site.btaPresident’s Foreign Policy Secretary Plugtschieva: Prevention Is Key to Longer, Healthier Lives
Prevention, wellness policies and longevity are central to the development of modern society, Meglena Plugtschieva, Foreign Policy Secretary of President Iliana Iotova said on Tuesday at the opening of HEALTHXCHANGE 2026, an international forum hosted by Bulgaria.
Welcoming participants, Plugtschieva said Bulgaria’s hosting of the prestigious European forum underscored the country’s leading role in balneology, spa and health tourism.
“Bulgaria has a long and proud tradition in balneology and natural healing. But tradition alone is not enough. We must link this heritage to modern medicine, digital development and innovation,” Plugtschieva said.
“The spa and wellness sector is playing an increasingly important role by bringing together scientific advances and tradition and helping address the challenges of longevity,” she said.
Plugtschieva said longevity is creating new demands on health systems and public policy.
“People must be able to live longer, healthier lives. We now clearly understand that health and economic development are closely linked,” she said.
Plugtschieva also highlighted the importance of international partnership and institutional cooperation.
“Diplomacy is needed not only in political negotiations. It also means opening doors, building trust and promoting sectors that deserve recognition,” Plugtschieva said, recalling her long-standing work with the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism and European partners from the European Spas Association (ESPA).
“It is important for politicians, institutions, experts, society and the media to recognize that investment in prevention, health tourism and sustainable wellness models is a strategic priority,” she said.
In her address, Plugtschieva congratulated the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism on its 20th anniversary and noted the sector’s role in shaping Bulgaria’s international image.
The event is organized by the European Spas Association (ESPA), the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA) and the Health Tourism Industry (HTI) Conference & Expo, an international platform and event organization focused on health, spa, wellness and medical tourism. The forum is hosted by the Bulgarian Ministry of Tourism and Varna Municipality. The HEALTHXCHANGE Summit is being held as BUBSPA marks its 20th anniversary.
BTA is the event’s main media partner. For the forum, BTA has prepared the BG SPA-Health Through Water catalogue, featuring news from 128 certified spa, wellness and medical spa centers in Bulgaria, out of more than 200 nationwide. Copies of the specialized publication in Bulgarian and English will be provided to forum delegates. The catalogue is available in Bulgarian and in English in electronic format on the BTA website.
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