site.btaNational Tourism Board Hosts Gala Evening Marking 20th Anniversary

The National Board of Tourism marked its 20th anniversary with a gala evening on Thursday, presenting Bulgaria as an attractive and sustainable year-round tourist destination under the slogan "4 Seasons 4 You", with a focus on the development of tourism, its achievements and challenges. The event was held under the patronage and with the participation of President Iliana Iotova and in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism.

The anniversary celebrations were held under the slogan "The Four Keys to Sustainable Tourism - Culture, Nature, Food and Innovation". BTA was among the partners of the initiative. The event was attended by ministers, MPs, mayors, members and partners of the National Board of Tourism, representatives of the tourism industry, employers' organizations, businesses, academia, cultural and sports communities. BTA Director General Kiril Valchev was also among the participants.

Parliamentary Tourism Committee Chair Rositsa Kirova MP of GERB-UDF said that over the past two decades the National Board has established itself as an authoritative voice in the tourism industry and a reliable partner of state institutions and of all those seeking to make Bulgaria a recognizable tourist destination. She noted that tourism is much more than an economic sector, describing it as Bulgaria's face to the world, creating jobs, stimulating investment and developing regions. According to her, it also enables local communities to preserve their culture and traditions and turn them into added value. She stressed that success in the sector is the result not of a single institution's efforts, but of partnership between the State, business, municipalities, employers, educational institutions and young people.

Kirova said Parliament would be an open partner in efforts to develop the sector. She said the shared task was to create a stable legislative framework, further develop existing policies, encourage investment and improve transport connectivity between regions, stressing that there can be no tourism without it. She expressed confidence that the future of Bulgarian tourism lies in its diversity. She said the future of tourism lies in digitalization, innovation and sustainable solutions, which are increasingly expected by international tourists. She noted Bulgaria's strong performance before international audiences through the Giro d'Italia and Eurovision Song Contest, saying they have created new opportunities for the tourism sector, but also a new responsibility - to turn increased international interest into sustainable development, more investment, more tourists and a stronger presence for Bulgaria on the global tourism stage.

Kirova said Northwestern Bulgaria is an example of both the strong potential of Bulgaria's regions and the extent to which it remains underdeveloped. She noted that, as Chair of the parliamentary Committee on Tourism, it is particularly important to achieve balanced development of all tourist regions in the country. She added that the success of Bulgarian tourism should not be measured by the number of visitors, but by the extent to which it creates prosperity for people across all parts of Bulgaria.

Deputy Prime Minister Ivo Hristov said that the past 20 years had been the most dynamic period in the history of Bulgarian tourism. He pointed to the growth in five-star hotels, SPA centres and wellness facilities compared with two decades ago, but noted that challenges remain. He said that with Bulgaria's 34% shadow economy, a significant share is in tourism, adding that the government's goal is to bring the economy into the open and expressing confidence that the National Board of Tourism will be a partner in this effort, which is in the interest of business, government and society.

Hristov also referred to the Eurovision Song Contest, calling it a "launching platform" that places Bulgaria in the global media spotlight, and said this opportunity should not be missed. On the Brand Bulgaria initiative, he said the government is aware of the need to develop and establish a national brand and expressed confidence that this would be achieved within the current mandate.

Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov described the National Board of Tourism as a pillar of the Ministry, noting its capacity to produce strategic documents, marketing strategies and policy proposals. He said that, thanks to a stable parliamentary majority and the government's strategic vision, Bulgaria has a real opportunity to implement long-awaited reforms in the sector, stressing the need for efficient, low-profile administration in support of business.

He announced that, with support from UN Tourism, an observatory for measuring quality in tourism would be established, ensuring that policies are based on data rather than subjective impressions. He also said work is under way to create an association of higher education institutions training tourism professionals, initially at national level and later across the Balkans and Europe, aimed at attracting foreign lecturers and students and fostering international exchange.

Dimitrov also said a new Reform Council would be created to coordinate changes in the sector together with the parliamentary Committee on Tourism, and that a Brand Bulgaria Fund for connectivity and promotion was being developed, stressing that even the best marketing is ineffective without transport connectivity.

He added that Bulgaria has not yet reached parity between the number of foreign tourists and its population, unlike countries such as Croatia, Greece, Spain and Portugal, which receive several times more tourists than their populations. He also said Bulgaria should learn from the mistakes of over-tourism elsewhere. He called for greater support for domestic tourism and a clearer focus on measurable goals and dialogue with business. He was awarded a certificate of appreciation by the National Board of Tourism for long-standing cooperation.

Martin Zahariev, Vice Chairman of the Management Board of the National Board of Tourism, stated that the remarks by the Tourism Minister and the parliamentary Committee Chair sounded more like policy speeches than protocol addresses. He said all commitments were being recorded and that the Board would closely monitor their implementation. He added that the National Board plans to submit draft legislation on the establishment of the Brand Bulgaria Fund in the autumn session of Parliament. He also said the Board had acquired key internet domains such as brandbulgaria.com, .bg, .eu, .org, and would transfer them to the State free of charge once the fund is established with transparent management.

Zahariev added that the Brand Bulgaria initiative is not limited to tourism, but aims to position Bulgaria as an investment destination and a technological hub in Eastern Europe.

National Board of Tourism Executive Director Polina Karastoyanova said the organization represents the collective interests of major investors in the tourism industry and acts as a constructive partner to the State and the Ministry of Tourism in managing and developing the sector and promoting Bulgaria as an attractive and competitive tourist destination. Karastoyanova noted that the National Board of Tourism is the only Bulgarian member of UN Tourism. She described the National Board of Tourism as a high-end Swiss-style mechanism, adding that its value goes far beyond the market capitalization of its member companies, with its greatest asset being the personal reputation of each member.

Krassimir Guergov, Chairman of the National Board of Tourism, said Bulgaria needs a Marshall Plan for the economy, arguing that tourism is the country's strongest asset due to its natural resources. He said the Brand Bulgaria project is a step in that direction and will be developed jointly with the Ministry of Tourism. He presented the President with an honorary rose, the organization's symbol, and thanked her for her patronage.

A congratulatory address on the occasion of the anniversary was sent by UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nowais.