site.btaBulgaria Offers to Host UN Tourism World Forum on Cultural Tourism in 2026

Outgoing Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh has proposed that Bulgaria host a UN Tourism World Forum on Cultural Tourism in 2026, the Tourism Ministry said on Tuesday. 

Borshosh was received in Madrid by Shaikha Al Nowais, the newly appointed Secretary-General of UN Tourism, becoming the first European tourism minister to hold an official meeting with her at the organization’s headquarters in Madrid.

During the meeting, the first dedicated investment guide for Bulgaria’s tourism sector, Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Bulgaria, was presented. Developed by the Bulgarian Tourism Ministry in partnership with UN Tourism, the guide aims to attract sustainable international investment by outlining strategic priorities, development opportunities and practical guidance for investors across tourism subsectors. It presents Bulgaria as a stable and competitive investment destination, citing favourable tax conditions, a strategic geographic location and clear prospects linked to the country’s planned adoption of the euro in 2026.

Bulgaria is among the few European states with such an investment guide, which presents not only the country’s potential but also concrete conditions, opportunities and priorities for sector development, Borshosh said. He added that being the first European country received by the new Secretary-General is a strong sign of trust and recognition of Bulgaria’s active role in the global tourism dialogue.

The investment guide has been published on UN Tourism’s official website and is available to the international investor community.

Borshosh also formally proposed that Bulgaria host a UN Tourism World Forum on Cultural Tourism in 2026, modeled on the successful Global Wine Tourism Conference held in Plovdiv in 2025. The proposal was met with interest by UN Tourism’s leadership and is seen as an opportunity for Bulgaria to further establish itself as a hub for international expert dialogue on sustainable and thematic tourism.

According to the strategic investment document prepared by UN Tourism and the Bulgarian Tourism Ministry, Bulgaria’s full accession to the Schengen area in early 2025 and the planned adoption of the euro on January 1, 2026 are expected to support tourism through more predictable returns, simplified cross-border operations and reduced currency risk.