site.btaTourism Ministry, European Historic Thermal Towns Association Discuss Hisarya's Membership

Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh, European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) Chair Hans Hornik and Hisarya Mayor Iva Valcheva had a meeting at the Tourism Ministry to discuss the possibilities and conditions for the town's membership in EHTTA, the ministry said on Friday.

During the meeting, Hisarya was presented as one of the oldest balneological resorts in Bulgaria, with archaeological monuments and a thermal tradition dating back to Roman times. It was noted that the town meets key criteria for participation in the EHTTA network, including its historical thermal zone, architectural and intangible cultural heritage and tourist infrastructure.

In 2024, the town welcomed over 150,000 tourists, most of them from Israel, Germany, Turkiye, Romania and Greece. In the first six months of 2025 alone, nearly 93,000 tourists visited Hisarya, which represents an increase of over 39% compared to the same period in 2024. 

Borshosh emphasized that the development of the regions and various types of tourism, such as medical, cultural, balneotherapy and spa, is among the priorities of the Tourism Ministry. "We are working to ensure that the potential of Bulgarian resort towns is presented at the European level through partnerships such as the one with EHTTA," he said.

Established in 2009 in Brussels, EHTTA unites 50 members from 18 European countries, including 37 municipalities with a proven spa tradition and 13 associated organizations. The association is officially recognized by the Council of Europe with its cultural routes and has been an affiliated member of the World Tourism Organization since 2019. Its main mission is to promote, protect and develop the cultural and thermal heritage of Europe.