA was a media partner for the INSPIRO Foundation's health symposium, "Air, Sea and Climate – Health Strategies", which was organized in Sveti Vlas with support from the Health Ministry and local municipalities.

One of the most significant initiatives in 2025 was the closing conference of the Europe on Balkans: Cohesion Skills project, organized by BTA on May 6 in Varshets, Bulgaria's oldest spa resort, with the support of the European Commission. The conference focused on sharing knowledge and experience of spa culture and health tourism in the region, and brought together representatives from Bulgaria and EU countries.

On September 9, BTA was a media partner of the 12th Annual Congress of BUBSPA at the Hyatt Regency Pravets Resort.

On September 30, at BTA's National Press Club in Sofia, Minister of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh and Hisarya Mayor Iva Valcheva announced that another ancient town with healing waters, Hisarya, is the first Bulgarian town to join the European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA).