site.btaSpa Union Signs Cooperation Memorandum with Rheumatologists' Society

In the health tourism of Bulgaria, mineral waters are mainly associated with supporting the musculoskeletal system - in prophylaxis and rehabilitation, said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siyka Katsarova, the President of the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and SPA Tourism (BUBSPA) and President of the European SPA Association (ESPA) on Tuesday during a ceremony marking the signing of a memorandum of cooperation with the Bulgarian Society of Health Professionals in Rheumatology at BTA's National Press Club in Sofia.

Among those present at the press conference was Evgenia Drumeva, Deputy Director General of BTA.

The memorandum is aimed at the sustainable development of health tourism in Bulgaria and the improvement of the qualifications of medical specialists. Among the main areas of cooperation are: organizing trainings, seminars, and conferences; developing and participating in national and European projects; exchanging experts and good practices; preparing expert analyses and proposals for the development of health tourism.

Katsarova said that the signing of this memorandum is another step towards upgrading the Union's partnerships and compared it to those already signed with the Association of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine and the Bulgarian Hospital Association.

Despite the advent of technology and artificial intelligence, Assoc. Prof. Katsarova was categorical that without the human factor and medical specialists in the field, the product cannot be at a European level. In the field of rehabilitation and prevention, effects are achieved when there is direct care and a "human hand" to touch the patient, she noted.

Katsarova highlighted the successful cooperation with BTA and the support of the Ministry of Tourism in connection with the publication of the catalog presenting SPA hotels in Bulgaria. She stated that the main cause of the Union is for Bulgaria to establish itself as a competitive, year-round destination for health tourism. Katsarova referred to a 2019 study by the Tran Committee, commissioned by the European Commission, according to which health tourism is divided into three main pillars: SPA tourism, wellness tourism and medical tourism. She noted that the topic of medical tourism has been in motion since the end of last year, and a working group has been formed at the Ministry of Tourism, with the participation of the Ministry of Health, to create a specific action plan for the country's development in this direction.

In the first half of May, the future of sustainable health tourism was discussed by representatives of European institutions at the HEALTHXCHANGE 2026 meeting at the Golden Sands resort. The forum was organized by the European Spa Association (ESPA), the Bulgarian Union of Balneology and Spa Tourism (BUBSPA) and HTI (Health Tourism Industry) Conference & Expo - an international platform and event organization focused on the development of health, spa, wellness and medical tourism. The hosts were the Ministry of Tourism of Bulgaria and the Municipality of Varna, and BTA - a major media partner. Among the participants in the forum was BTA Director General Kiril Valchev.