site.btaDeputy Tourism Minister Georgieva Attends Meetings of European Travel Commission

Deputy Tourism Minister Irena Georgieva took part in the 105th general meeting and the 108th meeting of the Board of Directors of the European Travel Commission (ETC) in Tallinn, Estonia, between May 24 and 26, 2023, the ministry said on its website on Thursday. One of the main topics of the forums is the consideration of nominations and voting for a new president and vice-president of the ETC.

"Bulgaria aims at a focused and consistent tourism policy to create a favourable political, legal, economic, environmental, socio-cultural and technological environment for the development of sustainable tourism," Deputy Minister Georgieva told delegates.

She also noted that Bulgaria supports the objectives set out in the Transition Pathway for Tourism and the European Agenda for Tourism to strengthen cooperation between member states, EU institutions and stakeholders, which is instrumental in achieving a green and digital transition in tourism. "The social and environmental benefits will mainly come from the ability to manage short-term rentals, which will have an impact on the development of local communities, the environment and the entire tourism ecosystem," Georgieva added.

The two-day meeting of the ETC will also discuss the organisation of the next meeting of the Board of Directors, which Bulgaria will host on September 19-21.